134.11 Extension Review Process SR 01-11, 04/01(FAM-A)

The Hardship Review Committee

The Hardship Review Committee, composed of 2 Departmental employees and 5 individuals representing community agencies, evaluates extension requests made by open NHEP financial assistance AG’s between month 54 through month 58, or between month 4 and month 6 of an extension, and all requests for extension made by NHEP AG’s reapplying after cash benefits were terminated due to a time limit, and has the sole authority to approve or deny these requests.

The Committee bases its decision either to approve or deny a request for a hardship extension on the completed Form 785, the verification provided by the assistance group, and any other information and documentation included with Form 785.

Assistance groups will be informed in writing of the decision of the Hardship Review Committee, and of the recipient’s right to request an Administrative Appeal, as follows:

• Currently open NHEP AG’s requesting an extension between months 54 and month 58 or month 4 and month 6 of an extension will be issued official written notice of the Committee’s decision as soon as possible after the Hardship Review Interview and Form 785 have been completed, and documentation has been provided, but no later than the last month for which the AG is eligible to receive TANF; and

• NHEP AG’s reapplying after reaching a time limit and requesting an extension will be issued official written notice of the Committee’s decision as soon as possible but no later than the 45th day after the date on which an application for NHEP financial assistance was filed at the District Office.

Assistance groups denied an extension are entitled to an advance notice period, and have the right to file for an Administrative Appeal and to request a continuation of TANF financial assistance pending the outcome of the hearing, provided the request for continuation of benefits is made within the advance notice period.

If an Administrative Appeal is requested, the DFA State Office Extension Review Coordinator or designee, and the DFA Supervisor or NHES Manager (for NHEP participants) must attend.

Special Hardship Review Procedures

Review of Extension Requests Submitted After Month 58 and Before Month 60

The DFA Director or designee may approve or deny extensions for cases that make an official extension request after having received TANF financial assistance for more 58 months but less than 60 months.

Assistance groups requesting an extension after month 58 and before month 60 will be issued a manual notice of the Director/designee’s decision as soon as possible after the face-to-face interview and Form 785 have been completed, and documentation has been provided.

Open Cases Whose Hardship Extension Decision Has Not Been Reached Prior to Month 60 or the End of a Current Extension Period

If the Committee or DFA Director has received all required materials but has not issued a decision on the hardship request at the time any adult in the assistance group has received TANF financial assistance for 60 months or for the 6 months of an extension period, the assistance group must have its financial assistance benefits continued beyond the 60th month or end of the extension pending the decision.

TANF assistance groups whose benefits have been continued as noted above are not required to repay the benefits if the department determines that the assistance group does not meet one of the extension criteria.