Michigan holds quick hearings on welfare appeals

LANSING (AP) -- Michigan officials have held expedited hearings for more than 1,000 welfare recipients who say they're being wrongly cut off from cash assistance. The Department of Human Services used the "rocket docket" approach Monday and Tuesday to resolve many of the appeals cases quickly. The process has been used in the past. But opponents say the procedure is unfair to recipients because the hearings run by administrative law judges are rushed. Michigan began strictly enforcing state and federal time limits for receiving cash assistance on Oct. 1. About 11,000 families could lose benefits, but the state says fewer than 10 percent of them filed an appeal. Many of those appealing presented their cases through a telephone conference. They'll get decisions on their cases through the mail. Others requested in-person hearings. Published: Thu, Dec 1, 2011