12 Fair Hearings,2605(b)(13) - Assurance 13

12.1 How many fair hearings did the Grant recipient have in the prior federal Fiscal Year? 484 12.2 How many of those fair hearings resulted in the initial decision being reversed? 70 12.3 Describe any policy and/or procedural changes made in the last federal Fiscal Year as a result of fair hearings? none 12.4 Describe your fair hearing procedures for households whose applications are denied and/or not acted upon in a timely manner. Individuals whose applications for HEAP benefits are denied are afforded an opportunity for a fair administrative hearing conducted by the NYS OTDA Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). All client notices, both approvals and denials contain information on how to request a fair hearing. All HEAP applications contain information on how to request a fair hearing. Districts are required to make determinations and provide notification on eligibility decisions on applications for HEAP benefits within 30 business days after the filing of such application or within 30 business days of program opening for applications received during the early outreach period (prior to program opening). Applications which are incomplete may be pended for up to 10 business days and the pending period is not counted in the 30 business day timeframe for providing notification. Individuals whose applications for HEAP benefits are not acted upon by districts within the established timeframes are afforded an opportunity for a fair hearing conducted by NYS OTDA. 12.5 When and how are applicants informed of these rights? When an applicant first applies for a HEAP benefit, they are informed of their fair hearing rights in their initial eligibility notification. This information is also available on OTDA's website, contained in client informational booklets and in the HEAP Application (LDSS-3421) instructions. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.