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
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
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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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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
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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
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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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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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An Advocate's Guide to the New and Temporary SSI Extension Law for Humanitarian Immigrants
(Separate Website)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides income assistance to low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Since 1996, SSI benefits for refugees and certain other humanitarian immigrants have been available only during a seven-year period. A new law, "The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" (Public Law 110-328), extends SSI eligibility for these immigrants, allowing them to receive at least two more years of SSI.
By: Legal Services of Greater Miami
Apple Health for Kids Program: How to Respond to DSHS Notices about Immigration and Citizenship Documents If you have children who receive state-funded free or low cost health insurance through the state's Apple Health for Kids program, you may receive a notice from the Department of Social and Health Services ("DSHS") asking you to send in documents about your child's citizenship or immigration status. This bulletin explains why you received this notice and what you should do.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Do I Qualify for DSHS Services?
(Separate Website)
Find out what benefits you may quality for.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
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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
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Immigrant Eligibility for Disaster Assistance
(Separate Website)
The information provided here is for families with members who are not U.S. citizens. It also
applies to agencies that help immigrant families affected by a disaster.
By: National Immigration Law Center
New Citizenship Eligibility Requirements for Basic Health Under new rules, you must meet citizenship or immigration eligibility requirements to be eligible for Basic Health.
By: Northwest Justice Project
10 Year Cancellation of Removal: What You Should Know Cancellation of Removal is a last chance for people who have already been detained and are in process of deportation to appeal to a judge for a waiver of deportation.
By: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
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A Guide for Immigrants, Limited English Persons and Their Advocates to Federally Subsidized Housing
A detailed guide for immigrants and non-english speakers to federally subsidized housing programs.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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AIDS, The Law and You Questions and answers relating to housing, estate-planning, probate, employment, immigration and more for individuals who are HIV positive.
By: KCBA Volunteer Legal Services
Avoiding Scams Against Immigrants
(Separate Website)
Whether you're renewing your Green Card, becoming a citizen, or trying to choose the right forms, immigration issues can be complicated - and it's important to do things right. Use the resources on this page to help you spot and avoid scams, and find the right kind of help.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Domestic Violence: Questions and Answers for Immigrant and Refugee Women
3708EN - If you are being hurt by your husband, you may be eligible for legal status without his cooperation. You have the right to be free from violence in your home. This publication provides important information on what you can do to protect you and your family.
By: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
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Don't Vote Unless You Are a U.S. Citizen
Only citizens can vote in Federal, State and most local elections. Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) are not eligible to vote until they become naturalized U.S. citizens.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How Do I Apply For a Drivers License if I Don't Have a Social Security Number?
9349EN - Proving Residency for a Washington Drivers License/Identification Card
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Activities: Common Questions
This publication answers some common questions about what the ICE enforcement officers can and cannot do.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Immigration and HIV Positive Individuals: Common Questions and Answers
This publication addresses common questions about immigration laws and how they impact HIV positive individuals who are: (1) undocumented; (2)in the process of applying for legal status; or (3)who already have legal immigration status in the U.S.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Know Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement
(Separate Website)
This booklet addresses what rights you have when you are stopped, questioned, arrested, or searched by law enforcement officers. This booklet is for citizens and non-citizens with extra information for non-citizens in a separate section. Another section covers what can happen to you at airports and other points of entry into the United States. The last section discusses concerns you may have related to your charitable contributions and religious or political beliefs.
By: ACLU
Know Your Rights: What to do When You're Questioned or Searched By Government Officials
(Separate Website)
If any governmental official (police officer, FBI agent, IMMIGRATION official) wishes to engage you in conversation, all persons, citizens and non-citizens, have the constitutional right to remain silent and request a lawyer.
By: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
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Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Web Site
(Separate Website)
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) advances the legal rights and dignity of low-income immigrants in Washington State by pursuing and preserving their legal status through legal representation, education and public policy.
By: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
School Rights of Immigrant and Refugee Children and their Parents in Washington State
1112EN - All children living in the United States have a right to go to public school for free regardless of their immigration status. This publication explains this and other school rights.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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What can you do if Immigration violates your rights?
Everyone in the United States has the right to be free from detentions and searches without legal cause. Persons may not be detained or searched just because of their race or national origin. If you have been mistreated or a victim of discrimination by immigration officers, you have a right to make a complaint. Making a complaint can help stop any future abuses by Immigration officers.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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