[Abawdnavigators] [UCE] FW: Updates on EBT Card Procedure and Public Access to DSHS ESA Offices

[Jennifer Dellinger]

Good Afternoon All,

Below is some important information from DSHS Economic Services Administration (ESA) in regards to the expansion of the online EBT shopping pilot and limited in-person access to local ESA/CSO offices.

Thank you,


[Compass]Jennifer Dellinger
Program Administrator
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Email: jdellinger at sbctc.edu<mailto:jdellinger at sbctc.edu> ∙ Office: 360.704.3925

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From: Liou, Alice <LiouAH at dshs.wa.gov>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2020 11:41 AM
To:
Subject: Updates on EBT Card Procedure and Public Access to DSHS ESA Offices

Dear Washington Connection Advisory Committee Members: Please see the following updates from DSHS Economic Services Administration.

The Washington Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) online shopping pilot expanded statewide on March 1, 2020:
Online EBT shopping will increase the shopping options for homebound individuals, households lacking transportation, and working families. It will also provide shopping options during the COVID-19 epidemic.  The pilot went live in Washington on January 29, 2020, with Amazon and Walmart as pilot merchants, in soft rollout limited to the ZIP Codes serving King and Snohomish counties.  Following a month of successful transactions during the initial rollout, the pilot was extended to the entire state with the same pilot merchants.  The Agricultural Act of 2014 (PL-113-79), also known as the "Farm Bill", called upon the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to authorize retail food stores to accept Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits via online transactions, subject to the results of a multi-retailer pilot project.

The Head of Household will be allowed to request for alternate EBT card holder via telephone:
With the current emergency, DSHS/ESA EBT Policy team has reviewed the rules, and will be changing the process to allow for verbal requests from the Head of Household via the telephone for the designation of an alternate card holder.  The designated alternate card holder will need to come to a CSO with identification to pick up an EBT card but the head of household does not.  We are in the process of disseminating this new procedure.

ESA Offices limiting public access:
ESA is working around the clock to respond to changing circumstances, mandates, and information. We are making the best decisions we can with the information we have at the time. With the outbreak continuing to spread, we are making operational changes in our offices across the state.

Beginning March 19, 2020:

  *   All DDDS offices across the state will be closed for in-person customer service and will adopt a virtual-only customer service model until health guidance suggests it is safe to re-open for direct service.
  *   All DCS offices across the state will be closed for in-person customer service and will adopt a virtual-only customer service model until health guidance suggests it is safe to re-open for direct service.

Beginning March 20, 2020:

  *   All Community Services Offices across the state will stand up infrastructure and licensing needed to shift face-to-face work to the call center environment. The following  in-person services will be limited to the lobbies:

-       Supplying WorkFirst vouchers for support services (pre-arranged with WorkFirst case manager)

-       Providing gas cards (pre-arranged)

-       Issuing initial EBT cards for new food assistance applications or emergency replacements (or for alternate card holders)

-       Receiving paperwork (via drop boxes at CSO) such as verification submissions, report changes or applications for review

Please stay safe.
Alice

ALICE LIOU / WASHINGTON CONNECTION ADMINISTRATOR / Office of the Assistant Secretary
Economic Services Administration
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
(O) 360-725-4676 / Alice.Liou at dshs.wa.gov<mailto:Alice.Liou at dshs.wa.gov>
www.washingtonconnection.org<http://www.washingtonconnection.org>
Transforming Lives

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