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SNAP 1506-1 CASE MANAGEMENT Requesting an Administrative Hearing/Continuation of Benefits Supersedes: FS 1506-1 (04/01/17) Reference: 7 CFR 273.15; ARM 37.5.304; .307; .313; .316; .318; .322; .325; .328; .331; .334; .503; .505. Overview: An administrative hearing is granted to any applicant who requests a hearing because their application is denied or is not acted upon with reasonable promptness and to any client who is aggrieved by any adverse action taken by the Department. The hearing request must be submitted, within 90 days of the Department’s action notice. A hearing request is defined as a clear expression by the applicant/client (claimant), or their authorized representative acting for them, that they want the opportunity to present their case to a higher authority. The freedom to make such a request will not be limited or interfered with in any way. The Department may assist the claimant to submit and process the request. The individual’s administrative hearing rights, how to request a hearing and/or continuation of benefits pending the hearing decision and repayment, if the decision is in favor of the Department are stated on the reverse side of the notice informing the individual of the Department’s action. If a verbal SNAP administrative hearing request is received, field staff should immediately email the administrative hearing request to the Office of Administrative Hearings (HHSOFH@mt.gov). The request must include the client’s name, mailing address, phone number and adverse action reason (e.g., SNAP closure). The verbal SNAP hearing request must be documented in case notes and indicate the hearing request was sent to the Office of Administrative Hearings. If the request was received by email, the email should be forwarded to the OAH (hhsofh@mt.gov) through the File Transfer Service (ePass). If a written request is received over the desk for SNAP, TANF and/or Health Coverage: date stamp the document, scan the document(s) to Perceptive under tab labeled Fraud/Integrity and sub tab labeled Administrative Hearing; and send an electronic scan of the documents to the OAH (hhsofh@mt.gov) the same business day of receipt. This scan must be sent to the OAH using the File Transfer Service (ePass). Once scanned and sent electronically to the OAH, the original copy may be shredded. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) household may request an administrative hearing related to 'restoration of lost benefits' for benefits which were lost more than 90 days but less than one year prior to the hearing request or to dispute its current level of benefits at any time within the certification period. EXPEDITED: