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APPEAL PROCESS TANF MANUAL CHAPTER 100
APPEAL PROCEDURES 10/18 106.1
106.1 PROCESSING OF APPEAL
A. The appeal request, upon receipt by the Hearings Manager, is assigned to a hearing officer for validation. The hearing officer will acknowledge the request by letter to the claimant with a copy to his representative, if known, and to the local agency against which the appeal is lodged.
B. The local agency shall prepare an Appeal Summary of Facts (032-03-0444) in the case to be forwarded to the hearing officer no fewer than 7 days prior to the hearing. A general outline of this summary follows, although the content may vary to fit the particular case situation. All statements made should be factual and phrased in a way not objectionable to claimant.
The Appeal Summary of Facts includes the following:
1. Identifying Information
Name of local agency Name, address, and case number of claimant Persons included in the assistance unit - Name, birth date, relationship to claimant Other persons in the household - names, relationship to claimant
2. Date of Request and Reason for Appeal - (Quoting claimant's own words in requesting hearing)
3. Statement of Agency Action
a. Give a brief, factual statement of the reason for agency action, or failure to act, nature and date of agency action. If agency error, negligence, or administrative breakdown was involved, say so.
b. Under the heading "agency guidance," give citation and quotation from the TANF Manual of the guidance statement on which agency action was based.
c. If the amount of assistance is in question, give a detailed breakdown of the claimant's financial circumstances as shown in VaCMS and on the application with whatever explanation may be necessary.
d. If the issue appealed is noncooperation with DCSE, give a detailed explanation of the events, dates, and the reason for the noncooperation finding.
4. State whether assistance is continuing during the appeal process in the amount authorized immediately prior to the adverse action.
TANF Transmittal 65