State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-44 > Section-44-7 > 44-7-18

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.