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84 | P a g e October 25 4. A mass change affecting the claimant's eligibility or benefit level occurs while the hearing decision is pending. 5. Claimant refuses to cooperate with requests for information for Quality Control review. TIMELY ACTION ON HEARINGS: Within ninety (90) days, the Department must conduct a hearing, and notify the claimant, the sub-grantee, and all other parties involved in the decision. REQUEST FROM TRANSIENT HOUSEHOLDS: The Department shall expedite hearing requests from households, such as migrants and farm workers, who plan to move from the jurisdiction of the hearing official before the hearing decision would normally be reached. Hearing requests from these households shall be processed faster than others, if necessary, to enable them to receive a decision and a restoration of benefits if the decision indicates so before they leave the area. 5.8 Request for Fair Hearing SERVICE: Service with the Department shall be deemed completed upon the delivery of a request as defined below. DEFINITION OF REQUEST: A request for a hearing is any clear expression, oral or written, by the claimant or authorized representative to present his or her case to a higher authority. The claimant who orally requests a Fair Hearing will be asked to fill out the form on the LIHEAP notification letter. The sub-grantee shall assist the household in preparing the written request, if necessary. TIME ALLOWED TO FILE: The claimant shall have a reasonable time, not to exceed ninety (90) days, in which to request a hearing. ASSISTING THE CLAIMANT: To help the claimant to submit and preserve his or her request for a Fair Hearing, the sub-grantee shall carry out the following duties. DUTY OF SUB-GRANTEE STAFF 1. Claimants who need assistance in making their Fair Hearing requests shall have the help as necessary extended by the staff of the sub-grantee office. 2. Requests for Fair Hearings shall be accepted, and date and time stamped by the sub- grantee office for submission to the Hearing Officer. 3. Upon request for a Fair Hearing, the sub-grantee shall make available, without charge, the specific materials, including the hearing rules, necessary for the claimant or his/her representative to prepare for a hearing. 4. The claimant will be advised of any free legal service available to him/her.