Located in:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
States that include TANF in the Combined State Plan must outline how the State will meet the requirements of section 402 of the Social Security Act including how it will:
(OMB Control Number: 0970-0145)
k. Set forth objective criteria for the delivery of benefits and the determination of eligibility and for fair and equitable treatment, including an explanation of how it will provide opportunities for recipients who have been adversely affected to be heard in a State administrative or appeal process (section 402(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act)
Current Narrative:
- If a Temporary Assistance application is not acted upon within a reasonable length of time after the filing of the application or is denied in whole or in part, or if any benefits are canceled or modified and concurrently with each reinvestigation, the applicant or program recipient shall be notified in writing by the Family Support Division of his/her right to appeal to the Director. However, those program recipients receiving the maximum payment allowed by law will not be notified of their right to appeal on the basis of the amount of grant following the completion of a reinvestigation of their case. Procedure for the conduct of the hearings shall be simple, informal, and summary, but the rules of evidence as applied to civil cases in Missouri shall be applied.
- Within a reasonable time after the conclusion of a hearing the Director will render a decision, which will include a statement of the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. A copy of the decision will be sent to the appellant by registered United States mail. A copy will also be mailed to the county Family Support Division office and to any duly authorized representative of the appellant.
- There is established the position of state hearing officer within the Division of Legal Services in order to comply with all pertinent federal and state laws and regulations. State hearing officers shall have authority to conduct state level hearings of a pre- determination or appeal nature; they shall serve as direct representatives of the Director. All decisions issued as a result of the hearing so conducted by the hearing officers shall be in the name of the Director. Although the hearing officers may be assigned to a certain area, this authority to conduct hearings shall be statewide. The authority of the hearing officers to conduct hearings shall apply to all programs administered by the Director.