The department uses a consumer's countable income when determining income eligibility and copayment. A consumer's countable income is the sum of all their income listed in WAC 110-15-0060 minus any child support paid out through a court order, division of child support administrative order, or tribal government order.

1. (1) To determine a consumer's income, the department must either:

   1. (a) Calculates an average monthly income by:

      1. (i) Determining the number of months, weeks, or pay periods it took the consumer's WCCC household to earn the income and dividing the income by the same number of months, weeks or pay periods; or
      2. (ii) Accepting the employer's statement of current or anticipated wages for future income determination if the past wages are no longer reflective of the current income; or

   2. (b) Use the best available estimate of the consumer's WCCC household's current income when the consumer begins new employment and has less than three months of wages as:

      1. (i) Verified by the consumer's employer; or
      2. (ii) Provided by the consumer through a verbal or written statement documenting the new employment at the time of application, reapplication or change reporting, and wage verification within 60 calendar days of the department's request.

2. (2) If a consumer receives a lump sum payment, such as money from the sale of property or back child support payment, in the month of application or during the consumer's WCCC eligibility:

   1. (a) The department must:

      1. (i) Calculate a monthly amount by dividing the lump sum payment by 12; and

      2. (ii) Add the monthly amount to the consumer's expected average monthly income for the:

         1. (A) Month it was received; and
         2. (B) Remaining months of the current eligibility period; and
   2. (b) To remain eligible for WCCC the consumer must meet WCCC income guidelines after the lump sum payment is applied.
3. (3) Active recipients of the supplemental nutrition assistance program are income eligible.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 43.216.020, 43.216.065, 2024 c 225 s 1, and 2024 c 282 s 4. WSR 24-20-130, s 110-15-0065, filed 10/1/24, effective 11/1/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.216.055, 43.216.065 and 42 U.S.C. 9858, et seq. WSR 19-08-020, § 110-15-0065, filed 3/26/19, effective 4/26/19. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-15-0065, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.060 and 43.215.070. WSR 17-23-017, § 170-290-0065, filed 11/3/17, effective 12/4/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.060, 43.215.070, and chapter 43.215 RCW. WSR 16-09-059, § 170-290-0065, filed 4/15/16, effective 5/16/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.060, 43.215.070, 2006 c 265, and chapter 43.215 RCW. WSR 09-22-043, § 170-290-0065, filed 10/28/09, effective 12/1/09. WSR 08-08-047, recodified as § 170-290-0065, filed 3/27/08, effective 3/27/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.12.340, 74.13.085, and 2003 1st sp.s. c 25. WSR 04-08-021 and 04-08-134, § 388-290-0065, filed 3/29/04 and 4/7/04, effective 5/28/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050 and C.F.R. Parts 98 and 99 (Child Care Development Fund Rules). WSR 02-01-135, § 388-290-0065, filed 12/19/01, effective 1/19/02.]