How to Have a Human Services Hearing Without a Lawyer
by: New Mexico Legal Aid
Human Services holds hearings.
A hearing is not a trial. It is a chance for you to say what you feel about what Human Services has done about your case.
You do this in front of a hearing officer.
You could be a person who is getting benefits. You could be someone who is applying for benefits.
Human Services treats you fairly.
The hearing officer decides the right thing to do. He tells the Human Services officer in charge. That person makes a final decision on the case.
You ask for a hearing. You must receive a notice telling you the time and date of the hearing. You should have this at least 10 days before the hearing
Suppose you can't be at the hearing when it is set to meet? What can you do?
You can get a postponement.
Call the hearing officer. His name and phone number are on the notice.
The hearing decision must be made in 45 days after the date you asked for the hearing. Your postponement cannot get in the way of this schedule. If it does not, you will not get it.
You can have a meeting with Human Services before the hearing. You should have the caseworker, her boss and anyone else who worked on your case, at the meeting.
You have the meeting to see if you and Human Services can settle the problem. Then, no hearing will be needed.
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