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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Getting Benefits After You Win A Fair Hearing
© 1997-2005 by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
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How will I know if I have won my Fair Hearing?
You will receive a decision in the mail about 6-8 weeks after your hearing. At the end of the decision, there will be a section called "Order." This section will tell you what the decision is. If you have won, it will say: "The Agency's decision was incorrect and is reversed." After this section it will say what the Agency has to do. You should read this section very carefully because there could be more than one issue discussed. The section could tell you, for example, that you may have won part of your hearing, and lost the other parts.
How long will I have to wait to get my benefits?
The Department of Social Services (DSS) has a reasonable amount of time after they get the decision to give you benefits. After that time you should call your caseworker to find out why you have not received your benefits. In some cases, the decision may get lost and your caseworker never receives his/her copy. If that happens, you can give them a copy of yours.
After you call your caseworker, you should then call the Fair Hearings Compliance Office in Albany. Their telephone number is 1-800-342-3334. When you call and get the switchboard operator, ask for the Compliance Unit. They will put you on hold for a long time. If you prefer, you can send a copy of the cover page of the hearing decision to:
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Office of Administrative Hearings
Compliance Unit
P.O. Box 1930
Albany, New York 12201-1930
What will happen when I call Albany?
You should have your decision with you when you call Albany. They will want to know the numbers on the first page of the decision, and what county you are in. They will then contact the local Department of Social Services to find out what the problem is. You should wait about a week to see if you get your benefits. If you still do not get your benefits, you should call our office for assistance.
