Section 27-102l(d)-300 - Office of advocacy and assistance(a) The Department shall maintain and staff an advocacy and assistance unit which shall be known as the Office of Advocacy and Assistance (OAA).(b) Pursuant to Section 4-8 and subsection (b) of Section 27-102l of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the Commissioner shall appoint a Director to administer the Office of Advocacy and Assistance, including supervising Service Officers and clerical personnel as may be assigned to the unit.(c) Within appropriations, the unit may maintain one or more offices in each congressional district in Connecticut and assign at least one Service Officer to each such district. The Director may assign cases from more than one district to a Service Officer based on special needs of such cases or work loads.(d) The Director shall ensure that each Service Officer completes a course, approved by him, in veteran's benefits within one year of commencement of employment. (1) The course shall cover benefits available to a veteran under Title 38 of the United States Code.(2) The course may cover benefits under Titles 5, 7, 10a, 12, 14, 21 and 27 of the Connecticut General Statutes and if the course may not, the Director shall cause these topics to be covered by requiring attendance at an in-service training provided by the Department on the same.(3) If no approved course is available within the eleven months of commencement of employment, the Director may cause such a course to be offered and order one or more Service Officers to attend.(4) Within appropriations, the Director may order a refresher course at his discretion for any Service Officer.(5) If a Service Officer completed comparable training within five years prior to the commencement of employment as a service worker, the Director may accept documentation of successful completion in lieu of the requirement in subdivision 1 of this subsection.(e) Repealed June 11, 2014.(f) A Service Officer may petition the Director not to serve a particular request from a veteran or a dependent if the veteran or dependent files a frivolous or fruitless request for assistance or advocacy.(1) The petition shall specify: (B) The criteria for the benefit sought.(C) The criteria which the applicant cannot or may not satisfy.(D) The facts upon which the Service Officer is relying.(E) A description of the efforts of the Service Officer to verify with the provider or the Benefit Administrator as to the futility of the pending claim, even if only preliminary assessment.(2) Notice of the petition shall be given to the applicant.(3) The Director, or his designee, may take additional information from the applicant and may hold an informal conference on the petition.(4) The Director may grant or deny the petition.(A) If the petition is denied, the Service Officer shall assist and advocate for the applicant without restriction.(B) If the petition is granted, the Director shall advise the applicant and give notice that the applicant may request a review of the decision by the Commissioner.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 27-102l(d)-300
Effective January 19, 1996; Amended October 11, 2007; Amended June 11, 2014Publisher's note: PA 14-187 repealed subsection (e), effective June 11, 2014. (June 11, 2014)