Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
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Appeals and hearings
DSHS, Public Assistance and Welfare
Video - How to Represent Yourself at a DSHS Hearing
This half hour video shows how anyone who disagrees with a decision by DSHS can appeal their decision through the fair hearing process and represent themselves at the hearing.
By: Kitsap Legal Services
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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Office of Administrative Hearings Web Site
(Separate Website)
The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is an independent state agency which conducts impartial administrative hearings for other government agencies. OAH was created in 1982 as an independent forum for citizens challenging government decisions. It provides independent, professional, and timely "due process" hearings for a wide variety of state and local agencies.
By: State of Washington Office of Administrative Hearings
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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How to Fight Your SSI or Social Security Disability Denial
This publication explains what you can do if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your application because they say you are not disabled. If you have been receiving benefits and are notified that they will stop, see our publication How to Fight a Termination of SSI or SSD.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Fight A Termination of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Benefits based on Non-disability Reasons
Social Security must notify you in writing before reducing or stopping your benefits. You may fight the termination by asking for reconsideration. You may continue to receive the same benefits after the termination date in the notice if you request reconsideration in time. You must request reconsideration within 10 days of receiving the notice to keep getting benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Fight an SSI or Social Security Overpayment Notice
If you are being charged with an overpayment, it is because Social Security believes that you received benefits when you were not eligible to receive them. Social Security must notify you in writing of the overpayment before it may take any money from your check. There are four actions you may take if you receive an overpayment notice.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Questions and Answers on Hearings and Appeals
(Separate Website)
An extensive question and answer web site about the hearings and appeals process for SSI.
By: Social Security Online Web Site
How to Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits to Superior Court
This publication is about Superior court review of an administrative decision relating to unemployment benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Represent Yourself at an Unemployment Compensation Benefits Hearing
If you have been denied unemployment compensation benefits, you have a right to appeal. If you have been allowed benefits, your former employer has the same right to appeal. If either you or your employer appeals, you will have a hearing with an administrative law judge. This publication explains how to represent yourself at the hearing.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Unemployment Law Project Web Site
(Separate Website)
Are you having trouble collecting your unemployment benefits? Has your claim been improperly denied? Or has your employer appealed your entitlement to benefits? If so, we may be able to help.
By: Unemployment Law Project
GA-U Time Limit Terminations Start September 1, 2010 The new time limits are retroactive. People who received GAU (or DL) for 24 months within the past 60 months will be terminated starting September 1st. This publication contains info on how to appeal and/or get legal assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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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Applying for Public Assistance
Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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
Other Formats:
PDF File
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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PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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
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
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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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
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
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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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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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
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
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
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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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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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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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 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 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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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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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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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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Applying for Public Assistance
Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Disability Services from the Department of Social and Health Services
(Separate Website)
Information about disability services offered throughout the State of Washington.
By: DSHS
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
Other Formats:
PDF File
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
Other Formats:
PDF File
GA-U Medical Has Changed: November 2009
As of November 1, 2009, most General Assistance-Unemployable (GA-U) recipients across Washington State became managed care enrollees, meaning they receive their care through Community Health Plan. If you are on GA-U and in managed care, you are now able to receive mental health services. This publication briefly outlines some of the other changes to your care.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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