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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 16000 16500 The Administrative Hearing Process 16530 The Hearing

16530 The Hearing SNAP Manual 12/01/00 The hearing will normally be held in the DHS county office in the county where the household resides. The hearing may be held in another DHS county office if this is more convenient for the household or the representative. The hearing may be held in the household’s home or at any other reasonable location in the county if so requested.

16531 The County Office’s Responsibilities SNAP Manual 12/01/00 The DHS county office must provide an area where an administrative hearing can be conducted privately. The county must be prepared for the hearing. If legal assistance is needed, the ES supervisor should request assistance by memorandum to the Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel. A county representative must be designated prior to the time of the hearing. The county representative must be prepared to represent the county at the time the hearing is scheduled. The county representative must be familiar enough with the case that he or she can answer pertinent questions from either the hearing official or the household. The county worker will assist the household in preparing for the hearing if such assistance is requested.

16532 The Hearing Officer SNAP Manual 12/01/00 The Office of Appeals and Hearings will designate all hearing officers. The hearing officer must not have any personal interest or involvement in the case and must not have been involved in the contested action either as a county office worker or in a supervisory capacity. The hearing officer may not review the case record or other material either prior to or at the hearing unless such material is made available to the household or a representative.