Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 18 resources
General information
Do I Qualify for DSHS Services?
(Separate Website)
Find out what benefits you may quality for.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Washington Basic Food Program Information
(Separate Website)
Basic Food, the state's food stamp program, helps people in Washington make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. You can apply online at this web site.
By: DSHS
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
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
Do You Need Emergency Food Assistance?
Information about qualifying and applying for emergency food stamps and what to do if you are denied.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Applying for Public Assistance
Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
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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PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT): How to Use Your Card
(Separate Website)
The Quest card looks like a debit or credit card. It replaces paper food stamps and welfare checks. Food stamps and state cash benefits are now deposited into an account that you spend by using your Quest card. Stores and bank machines (often called Automated Teller Machines or ATMs) that take Quest will display a sign with the Quest logo.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
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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PDF File
How DSHS Treats Lump Sum Payments
7140EN - Information you should know if you receive a lump sum payment from DSHS.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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PDF File
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
Federal Court Stops DSHS from Cutting Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants Did you get a letter from DSHS stating your food
assistance was terminated or reduced because of this cut? If so, DSHS should have restored your benefits for the month of February and must give you statefunded, food assistance until further order of the court, as long as you meet all the other rules for receiving such help.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
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
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
How To Fight an Overpayment of Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance or Food Stamps
7104EN - An overpayment happens when you receive benefits you are not eligible for according to Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) rules.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
Representing Yourself at a Fair Hearing
If you do not 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
How to Present an Equitable Estoppel Defense at a DSHS Hearing
7912EN - 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
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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
What Do I Do If DSHS Stops My Benefits Because I'm a "Fleeing Felon"
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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PDF File
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Information, Not Legal Advice. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct. Most of the information provided on this web site is specific to Washington State law.
We do not intend this information to be legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
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