Notification of the Right to Request a Hearing

(A) At the time of application, and at the time of any Department action affecting his or her assistance, each applicant or client shall be informed in writing of his or her right to a hearing, how to request a hearing and of the right to an authorized representative. (B) At any time that an applicant or client indicates disagreement with a Department action, he or she shall be told of the right to request a fair hearing. The Department shall help the applicant or client by providing an appeal form and, if asked, help completing the form. The Department must assure the unrestricted freedom to request a fair hearing. (C) If there is an individual or organization that gives free legal representation, the person asking for a hearing shall be told of the availability of that service.