Page 31
31 | P a g e
5.0 NOTICE OF SERVICES A determination notice must be provided to all MEAP applicants notifying the household of the services included in their energy security plan. 5.1 APPROVAL PROCESS Households who are approved for MEAP direct payment assistance must receive a written notice of approval. The notice should include any contributions the household must make to resolve the crisis. If the household is approved for a home energy supplier affordable payment plan, the terms of the program must be provided along with the approval notice. 5.2 DENIAL PROCESS Households who are denied MEAP benefits must receive a written notice of denial including the reason for the denial. The denial notice must include information on how to request a review of the denial and an appeal form (Request for Review). If the client is denied assistance due to lack of Grantee funding, the notice should also include a referral to another Grantee. 5.2.1 CLIENT APPEAL/REQUEST FOR REVIEW Grantees shall establish a procedure by which clients wishing to contest a decision or the timeliness of such a decision may be referred to MPSC for a re-examination (Second Review Process). MEAP households must be able to contest decisions for denials and other compliance issues. The client or their representative has 90 calendar days, from the date of the written notice, to request a review. The MEAP Grantee must review the determination for accuracy and program requirements, in an attempt to resolve the complaint. The review must be completed by someone other than the person who completed the intake, such as a supervisor or manager. In the event that the client remains dissatified with the action taken, the Request for Review must be forwarded to MPSC. The case must be documented to indicate what actions were taken. Copies of Requests for Reviews must be retained in the client's file. All escalated requests for review must be sent to MPSC within 10 business days from the date the escalated request was received by the Grantee. 5.2.2 GRANTEE OUT OF FUNDS LETTERS MEAP households seeking assistance must receive a written notice that the Grantee has exhausted their funds. The Grantee must work with other MEAP Grantees to facilitate the referral of clients within a timely manner. The notice must clearly state that the Grantee has exhausted MEAP funds and provide information regarding other MEAP Grantees and include an appeal form or Request for Review.