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? 6056 12.2 How many of those fair hearings resulted in the initial decision being reversed? 5 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. •The client must appeal within 30 days from the date of the written notice of a CAO decision or action. They may appeal by completing and signing the appeal section of any notice, sending a written or faxed request to the CAO, telling the CAO and following it up with a written request within 3 days, or sending a written request to the agency which notified the client of the decision. •The CAO/agency will offer the client and his representative the opportunity to have a prehearing conference. This conference may be by telephone or face-to face. A prehearing conference is an effort to resolve an issue between the client and the CAO/agency before going to a hearing. If the issue can be resolved at the prehearing conference, the work and expense of an appeal hearing can be eliminated. The prehearing conference does not affect the client's right to have a hearing and it does not affect the requirements for submitting requests timely to Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (BHA). •The BHA will designate an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who has the authority to make a decision on an appeal. The Director of BHA will affirm, amend, reverse, or remand the decision. The CAO, administering agency, or provider agency is bound by the decision, but may request reconsideration by the Secretary of Human Services. Only the client has the right to appeal to Commonwealth Court. 12.5 When and how are applicants informed of these rights? Applicants sign a certification page as a condition of application. It states, “I understand I have the right to appeal any decision or undue delay in decision which I consider improper regarding this application.” The explanation of the right to appeal also appears on the notice they receive informing them of the decision on their request for benefits 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.