DSHS Customer Application Assistance in Healthplanfinder (HPF)

Effective October 1 All DSHS Financial Service Specialist and WorkFirst Program Specialist staff will assist potentially eligible customers in applying for Apple Health Medical by entering their applications into the Washington Healthplanfinder (HPF) Prior to implementation, DSHS staff will receive mandatory training in HPF application assistance.

SCOPE OF DSHS ASSISTANCE

DSHS staff will determine eligibility for DSHS- administered public assistance programs prior to assisting customers with their applications for Apple Health. Staff will assist customers in HPF when requested by the client; or when prompted by a system flag which indicates potential eligibility (and the customer is interested in applying). DSHS staff will continue to refer customers to the Health Care Authority (HCA) or Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) for any post-eligibility activity including plan selection, post-eligibility review, changes of circumstance, etc.

DSHS staff will have ability to resolve only two error codes: - identity proofing errors - discrepancies between the demographic HPF and information in ACES (client eligibility system) When other types of error codes are displayed in the system, the customer will be directed to contact appropriate entity – either HCA or HBE, depending on the specific code.

Questions?

STANDARDS FOR BASIC FOOD AND WASHCAP Updated October 2015 Eligible AU Members For AUs that are not CE: Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) Maximum Allotment Maximum Gross Monthly Income Maximum Net Monthly Income 165% Poverty Standard Standard Deduction 1$1,276$ 981$1,619$155$420$194 21,7261,3282,191155$ ,1771,6752,763155$ ,6282,0213,335168$ ,0782,3683,907197$ ,5292,7154,479226$ ,9803,0615,051226$4201,022 84,4303,4085,623226$4201,169 94,8813,7556,195226$4201, ,3324,1026,767226$4201,461 Each Additional

Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Policy Changes

ABAWD Waiver Ends December 31st in only 3 counties During the recession, our statewide waiver was approved based on unemployment and labor data. With the unemployment rate being lower, we just aren’t able to keep the waiver in these select areas. ABAWD waiver will end for King, Snohomish, and Parts of Pierce counties

What are the ABAWD requirements? Effective January 1, 2016, ABAWDS in these 3 counties will only be able to get 3 months of Basic Food benefits unless they: Work at least 20 hours per week averaged monthly (80 hours per month). This includes work study hours; or Complete at least 16 hours per month of unpaid volunteer work; or Participate in our Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) or Resources to Initiate Successful Employment (RISE) programs

Have you heard about RISE? The RISE pilot project expands on Washington’s successful BFET program. The goal of RISE is to improve employability for Basic Food clients. DSHS and partner agencies will run the three-year pilot in King, Pierce, Spokane, and Yakima Counties beginning in November In addition to BFET services, people on RISE may get: Comprehensive case management; Life skills; and Work-based learning like on the job training

The RISE target population includes people who: Are Homeless; Speak limited English; Have been unemployed 12 months or longer; Are veterans; or Are non-custodial parents (NCP) owing back child support. Please refer non-exempt ABAWDS that meet the target population in King and Pierce Counties to the BFET program, and they may be able to participate in RISE.

ABAWD Exemptions Some people on Basic Food are exempt from ABAWD work requirements. These rules can be found in WAC and , and will be updated in late In general, you are exempt from the ABAWD requirements if you are: Under eighteen or over forty-nine years old; Determined to be physically or mentally unable to work for at least 3 months in the future; Caring for a person who is incapacitated; Receiving food on an assistance unit with a child, even if the child is not receiving Basic Food for reasons such as alien status; Pregnant; Applying for or receiving unemployment benefits; A student* in school at least half time; Participating in a chemical dependency treatment and rehabilitation program; or Eligible for one of the annual federal-approved exemption slots under the fifteen percent exemption rule. *A student enrolled in higher education must meet the requirements under WAC in order to be eligible for Basic Food.

What is DSHS doing to help ABAWDs? DSHS has been working for months on plans to help ABAWDs keep their Basic Food benefits. This planning includes: Mailing postcards to ABAWDs offering BFET services; Improving DSHS software ABAWD exemptions can be coded when appropriate; Maximizing the waived counties and zip codes; Making contacts and lists of volunteer sites where ABAWDs could work; and Updating letters and communication so that ABAWDs understand what they have to do.

What if my Basic Food closes because of these ABAWD rules? The first time benefits will close because of these updated ABAWD rules is March 31, Even if your Basic Food closes, you can still requalify if you become exempt, or participate in an approved activity Otherwise, you won’t be able to qualify for Basic Food again until January 1, 2018, when our 36 month period resets.

Questions?