Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 32 resources
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) rules
ParentHelp123.org Benefit Finder
(Separate Website)
Using the Benefit Finder, families can learn if they may be eligible for free and low-cost health insurance and food assistance, and then complete their program applications on-line!
By: WithinReach
Applying for Public Assistance
Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Welfare Benefits: TANF Rules and Eligibility
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is the welfare program that gives cash grants to needy families. This program replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. TANF is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). This publication discusses who is eligible for TANF and what is required under the law.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for Teen Parents
If you are a teenager under the age of 18, low income, and have children or are pregnant, you may be able to get help (money) from the state TANF program. Read on for answers to your questions about how to get TANF.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Questions and Answers on the TANF 5-Year Time Limit
There is a sixty-month (five-year) time limit for receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and SFA (State Family Assistance). This publication provides specifics about how the 5 year time limit is applied.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How DSHS Treats Lump Sum Payments
Information you should know if you receive a lump sum payment from DSHS.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Student Financial Aid and Welfare Benefits
This publication explains the affect of receiving student financial aid when you also receive welfare benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington State Need Standard Chart
(Separate Website)
Basic subsistence limitation chart for determining amount necessary to provide for basic needs. The amounts are adjusted annually.
By: Washington State
DSHS Help for People with Disabilities: Necessary Supplemental Accomodations
If you get DSHS benefits, such as TANF, SFA, Disability Lifeline, Medicaid, or food assistance, DSHS must accommodate your disabilities. This means that DSHS must try to make their services and benefits available to you to the same extent that they are available to people without a disability.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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National Center for Law and Economic Justice
(Separate Website)
The Welfare Law Center works with and on behalf of low-income people to ensure that adequate income support -- public funding provided on the basis of need -- is available whenever and to the extent necessary to meet basic needs and foster healthy human and family development.
By: National Center for Law and Economic Justice
WorkFirst: Individual Responsibility Plans
This publication is designed to help you understand how an IRP is created so that you can get the best possible plan for yourself.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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WorkFirst Education and Training Opportunities Are you interested in training or education? You can ask your WorkFirst worker to add the options in this booklet to your IRP as WorkFirst activities. Most of these activities are not required. However, studies show that the best way to get and keep a good job is to improve your education and training. These options are often your best ticket out of the welfare system.
By: Northwest Justice Project
WorkFirst Sanctions
This publication should help you understand sanctions under the WorkFirst program and help you fight a sanction that is wrong.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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DSHS Support Services for WorkFirst Participants
DSHS may provide goods and services for WorkFirst participants to help them look for work, prepare for work, or keep work.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Workfirst and the Family Violence Amendment
DSHS will screen and identify TANF (Welfare) recipients for a history of family violence, notify TANF recipients about the Family Violence Amendment, maintain confidentiality, refer individuals needing counseling to supportive services, and waive Workfirst requirements where the requirements would make it more difficult to escape family violence, or put victims at further risk of family violence.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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WorkFirst For Working Families
This publication is designed to increase your understanding of how employment affects your family's eligibility to receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and other public benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington State WorkFirst Web Site
(Separate Website)
WorkFirst is Washington State's welfare reform program that helps financially struggling families find jobs, keep their jobs, get better jobs and build a better life for their children.
By: State of Washington
WorkFirst for Those Who Don't Speak English
Information on how to make WorkFirst work best for you if you or someone in your family doesn't speak English.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Additional Requirements: Extra Money for Welfare (TANF) Clients
If you qualify for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) State Financial Assistance (SFA) or a Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) welfare grant and you have an emergency you may be eligible to get Additional Requirements (AR) which is money for emergency needs. This publication tells who can get additional requirements (AR) and under what circumstances.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Consolidated Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP): Extra Money for Needy Families
CEAP is a Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) program which provides money to needy families, children and pregnant women facing an emergency. CEAP is a last resort only. If you qualify for any other DSHS assistance program you do not qualify for CEAP.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Diversion Cash Assistance
Diversion Cash Assistance is an emergency grant to a family facing a temporary financial crisis. You may receive up to $1,500.00 in any twelve month period. This publication tells you how to apply for this grant.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Exception to Rule (ETR) DSHS Programs
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is able to give you some types of benefits even if you don't meet all of the requirements. This is called an "exception to a rule" or "ETR". DSHS considers ETR requests on a case-by-case basis and approves requests only in limited circumstances.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Welfare Fraud: What You Need to Know
This publication answers common questions about welfare fraud and offers important information that you should know if you are being accused of welfare fraud.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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What Are My Rights? Dealing with DSHS
This publication lists services available by DSHS and your rights when dealing with this state agency.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Fight a Denial of DSHS Public Assistance
This publication explains your rights if you apply for cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and their office denies you benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How To Fight a Termination or Reduction of DSHS Public Assistance
7102EN - This publication explains your rights if the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) tells you that it will stop or cut back the cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance they have been giving you. The most important thing to know is that you must ask for a fair hearing soon, usually within 10 days of being mailed written notice, to keep getting your benefits while you appeal.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How To Fight an Overpayment of Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance or Food Stamps
An overpayment occurs when you receive benefits you are not eligible for according to DSHS rules. DSHS gets the benefits back by charging you with an overpayment. This publication provides info on the types of overpayments and what you can do if you disagree.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Representing Yourself at a Fair Hearing
If you don't agree with any decision, either verbal or written, made by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), you have the right to appeal that decision by asking for a fair hearing.
This publication tells you about 1) the deadline to request a fair hearing, 2) how to make the re-quest, 3) how to prepare for your hearing, and 4) what to expect at your hearing and afterward.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Present an Equitable Estoppel Defense at a DSHS Hearing
If you receive an overpayment notice from DSHS telling you that you owe them money or food stamps because they gave you benefits they should not have given you, and the overpayment was through no fault of yours, you should ask for a fair hearing because there is a legal defense against the overpayment. You must ask for the fair hearing within 90 days of the date of the overpayment notice. The notice will say the overpayment was unintentionally caused and will say you are required to repay it, but will not tell you that there is a legal defense against it. Read this publication to find out about an Equitable Estoppel defense.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Petition for Superior Court Review
If you disagree with the final fair hearing decision, you may appeal your case to a state Superior Court. The appeal is called a "Petition for Judicial Review of an Administrative Decision." Your appeal can be filed in either the Superior Court of the county where you live or in Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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What Do I Do If DSHS Stops My Benefits Because I Am a
If you are a fleeing felon, you are not eligible for many federal and state public benefits. This publication defines "feeling felon" and discusses the benefits that are affected.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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The Self-Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State
(Separate Website)
The Calculator can help you: plan and develop career goals so you can work towards a better paying job; decide if a job you are considering will pay enough to meet your family's needs; determine if you might be eligible for public benefits that can help with expenses like health care or child care; test and compare different work or living options and see how they affect your bottom line.
By: Workforce Development Councils of Washington State
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Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
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