Effective Date - January 1, 2009

1904               Informal Conference

A.    Schedule and conduct an informal conference within two days of receiving a request for an administrative hearing concerning expedited SNAP benefits.

B.    Schedule and conduct an informal conference within seven days of receiving a request for an administrative hearing for all other programs and issues.

C.   Allow the party, or the party’s representative, whose interests have been adversely affected to waive the informal conference.

D.   Require the informal conference to be attended, at a minimum, by the Benefit Specialist and supervisor to represent the DFS-FO.

E.    Review the facts and legal authority which the DFS-FO relied upon in making the determination to take an adverse action.

F.    Provide notification immediately to the requesting party/ representative and to the Client Advocate when results of an informal conference are successful.

G.   Require the withdrawal by the client to be in writing.

H.   Provide notification immediately to the requesting party/ representative and to the Client Advocate when results of an informal conference are unsuccessful as an administrative hearing will be scheduled.