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who requests one because his or her claim for financial assistance is denied or is not acted upon with reasonable promptness, and to any recipient who is aggrieved by a DFCS action resulting in suspension, reduction, discontinuance, or termination of assistance or determination that a protective, vendor, or two-party payment should be made or continued. A hearing request is a clear expression made by an applicant, recipient, or his or her authorized representative that such individual wants the opportunity to present the applicant’s or recipient’s case to a higher authority. The hearing request, made verbally or in writing, must be directed to the applicant’s or recipient’s county DFCS office in accordance with and within the timeframes outlined in DFCS policy. The State Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH) will conduct a hearing. The applicant or recipient may represent themselves at the hearing or may authorize another person (e.g., an authorized representative, such as legal counsel, relative, or friend) to act on his or her behalf. The continuation of benefits and recovery for the overpayment of benefits will be made in accordance with applicable regulations and DFCS policy.

Effective May 8, 2018, in accordance with O.C.G.A. Section 50-13-41(c), every decision of an OSAH judge is a final decision. If the applicant or recipient (also referred to as the petitioner) or DHS DFCS seeks to appeal the final decision, a petition for judicial review shall be made by the commencement of a civil action, with the proper service of process made in accordance with applicable law, in the Fulton County Superior Court or in the superior court of the county of residence of the petitioner within 30 calendar days after service of the final decision from OSAH.

D. Elder Care Provision

Georgia does not intend to fund any special initiative for training or employment of individuals providing direct care in long-term facilities or in occupations providing eldercare. On a case-by- case basis, a TANF recipient may receive assistance or services while they are pursuing training or employment to provide such eldercare. In this regard, assistance or services will include payment for short-term training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), supplies, uniforms, equipment, etc.

VII. Certifications

Georgia will operate a program to provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; dependence of needy parents on government benefits ends by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies is prevented and reduced and annual numerical goals to prevent and reduce the incidence of these pregnancies are established; and formation and maintenance of two-parent families are encouraged.

This program is known as the Georgia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program and the grant received by families under this program will be called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance.

The Chief Executive Officer of the State of Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, in administering and operating a program that provides Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) with minor children under title IV-A of the Social Security Act, certifies the following: