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106.2 TANF MANUAL 4/06 Page 3

B. The hearing will be conducted at a time, date, and place convenient to the claimant(s) and adequate preliminary written notice will be given. The hearing may be conducted via a telephone hearing or a teleconference if the applicant or recipient agrees.* The claimant will be requested to advise the local agency or the hearing officer immediately if the scheduled date or place is inconvenient for him but, without such notification it is assumed the arrangements are convenient.

The local agency is responsible for assuring that the claimant has transportation to the hearing if he is unable to make his own arrangements.

When a claimant, for good cause, indicates that the scheduled date is not convenient, the hearing date may be extended. The hearing officer will determine whether the provision of extension is being abused and reserves the right to set a date beyond which the hearing will not be delayed. Reasons for extending the hearing date shall include, but not be limited to, illness or a disability of the claimant or of a child or other member of the claimant’s household for which the individual is responsible for care which prevents the individual from participating on the scheduled date, temporary absence from the locality, or unavailability of claimant's legal counsel or witnesses.

C. The hearing is to be conducted in an informal atmosphere, and every effort will be made to arrive at the facts of the case in a way most conducive to putting the claimant at ease. It is the hearing officer's responsibility to assure that this is done, and he may, within his discretion, designate those persons who may attend the hearing or the particular portion of the hearing they may attend. He has full authority to recess the hearing or to continue it to another date in the interest of fairness.

D. Specific Hearing Procedures

1. Identification of those present for the record.

2. Opening statement by the hearing officer explaining the hearing's purpose, procedure to be followed, how and by whom a decision may be made and communicated to claimant and local agency, and the option of either party, if decision is made by the hearing officer, to request review of said decision by the Commissioner's appeals review panel.

3. The claimant and/or his representative shall have the opportunity to:

a. examine all documents and records which are used at the hearing;

*45 CFR 205.10(a)(2)

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