OAR 461-175-0200: Notice Situations; General Information

(1) In the Emergency Assistance (EA) program, a basic decision notice (see OAR 461-001-0000) is sent for all situations. (2) For Medicare Savings Programs (see OAR 461-001-0000) and Oregon Supplemental Income Program Medical (OSIPM), a basic decision notice is sent when benefits are suspended due to incarceration (3) In the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a basic decision notice is sent for all actions on applications for assistance. (4) In the Refugee Employment Program (REP) and Job Opportunity and Basic Skills (JOBS) program: (a) A basic decision notice is sent whenever a request for a support service payment is denied. (b) No decision notice is required if a request for a support service is approved. (5) A basic decision notice is sent to close Job Participation Incentive (JPI) benefits when the filing group (see OAR 461-110-0310) reports a change during the reporting period in which SNAP benefits do not decrease. (6) In the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, a notice approving benefits informs the client, within one month following eligibility determination, of the opportunity to volunteer for JOBS participation and of the procedure for JOBS program entry. (7) In the Pre-TANF program, a basic decision notice is sent when payment for basic living expenses is denied or when payment for other support services in the JOBS program is denied. No other notices are required for this program. (8) In the Temporary Assistance for Domestice Violence Survivors (TA-DVS) program, a basic decision notice (see OAR 461-001-0000 ) is sent to a safe mailing address or hand delivered for all situations. This includes when the program is approved, denied, or closed (prior to the end of the 90 day eligibility period) and when a payment under the program is denied. (9) In all programs except the Pre-TANF program, unless stated differently in this rule or another rule, the Department (see OAR 461-001-0000) mails or otherwise provides the individual with (sends) a decision notice (see OAR 461-001-0000) as follows: (a) A basic decision notice is sent whenever an application for assistance, including retroactive medical assistance, is approved or denied or a request for a support service payment in the JOBS program is denied. (b) A timely continuing benefit decision notice (see OAR 461-001-0000) is sent whenever benefits or support service payments authorized by OAR 461-190-0211 are reduced or closed, or the method of payment changes to protective, vendor, or two-party. (c) A decision notice is sent whenever the Department adjusts previously underissued cash assistance or SNAP benefits. (10) In all programs: (a) Notwithstanding any rule in Chapter 461, to the extent permitted by OAR 137-003-0530, the Department may take any of the following actions: (A) Amend a decision notice with another decision notice or a contested case notice. (B) Amend a contested case notice. (C) Delay a reduction or closure of benefits as a result of a client's request for hearing. (D) Extend the effective date on a decision notice or contested case notice. (b) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section or when a delay results from the client's request for a hearing, a notice to reduce or close benefits becomes void if the reduction or closure is not initiated on the date stated on the notice. If the notice is void, a new notice is sent to inform the financial group (see OAR 461-110-0530) of a new date on which their benefits will be reduced or closed. (c) No decision notice is required in each of the following situations: (A) Benefits are ended because there is no living person in the benefit group (see OAR 461-110-0750). (B) A notice was sent, the client requested a hearing, and either the hearing request is dismissed or a final order is issued. (C) The client has signed a voluntary agreement that qualifies as a final order under ORS 183.417(3)(b) (see OAR 461-175-0340(2)) except as provided otherwise in OAR 461-175-0220. (D) To end Employment Payments (see OAR 461-001-0025 and 461-135-1270) or JPI benefit (see OAR 461-135-1260) when the individual has applied for and been found eligible for Pre-TANF, State Family Pre-SSI/SSDI (SFPSS), or TANF. (E) No decision notice is required in OAR 461-175-0300 based on prior notice. (d) When the Department amends a decision notice with another decision notice under subsection (a) of this section, the date of the amended notice restarts the client's deadlines to request a hearing or continuing benefits, or both. (e) When a contested case notice extends an effective date or delays a reduction or closure, the date of the amended notice restarts a client's timeline to request continuing benefits. (f) When a client has a pending hearing request or is receiving continuing benefits, and the Department amends a notice under this section, the client need not re-file the hearing request or renew the request for continuing benefits.