R986-100-121. Agency Conferences

(1) An agency conference is used to resolve disputes between a client and Department staff only in cases involving denial of expedited SNAP assistance. (2) A client may have an authorized representative attend the agency conference. (3) An agency conference will be attended by the client's eligibility worker and the worker's supervisor unless the client or the supervisor request that the employment counselor not attend the conference. (4) If an agency conference has previously been held on the same dispute, the Department may decline to hold the requested conference if, in the judgment of the eligibility worker's supervisor, it will not result in the resolution of the dispute. (5) If the Department requests an agency conference and the client fails to respond, attend, or otherwise cooperate in the process, documentation in the case file of attempts by the staff to follow these steps will be considered as compliance with the requirement to attempt to resolve the dispute. (6)(a) An agency conference may be held after a client has made a request for hearing in an effort to resolve the dispute. (b) If an agency conference is held, the client must be notified that failure to participate or failure to resolve the dispute at the agency conference will not affect the client's right to proceed with the hearing.