OAR 461-175-0250: Notice Situation; Mass Changes

(1) If benefits are reduced or closed to reflect cost-of-living adjustments in benefits or other mass change under a program operated by a federal agency or to reflect a mass change to payments in a program operated by the Department: (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the type of decision notice (see OAR 461-001-0000) used is the same as otherwise applies to the reduction or closure of benefits under the rules of this division. (b) In the SNAP program, a continuing benefits decision notice (see OAR 461-001-0000) may be used if the rules in this division of rules would otherwise require a timely continuing benefits decision notice (see OAR 461-001-0000). (c) OAR 461-175-0010(2) and (3) modify the content requirements for the decision notice that apply to other decision notices under OAR 461-175-0010(1). (2) In the SNAP program, no decision notice is required when the Department makes the following mass changes: (a) An annual adjustment to income limits, the shelter deduction, or the standard deduction. (b) An annual adjustment to a standard utility allowance. (3) In the SNAP program, notwithstanding any other rule in chapter 461, when the federal government changes a benefit or standard that results in the suspension or closure of SNAP benefits for the entire caseload or a significant portion of the caseload of recipients in Oregon: (a) No decision notice is required. The Department and the Authority are not required to mail a notice of intended action. (b) The Department publicizes the change using one or more of the following methods: (A) Informing the public through the news media. (B) Placing posters in the offices that serve affected recipients, in the locations where SNAP is issued, and at other sites frequented by SNAP clients. (C) Mailing a general notice to the households of affected recipients. (c) There is no right to hearing to merely dispute this federally required suspension or closure of benefits and no right to continuing benefits.