Department for Children and Families

You may ask for a fair hearing when your claim for assistance, benefits, or services is denied in whole or in part, or not responded to with reasonable promptness by contacting the ESD Benefits Service Center or writing to the ESD Deputy Commissioner (3 V.S.A. §3091). For health care program actions that, for example, deny, limit, reduce, or end a service or deny a request to go outside the provider network, you may also request an appeal in addition to or in place of a fair hearing. If you have a complaint, for example, about the quality of the health care service or the behavior of staff for matters not related to a health care program action, you may be able to file a grievance. For more information on any of these choices, call the benefit service center at 1-800-479-6151.