Page 19

TANF STATE PLAN STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Page 19 Revision Date: July 1, 2025

Clients must be informed of the decision in writing. If assistance is denied, the notice must explain the reason for denial. 5. Initial Benefits Provided the family meets all FIP eligibility requirements, assistance must begin no earlier than the pay period in which the application becomes 30 days old. If the application becomes 30 days old and the group has not met all FIP eligibility requirements, assistance begins for the first pay period when the family meets eligibility requirements. Pay periods are semi-monthly periods, from the first through the 15th of the month and the 16th through the last day of the month. 6. Administrative Hearings Applicants and recipients have the right to an administrative hearing to contest a denial of their application or adverse actions affecting their eligibility or the amount of benefits. The application form and written notices of case actions inform clients of their hearing rights.

A hearing request must be in writing and signed by the client or the client’s authorized representative. The request must be made within 90 days from the date of the written notice of case action and requested by the client. In order to maintain or restore assistance, the MDHHS must receive a request within 10 days of the notice of case action. The client is not entitled to assistance pending the hearing when the action is a denial at application.

Final action on hearing requests, including implementation of a decision and order of the Administrative Law Judge, must be completed within 90 days from the date of the hearing request. However, the client has the right to appeal a final decision to circuit court within 30 days after that decision is received. The 90-day implementation period is waived only if the circuit court grants an order to stay the implementation.

MDHHS and Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) maintain joint authority over the Administrative Law Judges. 7. Confidentiality Information about individuals and families receiving assistance is confidential and may be released only under limited circumstances for five general purposes:

• Release of information necessary for the administration of the program or of other federal or federally assisted programs which provide assistance in cash, in kind, or in services to individuals based on need. This includes information necessary to the investigation or prosecution of criminal or civil proceedings related to program administration, and audits related to program administration and conducted by a government agency authorized to do so.