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Approved Applications Upon application approval, the applicant must be notified of their approval, as well as the amount of benefits awarded, in writing using notification letters generated by the statewide database. LSPs must retain documentation of the household's notification letters, which include the client’s appeal rights, in the client's file. The approval letter must be sent within one (1) business day of approval determination. 5.6 Client Appeals Applicants may appeal any eligibility determination with which they do not agree, including a denial, or the perceived failure of an LSP to take action on a submitted application within a reasonable timeframe. Allowing a client to appeal an LSP decision is mandatory for the Energy Assistance Program. The appeals procedure must be communicated to households whose assistance has been denied. When the LSP provides written notification of denial to an applicant, the notification must include the household's right to appeal that determination. This information is included on the Applicant Denial Letter. All applicants’ appeal rights must be honored, even if they are appealing after the end of the application period. An applicant may appeal by submitting a handwritten letter or by using the “Appeal” function on the statewide database. Step One: The client must send their written appeal to the local LSP’s EAP Manager or Executive Director within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the denial. The LSP’s Executive Director or EAP Manager determines the applicant’s eligibility on review within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the applicant’s written appeal. All appeal documentation must be uploaded to the statewide database and notes entered into the statewide database, and IHCDA’s Community Programs Manager must be notified of denied appeals. LSPs must retain documentation of the appeal process, including the original appeal, the agency response, and all correspondence related to the appeal, in the client's file. The LSP must send the applicant both the database-generated appeal determination notification and an explanation of how the appeal was considered and why the agency came to its determination. This letter must be sent within one (1) business day of determination. Step Two: If the applicant is not satisfied with the LSP’s determination, they may request formal review by the State, but it must be submitted in writing or through the online application portal. This request is made by submitting the appeal to IHCDA’s Community Programs Manager for the Energy Assistance Program. The LSP may submit this appeal on behalf of the client or the client may submit it directly to IHCDA. This request for formal review must be made within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the LSP’s appeal determination. IHCDA’s Community Program Manager reviews the materials submitted and issues a written finding to the applicant and the LSP, based on the documentation submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt. The IHCDA Community Programs Manager response will consist of both the database-generated appeal determination notification and an explanation of how the appeal was considered and why they came to their determination. The decision of the IHCDA Community Programs Manager is final. There is no longer an option for a third level appeal.