Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 196 - Human Services Department
Chapter 9500 - ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAMS
GENERAL ASSISTANCE
Part 9500.1211 - APPLICANT AND RECIPIENT RIGHTS AND COUNTY AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES TO APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS

Subpart 1. Right to information.

An applicant or recipient has the right to obtain information about the benefits, requirements, and restrictions of the general assistance program.

Subp. 2. Right to apply.

A person has the right to apply, including the right to reapply, for general assistance. A county agency shall inform a person who inquires about financial assistance of the right to apply, shall explain how to apply, and shall mail or hand deliver an application form to the person inquiring about assistance. When a county agency ends assistance, the county agency shall inform the recipient in writing of the right to reapply.

Subp. 3. Authorized representative.

An applicant or recipient of general assistance may designate an authorized representative to act on the applicant's or recipient's behalf. An applicant or recipient has the right to be assisted or represented by an authorized representative in the application, eligibility redetermination, fair hearing process, and any other contact with the county agency or the department.

When a county agency determines that it is necessary for a person to assist an applicant or recipient, the county agency shall designate a staff member to assist the applicant or recipient. The county agency staff member may assist the applicant or recipient to take the actions necessary to submit an application to establish the date of the application.

Upon a request from an applicant or recipient, a county agency shall provide addresses and telephone numbers of organizations that provide legal services at no cost to low-income persons.

Subp. 4. Appeal rights.

An applicant, recipient, or former recipient has a right to request a fair hearing when aggrieved by an action or inaction of a county agency. A request for a fair hearing must be submitted in writing to the county agency or to the department. The request must be mailed within 30 days after the applicant or recipient receives written notice of the county agency's action or within 90 days when the applicant or recipient shows good cause for not submitting the request within 30 days. A former recipient who receives a notice of overpayment may appeal the action contained in the notice in the manner and within the periods described in this subpart. Issues which may be appealed are:

Subp. 5. Rights pending hearing.

Unless otherwise specified, a county agency shall not reduce, suspend, or terminate payment when an aggrieved recipient requests a fair hearing before the effective date of the action or within ten days of the mailing of the notice, whichever is later, unless the recipient requests in writing not to receive continued assistance pending a hearing decision. A county agency may increase or reduce an assistance payment while an appeal is pending when the circumstances of the recipient change and the change is not related to the issue under appeal. Assistance issued pending a fair hearing is subject to recovery when, as a result of the fair hearing, the commissioner finds that the recipient was not eligible for such assistance. This subpart shall in no way reduce any rights that the recipient may have under part 9500.1259, subpart 2.

A county agency shall reimburse appellants for reasonable and necessary expenses of attending the hearing, such as child care and transportation costs. A county agency shall reimburse appellant's witnesses and representatives for the expenses of transportation to and from the hearing.

Subp. 6. Right to review records.

A county agency shall allow an applicant or recipient to review his or her case records that are held by the county agency and that are related to eligibility for or the assistance payment from the program, except those case records to which access is denied under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13. A county agency shall make case records available to an applicant or recipient as soon as possible but in no event later than the fifth business day following the date of the request. When an applicant, recipient, or authorized representative asks for photocopies of material from the case record, the county agency shall provide one copy of each page at no cost.

Subp. 7. Right to notice.

When a county agency notifies an applicant or recipient of its intention to deny an application or reduce, suspend, or terminate payment, the county agency shall specify in its notice the action it has taken or intends to take, the reason and legal authority for the action, and the right to appeal and request a fair hearing. The notice shall also inform the applicant or recipient of the conditions under which assistance will continue pending the appeal outcome, the responsibility to repay assistance if the appeal is unsuccessful, the right to be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses of attending an appeal hearing, and the right to review county agency records in accordance with subpart 6.