Administrative Hearings are an important way for low-income persons to enforce their rights.  CCJ monitors state agency policies and practices in order to make sure hearings are available and provide Due Process. We work to ensure that low-income persons:

• Receive timely and meaningful notice of decisions affecting governmental benefits and services
• Receive fair hearings where they can present evidence 
• Receive timely hearing decisions. 

Challenge to Untimely Hearing Decisions

The Center for Civil Justice is responsible for monitoring and is currently in Court to enforce an Order entered several decades ago in the class action case of Hellem v Dempsey.  That order requires the Michigan Departments of Human Services and Community Health to hold administrative hearings and issue decisions in accordance with a required number of days.   

Requirements for Timely Hearing Decisions 

The Court order in Hellem v Dempsey requires hearing decisions to be issued under the following standard 

• Food Stamps: 60 days from the date of the hearing request
• Medicaid: 90 days from the hearing request
• Family Independence Benefits: 90 days from the hearing request. 

CCJ is representing the plaintiff class because it is taking longer for more people to get hearing decisions about whether they are eligible for benefits or whether their benefits were lawfully reduced or terminated.   For more information about the status of this case, watch this website or contact us.

Are You Waiting Too Long for a Medicaid, Food Stamp, or FIP Hearing Decision? 

If you have waited longer than the time limits listed above and you are suffering harm, please tell us your story.