California Department of Social Services - State Hearings Division
Notes from the Training Bureau - January 8, 2003

1. May an Administrative Law Judge review another state's determination of the number of months a claimant received TANF in that state?

Answer: NO. The Judge may inquire whether the aid the claimant received was TANF benefits (as opposed to state benefits) but the Judge will be bound by the other state's assertion regarding the type of aid and the number of months that aid was received.

The claimant must file for a state hearing in the other state to contest that state's determination if there is a dispute.

2. What type of evidence should counties present from another state?

Answer: The best evidence that a county can provide is a written document on the other state's letterhead submitted under penalty of perjury that lists the specific month(s) the claimant received TANF in that state. This is more reliable evidence and less subject to attack than an Appeal Specialist's testimony that another state's employee had orally advised him/her of the months the claimant received TANF in that state.