44:7-18. Investigation of and notice to applicant; review of determination

When the county welfare board receives an application for old age assistance, an investigation and record shall promptly be made of the circumstances of the applicant. The object of such investigation shall be to ascertain the facts supporting the application and such other information as may be required by the rules of the State division. When immediate need is apparent and the applicant provides evidence of eligibility by a written statement signed and verified under oath, the director of welfare shall issue a grant of old age assistance effective as of the date of application and pending completion of such investigation. Upon the completion of such investigation the county welfare board shall decide whether the applicant is eligible for and should receive or continue to receive old age assistance, the amount of assistance, the manner of paying or providing it, and as appropriate, the date on which the assistance shall begin; provided, however, that if the completed investigation shows the applicant to have been ineligible for reasons other than need, the county welfare board shall not be obligated, in the absence of fraud or misrepresentation, to take action for the recovery of any assistance granted pending completion of such investigation. It shall notify the applicant of its decision in writing.

The county welfare board shall at once report to the State division its decision in each case together with copies of such supporting records as the State division may require. Such decision shall be final, except that where an application is not acted upon by the county welfare board within 30 days after the filing of the application, or the application is denied, or the grant is deemed inadequate, either by the State division or by the applicant, the State division may review the case in its discretion or the applicant may appeal to the State division by filing a petition with the division setting forth the facts in full as to the necessity of such assistance. Whereupon a representative of the State division shall hold a fair hearing on the appeal, and if the appeal is sustained by the State division the payments of assistance in the amount determined by the State division must be paid by said county welfare board as herein provided.

Amended by L.1938, c. 361, p. 910, s. 12, eff. July 1, 1938; L.1943, c. 164, p. 478, s. 5; L.1944, c. 84, p. 166, s. 3; L.1953, c. 213, p. 1617, s. 5; L.1968, c. 139, s. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1969; L.1969, c. 222, s. 1.