New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services
Subchapter B - Public Assistance
Article 1 - Determination of Eligibility-General
Part 358 - Fair Hearings: Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Medical Assistance, Emergency Assistance to Aged, Blind or Disabled Persons, Emergency Assistance to Needy Families With Children, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Home Energy Assistance, and Services Funded through the Department of Family Assistance
Subpart 358-3 - Rights And Obligations Of Applicants And Recipients And Sponsors Of Aliens
Section 358-3.5 - Requests for a fair hearing

(1) A request for a fair hearing must be made within 60 days after the social services agency's determination, action, or failure to act about which you are complaining except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subdivision for fair hearings relating to food stamp benefits, and paragraph (4) relating to HEAP benefits and paragraph (5) relating to involuntary discharges from tier II facilities, and paragraph (6) relating to determinations of exemptions from work activities due to disability. Where the social services agency's action is based on a change in State or Federal law requiring automatic public assistance grant adjustments for classes of recipients, a request for a fair hearing must be made within 60 days after the changed grant becomes available to you.

(2) A request for a fair hearing to complain about any action by the social services agency affecting your food stamp benefits, including a loss of food stamp benefits, must be made within 90 days after the determination, action or failure to act about which you are complaining. Action includes a denial of a request for restoration of any benefits lost more than 90 days but less than one year prior to the request for restoration. Where the social services agency's action is the result of a mass change, a request for a fair hearing must be made within 90 days after the changed level of benefits become available to you.

(3) A request for a fair hearing to dispute the current level of food stamp benefits granted to your household must be made during the food stamp certification period.

(4) A request for a fair hearing to review the denial of, the failure to act on an application for, or the adequacy of a HEAP benefit must be made no later than 60 days after the mailing of the notice. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Part and Part 393 of this Title, no person shall be certified as eligible to receive a HEAP benefit as a result of a fair hearing if no Federal funds are available for such purpose. Federal funds are available for the provision of a HEAP benefit until the end of the Federal fiscal year succeeding the end of the HEAP program year for which such benefit is claimed. The issuance of a HEAP benefit in compliance with a fair hearing decision can only be provided if the hearing request is made during the period of time when Federal funds are available.

(5) A request for a fair hearing to review the involuntary discharge of a resident from a tier II facility after the resident has requested and participated in a hearing, held by the facility or social services district in which the facility is located, must be made no later than 30 days after the decision of the facility or social services district is rendered.

(6) A request for a fair hearing relating to determinations of exemptions from work activities due to disabilities must be made with 10 days of the agency's notice of determination pursuant to section 385.2(d)(7)(i) of this Title.

(7) If the last day for requesting a fair hearing falls on a weekend or holiday, a hearing request postmarked or received by OAH on the day after the weekend or holiday will be considered as timely received.