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1003 Chapter 7:Worker guides • Section 1: Multiple program worker guides (07/2026) Individuals have a right to hearings Individuals are given the right to a hearing by the U. S. Constitution, federal law, state statute and ODHS|OHA’s administrative rules (see OAR 461-025-0310 for a list of nearly all situations in which a person has a right to a hearing). Most but not all hearings are requested after an individual has received a notice that benefits will be denied, reduced, or closed. A person also has a right to a hearing when they dispute the level of benefits that have been approved, the effective date that their benefits began, when ODHS|OHA claims an overpayment, when it denies a listing requested by a child care provider or Home Care Worker (HCW), and when ODHS|OHA claims the individual committed an intentional program violation (IPV). See OAR 461-025-0316 for information on IPV hearing requests. Resolving disputes Many cases can be resolved informally, prior to the hearing, when staff explain the situation to the individual and review the policy that was used to make the decision in question. Hearing Reps often use informal conferences to resolve cases. When a case is resolved informally following a hearing request, specific steps must be taken (see below). How staff become involved Hearing Reps represent ODHS|OHA in most hearings, but staff will be responsible for some parts of the process. For instance, reviewing for expedited hearing criteriaExpedited hearings are is usually handled by designated staff (HSS4/HSS3 Lead/Community Resource Coordinator), see Expedited hearings below for more information. All staff need to be alert to an individual’s need for translated material, for documents in alternative format, and for an interpreter. The Office of Administrative Hearings obtains interpreters for hearings. ODHS|OHA staff continue to work as appropriate with an individual who has requested a hearing, following applicable rules including those on individual confidentiality. Before the hearing: Staff may become involved when an individual wants to request a hearing. The Administrative Hearing Request MSC 443 form is used to request a hearing. For SNAP and Medical programs, hearings may be requested orally or in writing, without the use of a specific form. Staff should assist an individual in completing a hearing request as necessary, for instance by providing the individual the correct form, accepting a written request, or responding to an oral request as appropriate. For SNAP and Medical programs, where individuals may request a hearing orally, staff must complete the MSC 443 for that individual. • When an individual makes an oral request for a SNAP or Medical hearing, staff should fill out the form completely, with the exception of the individual signature. Enter the date of the oral request in the boxes for both the “date of initial request” and the “date 443 received by ODHS or OHA.” Forward the completed form to Central Office within 24 hours of the date the hearing was requested, as described below, and send a courtesy copy to the individual. Do not delay SNAP or Medical hearing requests by sending the individual a form to sign and return. A signed request is not required for SNAP and Medical programs; • When an individual makes an oral request for a hearing in a program other than SNAP or Medical, mail or give the individual a blank MSC 443 form. Do not establish the Date of Request until a completed and signed MSC 443 is received by ODHS|OHA. When mailing the blank Form MSC 443, it is helpful if staff first complete the