134.11 Extension Review Process SR 06-12, 10/06 (FAM-A)

The Hardship Review Committee

The Hardship Review Committee, composed of 2 Departmental employees and 5 individuals representing community agencies, has the sole authority to approve or deny hardship extension requests made by:

• open AGs who have received NHEP/UP financial assistance for at least 54 months;

• AGs who are between month 4 and month 6 of an extension; and

• all requests for extension made by NHEP/UP AG’s reapplying after cash benefits were terminated due to the 60-month state lifetime limit.

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

Notification of the Committee’s Decision on the Request

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/UP AG’s requesting an extension after month 54 or between 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 required documentation has been provided; or

• NHEP/UP AG’s reapplying for an extension after being closed due to reaching the time limit 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/UP financial assistance was filed at the District Office. The Hardship Extension Coordinator may grant a temporary approval on reapplications after 60 months to meet the 45-day TANF/UP processing timeframe. The temporary approval remains in effect until such time as the Committee makes a final decision. If the Committee eventually denies the individual’s request for a hardship extension, the benefits that were issued in the interim approval period are not recouped.

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/UP financial assistance pending the outcome of the hearing, provided the request for continuation of benefits is made within the advance notice period. However, if the client loses the appeal, the benefits received during the period between the Committee denial and the administrative appeal are subject to recoupment.

If an Administrative Appeal is requested, the DFA State Office Hardship Extension Coordinator or designee, the DFA Supervisor and the FSS (for exempt individuals) or the ECS (for mandatory participants) must attend.