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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 9

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 9 Chapter 9 Client Notification

9.3 NOTICE OF ACTION RESULTING IN A CHANGE IN BENEFITS Three forms are central to client notification of a change in benefits, whether this change occurs at redetermination, or as a result of a case maintenance activity. • The DFA-NL-B, Notification Letter, Action Taken on the Benefits You Receive from DOHS is used to notify the client of an increase in benefits, of action taken resulting in no benefit change, and, in very few instances, of a decrease or case closure. • The DFA-NL-C, Notification Letter: Pending Change In The Benefits You Receive, is used to notify the client of case closure or a decrease in benefits when advance notice is required. Advance Notice is required for most adverse actions, as defined below. • DFA-FH-1, Pre-Hearing Conference and/or Fair Hearing Request Form, must always accompany the DFA-NL-B, DFA-NL-C, and DFA-WVW-NL-1. In addition, these notices are used for client notification in certain circumstances: • DFA-NL-5, Waiver of 13-Days Advance Notice, • DFA-6, Notice of Information Needed and DFA-6A, Spenddown Explanation • DFA-WVW-NL-1, Notice of Pending Reduction of Benefits (WV WORKS only) • DFA-10, Appointment Letter The use of each of these forms is described below. 9.3.1 ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS A client must receive advance notice in all situations involving adverse actions except those described in the Adverse Actions Not Requiring Advance Notice section below. The advance notice requirement is that notification be mailed to the client at least 13 days prior to the first day of the month in which the benefits are affected. NOTE: Client notification must be sent even when the only client in the AG dies. NOTE: The date on the notice must be the date it is mailed.