New Jersey § 44:7-18

§ 44:7-18.

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.