These positions may work in any of the following Divisions:
Child & Family Care Division
Public Assistance & Health Division
Regulatory & Education Division
Unemployment Insurance Division

These positions may work on any of the following Caseloads:
Social & Health Services (SHS)
Division of Child Support (DCS) - DCS is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). An ALJ holds a hearing to establish child support or modify an existing administrative child support order. These are typically telephonic hearings with minimal travel required. A Claims Officer/Attorney represents DCS. The non-custodial or custodial parent files a request for hearing that DCS forwards to OAH. OAH issues a final order that is due within 21 days of the close of record for all case types, but OAH issues an initial order in an Address Disclosure case.
Department of Youth & Families (DCYF) - DCYF is a cabinet-level agency focused on the well-being of children and supporting families. ALJs hold hearings on licensing and issues affecting children (i.e. foster care, daycare, childcare assistance, child protective services, etc.). The ALJ will issue an initial order except in vendor overpayments and juvenile cases where the order is final. DCYF is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and appellants are often represented by counsel. Typically, orders are due within 60 days from the close of record except adoption support orders and vendor overpayment orders are due 16 days from the close of record, background check and childcare assistance cases are due within 55 days from the close of record and in a juvenile parole revocation the ALJ must rule orally on the record and issue a written decision within 48 hours. These hearings are typically telephonic, but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
Health Care Authority (HCA) - The HCA is a state agency with overall responsibility for providing medical coverage and services. The HCA determines eligibility for health care coverage, long-term care, and in-home care services, which are funded, in part, through Medicaid. An ALJ holds hearings to determine an appellant’s financial and functional eligibility for coverage and services, participation rates for long-term care, and the amount of in-home care hours. The Department is represented by an administrative hearing specialist through the Department of Social and Health Services or other contracting agency, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic or in-person and may be 30 minutes to three hours long. Some travel may be involved. HCA orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 18 days of the close of record.
Licensing (LIC) - Licensing is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). ALJs hold a prehearing conference and hearing regarding vulnerable individuals in adult family homes and/or residential homes with issues relating to abuse and neglect by the individual provider or the facility. The alleged individual and/or facility files the request for appeal with OAH. The Department is represented by a Legal Benefits Attorney/Adviser and the Appellants are often represented by counsel. An initial order is issued within 60 days of the close of record except for the resident and client protection program where the initial order is due within 120 days of the request for hearing. A final order is issued in an assisted living facility license case within 60 days of the close of record. These hearings are typically telephonic, but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) - The MAGI caseload is a subset of the HCA caseload and consists of appeals from denials of Washington Apple Health benefits. These denials are primarily due to the appellant exceeding the maximum income level for eligibility. The ALJ first holds a prehearing conference to set a case schedule, including an evidentiary hearing date. Evidentiary hearings take place via Webex, and are generally one to two hours in duration, depending on complexity. The ALJ then issues an initial order within 60 days of OAH’s receipt of the hearing request.
Public Assistance (PA) - The PA caseload is administered by the Economic Services Administration (ESA) of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Nearly one out of every four Washington residents turns to the DSHS ESA for assistance with cash, food, child support, disability determination, transition to employment, and other services known as “benefits” programs. ALJs hold hearings to make determinations including, but not limited to general eligibility, overpayments, and the correctness of departmental actions such as reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits. In PA cases, the department is represented by administrative hearings specialists. Hearings are scheduled for a duration of 30 minutes or more depending on the case type, involvement of interpreter services, and the complexity of the subject matter. There are a wide variety of PA programs; thus, PA decisions can be either initial or final orders (depending on the applicable regulations). ALJs are required to issue PA decisions as soon as possible but no later than 16, 21, or 60 days of the close of record, unless an earlier decision is required by regulation.
Regulatory (REG)
The Regulatory (REG) caseload consists of appeals or claims arising out of administrative action involving over 25 state agencies, as well as numerous local government agencies. ALJs apply the state APA and any hearing rules prescribed by referring agencies. Parties to proceedings include general and electrical contractors, wage claimants, college students, police officers, drivers cited for speeding in construction zones, and individuals and businesses licensed by the Department of Licensing and the Liquor and Cannabis Board, among many others. An ALJ first holds a prehearing conference to set a case schedule, including witness and exhibit disclosures, motion practice, and a hearing date. Depending on complexity, cases will resolve on summary judgment, or through an evidentiary hearing. OAH issues either an initial order, a final order, or no order at all, depending on the agency and type of case involved. Dispositive orders, if issued, are generally due 60 days after the close of record following a full adjudicative proceeding, 10 days after the close of record following a brief adjudicative proceeding, and 30 days after the close of dispositive motion briefing and/or argument.
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
The UI caseload includes hearings on all initial appeals from UI related decisions made by the Employment Security Department (ESD). Appeals may be filed by either a claimant or former employer and are filed through the ESD. ESD transmits those appeals to OAH on a daily basis. The professional staff then schedule hearings, mail Notices of Hearing to the parties, and generally manage the case pre-and-post hearing. ALJs hear the cases (almost exclusively via teleconference) and then write and issue appropriate orders. In the normal course of business ALJs have five business days to produce an order, however in order to meet Department of Labor (DOL) standards, ALJs may be required to produce orders more quickly in cases where a DOL deadline will arrive in less than five business days. Completed orders are then distributed to the relevant parties by the professional staff.