Post-TANF Approval Notice

Post-TANF Approval Notice

/ Program: / Branch: / Case number: / Wkr ID:
Case name: / File:
Self Sufficiency Programs
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families / Date:

Post-TANF Approval Notice

(Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF))

You are approved for a Post-TANF payment of $50 for the month of April 2012 only.
You are approved for April 2012 only because the Post-TANF program is ending on
April 30, 2012. The Post-TANF program is ending due to a lack of state funds. All
Post-TANF payments for everyone will stop.

Oregon Administrative Rules: 461-110-0210, 461-120-0010, 461-120-0630(1),
461-130-0325, 461-135-0070(1), 461-135-1250, 461-140-0040, 461-170-0010,
461-170-0011

If you disagree with this action, you have a right to a hearing. Because the Post-TANF program is ending on April 30, 2012, a continuation of your current level of benefits pending the outcome of any administrative hearing on this notice is not available.
Please read Part 1 on the back of this form for more information.

Worker signature: / Date:

What You Can Do When You Do Not Agree with This Decision

You have the right to a hearing

Even though this change affects everyone who gets a Post-TANF payment, you have a right to request a hearing. Please refer to the “What You Can Do When You Do Not Agree with This Decision” section for more information. Because the Post-TANF program is ending effective April 30, 2012, a continuation of your current level of benefits pending the outcome of any administrative hearing on this notice is not available.

Oregon Administrative Rules

This notice is based on Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 461-135-1250(11).

What You Can Do When You Do Not Agree With This Decision

Please contact your local office if you need this form in another language or
alternate format.

You have the right to challenge this decision by requesting a hearing. Hearings are held by the Office of Administrative Hearings, which is independent from the Department of Human Services (DHS). If you want a hearing, you must request it on time. For more information, see Part 1.

You can call your worker. Ask for a meeting by contacting your local office.
If your circumstances change or have changed and you believe you need public assistance, you may contact DHS about applying for benefits. Your deadline to request a hearing (see Part 1) does not change even if you are in contact with a worker or manager or trying to reach one.

Part 1 – Ask for a Hearing

What must I do to get a hearing? You must fill out a Hearing Request Form (DHS 0443) and return it to a DHS office. You can get this form at a DHS office or on the web at
DHS must receive your request within 45 days from the date identified as the sending date on the decision notice.

Who can help with my hearing? You must represent yourself or have a lawyer or a legal assistant (supervised by a Legal Aid attorney) represent you. You may call the Public Benefits Hotline (a program of Legal Aid Services of Oregon and the Oregon Law Center)
at 1-800-520-5292 for advice and possible representation.

What are my other hearing rights? At the hearing, you can tell why you do not agree with the decision. You can have people testify for you. The laws about your hearing rights and the hearing process are at OAR 137-003-0501 to 0700, 461-025-0300 to 0375,
ORS 183.411 to 183.470, and ORS 411.095.

What happens if there is no hearing? If you do not ask for a hearing on time, or if you withdraw the hearing request or miss your hearing, you may lose your right to a hearing.
This notice will be the final DHS decision (called a “final order by default”). You will not get a separate final order by default. The case file, along with any materials you submitted in this matter, is the record. The record is used to support the DHS decision upon default. You may appeal the final order by default by filing a petition in the Oregon Court of Appeals
(ORS 183.482) within 60 days of the date this notice becomes a final order by default. If you withdraw a hearing request or miss your hearing, the appeal deadline is set out in the dismissal order.

Part 2 – Can you keep getting benefits until your hearing?

You can ask for your benefits to stay the same until the hearing decision (“continuing benefits”). You must ask on the Hearing Request Form (DHS 0443) and DHS must receive that form no later than the “effective date” on the notice. DHS will deny this request in a separate decision. (OAR 461-135-1250(11)) You may then file a second hearing request if you disagree with that decision denying your continuing benefits. That issue will then be referred for an expedited hearing. The expedited hearing will be held within five working days of the request for hearing on the denial of continuation of benefits.

If the Administrative Law Judge provides you continuing benefits but you lose the hearing on the merits, you must pay back the benefits you should not have received. If you don’t keep getting benefits and win the hearing, DHS will give you benefits you should
have received.

DHS will not discriminate against anyone. This means DHS will help all who qualify. DHS will not deny help to anyone based on age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, or disability. You can file a complaint if you think DHS discriminated against you because of any of these reasons.

Page 1 DHS 0771 (04/12)