MAINE
ASSOCIATION OF
INTERDEPENDENT
NEIGHBORHOODS
PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER FOR PEACE, BREAD AND JUSTICE
MAIN Update Winter 1999
Did you know?The Department of Human Service benefits and programs are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). DHS must be willing to reasonably modify its rules for persons with disabilities to allow them to fully participate in ASPIRE or any other program run by the Department.
DID YOU KNOW? That the Department of Human Services cannot sanction a person who failed to comply with an ASPIRE requirement if the person had "good cause" for failing to comply?
If you were sanctioned for not complying with an ASPIRE requirement even though you had good cause, you should immediately request a hearing. If you request a hearing within 10 days of receiving a sanction notice, your TANF benefits will not be reduced unless you lose the hearing.
No matter what, you must request the hearing within 30 days of receiving the DHS notice, or you will lose the right to a hearing.
DID YOU KNOW? That a 1991 court order guarantees prompt payments from ASPIRE for child care and transportation costs? If ASPIRE does not make payment within 3 weeks of a routine payment request, then you can get an emergency payment within 3 working days.
If you have questions about:
- ADA and its implications for state-run programs;
- Good cause to prevent sanctions; or
- ASPIRE transportation and child care payments;
Call Patrick Ende at the Maine Equal Justice Partners, 207-626-7058, ext. 202, or email Patrick at pende@mejp.org
