Page 48
48 iii. Households certified for one month only, or initially certified for two months during the month following the month of application, must be sent the expiration notice at the time of certification. (c) Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). When a social services agency accepts or denies your application for HEAP benefits or determines that you are eligible for HEAP benefits but Federal funds are unavailable, you have a right to adequate notice. (d) Public assistance and medical assistance programs: exceptions to timely notice requirements. 1. As a recipient of either public assistance or medical assistance you have the right to adequate notice sent no later than the effective date of the proposed action when: i. the social services agency has factual information confirming the death of a recipient or the payee of a family assistance case, and there is reliable information that no relative is available to serve as a new payee; or ii. the social services agency has received a clear written statement signed by you which includes information that requires the social services agency to discontinue or reduce your public assistance or medical assistance and you have indicated in such statement that you understand that such action will be taken as a result of supplying such information; or iii. the social services agency has received a clear written statement from you indicating that you no longer wish to receive public assistance or medical assistance; or iv. the agency has reliable information that you have been admitted or committed to an institution or prison which renders you ineligible for assistance or services under the Social Services Law; or v. your whereabouts are unknown and mail addressed to you by the social services agency has been returned by the post office with an indication that there is no known forwarding address. However, public assistance or medical assistance will be given to you if the social services agency is made aware of your whereabouts during the period covered by the returned public assistance check or medical assistance authorization; or vi. you have been accepted for public assistance or medical assistance in another local social services district, state, territory or commonwealth, and that acceptance has been verified by the social services district previously providing you with such assistance. 2. As a recipient of public assistance, you have the right to adequate notice sent no later than the date of the proposed action when the following actions affect your public assistance grant: i. you have been placed for long-term care in a skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility or hospital; or ii. a child has been removed from your home as a result of a judicial determination, or voluntarily placed in foster care by the child's legal guardian; or iii. a special allowance granted for a specific period has been terminated and you had been informed in writing at the time that you were first granted the special allowance