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82 | P a g e October 25 5.6 Notification Letter PURPOSE: Notification letters (About Your Case, AYC) regarding approvals, denials and pending status are to be sent to each household. AYC letters will be generated from the CHIMES computer system. At the time of any adverse action affecting the recipient's benefits, the sub- grantee must use a notification letter for providing, in accordance with the definitions and policies contained in 6.5 Notice of Adverse Action, timely notice which shall be adequate. The sub-grantee shall notify every household: 1. Of the eligibility determination of the LIHEAP application and reason for any adverse action if applicable. 2. Of the Notice of Fair Hearing rights. 3. If the applicant has been determined eligible for Weatherization, notification to the household shall contain the following: "Because of limited funds, homes are prioritized for weatherization on a priority basis with special consideration given to disabled or elderly. You will be notified if funds become available to weatherize your home. If you haven’t been notified within 1 year, you must reapply to be reassigned priority for service. If your home has been weatherized in the past, it may not be eligible to be weatherized again.” 4. When they discontinue utility service, change address or fuel type, LIHEAP benefit will be returned to the Department. 5. That the household who is reimbursed for paid energy costs must provide paid receipts no later than June 20th, or the unused portion of the benefit will be returned to the Department. DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS: AYC letter is available in the CHIMES computer system. Special circumstance notices may be manually generated via CHIMES as needed.

5.7 Right to Fair Hearings CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH FAIR HEARINGS ARE GRANTED: Any claimant who is aggrieved by any action of the Department is entitled to a Fair Hearing, including all rights to review and appeal provided by the Fair Hearing process. However, a hearing need not be granted when either state or federal law requires automatic grant adjustments for classes of recipients unless the reason for an individual appeal is incorrect eligibility, coverage, or benefit adjustment.