Department of Human Services: Chapter 1: Sections 1.1 thru 1.3 Page 1

SERVICES

INFORMATION

ONLINE SERVICE
REQUESTS

PART II: BASIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CHAPTER 1: RIGHTS OF APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS

INTRODUCTION 1.1

All applicants and recipients have rights under various District and federal laws. These rights include the right to fair treatment, to privacy and confidentiality, to information about the programs and client's responsibilities, and to appeal certain actions and decisions. The Department and its staff should inform applicants and recipients verbally and in writing about their rights.

'Recipients' are defined as persons to whom or on whose behalf public assistance is granted. 'Applicants' are defined as adults who do not receive benefits under these programs but who apply for benefits for themselves or other children or adults.

This chapter details and explains the rights of recipients and applicants under these benefit programs; however, applicants, recipients, and the Department may have other rights as determined by current statute and case law. Department staff should refer specific legal questions to the Office of General Counsel (OGC).

LEGAL AUTHORITY 1.2

AREA/TOPIC	DISTRICT	FEDERAL
Rights of Applicants and Recipients	TANF: D.C. Code 4-205.55, 4-205.56, 4-205.59, 4-205.64, 4-205.66, 4-208.1, 4-208.3; 29 DCMR 1708, 5803, 5805, 5817 GC: D.C. Code: 4-205-5a, 4-205.55, 4-205.56, 4-205.59, 4-208.1, 4-208.3	MA: 42 USC 1396a(a)(3), (4), (7), (8), (43); 42 CFR 431.200-206, 431.210-214, 431.220-231, 431.241-246,431.300-306, 435.905, 435.906, 435.911, 435.912, 435.913, 435.919, 435.955 FS: 7 USC 2020; 7 CFR 272.1, 273.13, 273.14, 273.15
Non-discrimination	TANF: D.C. Code 4-205.19(i) GC: See TANF.	TANF: 45 CFR 260.35 FS: 7 USC 2020, 7 CFR 272.6, 7 CFR 273.6; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

GENERAL RIGHTS OF APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS 1.3

ALL

The following rights are held by applicants and recipients of all benefit programs and apply starting from the time an individual requests an application for assistance through termination of benefits. (As stated in Section 1.1: Introduction in this Chapter, each individual may have additional rights and/or limitations on these rights based on current statute and case law.)

No applicant/recipient shall be discriminated against in the application or recertification process, the provision of services, the receipt of benefits, or the fair hearings and grievance process on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income or place of residence or business.

An applicant/recipient who believes that s/he has been discriminated against may file a complaint with the offices listed in the following table (complaints based on discrimination on the basis of marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, source of income, matriculation, or place of residence or business must be filed with one of the D.C. agencies listed below):

Agency Address Phone Number

D.C. Department of Human Services, Customer Service 645 H Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5506

D.C. Office of Human Rights and Local Business Development 441 4th Street, NW
Suite 970N
Washington, D.C. 20001 202-724-1385

D.C. Office of Investigations and Compliance 2146 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
202-673-6964

202-673-4464 (anonymous
calls for fraud)

D.C. Office of the Public Advocate
2000 14th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009 202-673-4413

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Civil Rights

1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 326-W

Washington, DC 20050

202-720-5964

(voice and TDD)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights 200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 506F
Washington, D.C. 20201
202-619-0403 (voice)

202-619-3257 (TDD)

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