- (a) Regardless of whether the appellant is represented, the appellant must appear in person for all hearings regarding program eligibility or program services or show good cause why he or she cannot be present.
- (b) If any party fails to appear (either in person or by telephone) within fifteen (15) minutes after the hearing was scheduled to begin, the Office of Appeals and Hearings will confirm that the party had proper notice of the hearing and will attempt to contact the absent party.
- (c) The hearing official may allow an additional fifteen (15) minutes before beginning the hearing.
- (d) When the hearing begins, the hearing official will identify for the record any party not present in person or by telephone.
- (e) If the appellant does not appear, the appeal shall be deemed abandoned, subject to reopening on a showing that the appellant exercised due diligence but was unable to appear due to circumstances beyond the appellant's control.
- (f) If the agency does not appear, the hearing official may proceed with the hearing and may consider any hearing statements or other documents submitted by the agency.