Financial Program Managers

SUBJECT: THE WASHINGTON STATE COMBINED APPLICATION PROJECT (WASHCAP)

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) will be introducing a new food assistance program for single clients that have Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This program will be available to about one half of our clients that get food assistance. This new program is called The Washington State Combined Application Project (WASHCAP).

WASHCAP is a joint effort between the Social Security Administration and DSHS. WASHCAP is a simplified way to deliver Food Assistance to SSI recipients who:

· Are at least 18 years old;

· Do not have earned income; and

· Live alone or buy and fix food apart from others who live in the home.

The first step in implementing this program is to send clients a letter to prepare them for the change. The letter will be sent the week of 9/15/01 to each client who has been identified in ACES as being potentially eligible for WASHCAP. The letter will tell them that their food assistance will be converted to WASHCAP. It will also compare old and new benefit amounts. If clients meet certain conditions or will get less food assistance with WASHCAP, they can choose to remain on the regular food assistance program.

We expect this letter to generate phone calls to financial services staff. Social services and clerical staff may get inquires also. Advise clients to contact their financial services worker to answer their questions or to opt-out of this program. ACES has a new screen, (WOPT), for this process. Clients will have from 9/15/01 to 10/31/01 to make a choice of programs. They can also change their selection. A different process will be used to

opt-out after 10/31/01.

ACES will create a report on or shortly after 9/15/01 of all clients that were sent the letter. The report will be posted to ACES online in the report section. The report can be used to contact clients who will receive less food assistance and further explain their choices. If clients who will get less with WASHCAP have not called by October 20^th,financial staff will attempt to contact them.

Clients who have not opted-out by 10/31/01 will be converted to WASHCAP. The first benefit month for the new program is December 2001. WASHCAP benefits will be issued through EBT the same as they are for regular food assistance.

Financial staff will receive full training before the WASHCAP program is implemented. Train-the-trainer sessions are scheduled for 9/6 and 9/7 at Lacey Government Center.

Training for all financial services staff will follow this.

If you want further information on WASHCAP, see the Question and Answers web site listed below:

http://eazstart.dshs.wa.gov/washcap_q_a.htm

Address inquiries to: Guyce Lafavour

(206) 341-7781

E-mail: Lafavgm@dshs.wa.gov

Ms: N95-2

Penny Black, Director

Home and Community Services Division

Attachment: Letter to client