Mail in food stamp application -- denied for failure to complete application process. Department representative stated that appellant had been scheduled for an interview which she missed, she was mailed a verification checklist but she did not submit requested verifications including utility bills and rent receipts. Appellant's son, her representative, said that he had tried to reach the case worker without success; voice mail messages were left and, on occasion, messages could not be left as the mailbox was full. Record was left open for two weeks after the hearing and missing verifications (rent receipts, lease, utility bills, passport) were submitted. Appeal approved.

Appellant applied for TAFDC and Food Stamps. DTA asked him to verify the amount and expenditure of an accident settlement he received 8 months earlier. Denied for failure to verify. At hearing, appellant testified that he had submitted the settlement agreement and all receipts that he was able to find. He testified that he spent all of the proceeds on day-to-day living expenses. Applying de novo rule, hearing officer found that the application should be reopened, receipts reviewed, and eligibility determined.