(1) Before managing a client's funds the service provider must either:
- (a) Obtain written consent from the client or the client's legal representative; or
- (b) Become the representative payee.
(2) For any client funds managed by the service provider, the service provider must:
- (a) Separately track each client's money, even when several clients reside together;
- (b) Maintain a current running balance of each client account;
- (c) Make deposits to the client's bank account within one week of receiving the client's money;
- (d) Prevent the client's bank account from being overdrawn;
- (e) Ensure that client cash funds do not exceed seventy-five dollars per client unless specified differently in the individual financial plan; and
- (f) Retain receipts for each purchase over twenty-five dollars.
(3) Social Security Administration requirements for managing the client's Social Security income take precedence over these rules if:
- (a) The service provider is the client's representative payee; and
- (b) The Social Security Administration requirement conflicts with these rules.
(4) When the service provider manages the client's funds and receives a check made out to the client, the service provider must:
- (a) Get the client's signature and designation "for deposit only"; or
- (b) Get the client's "x" mark in the presence of a witness and cosign the check with the designation "for deposit only"; and
- (c) Deposit the check in the client's bank account as required under subsection (2)(c) of this section.
- (5) If a check for the client is made out to a payee other than the client, the service provider must ask the payee to sign the check.
- (6) The service provider must not ask the client to sign a blank check.
(7) The service provider may only assist the client to make purchases by check when the client signs the check at the time of the purchase unless:
- (a) Otherwise specified in the client's individual financial plan; or
- (b) The service provider is the client's representative payee.
- (8) The service provider must document in the client's record the name of each staff that may assist the client with financial transactions.
[WSR 16-14-058, recodified as § 388-101D-0245, filed 6/30/16, effective 8/1/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 71A.12 RCW. WSR 08-02-022, § 388-101-3540, filed 12/21/07, effective 2/1/08.]