1. (a) The entity shall notify applicants deemed ineligible for a housing opportunity, for whatever reason or reasons, in writing not more than five (5) business days after such determination, except as otherwise set forth in section 17b-812-14 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, of the reason or reasons for such determination of ineligibility, including sufficient specific and detailed information concerning the reasons for the denial, and of their right to request a hearing and to informally contest the determination. Such written notice shall include the deadline for requesting a hearing and for informally contesting the determination, the process for requesting a hearing and for informally contesting the determination, the right to request all documents and information relied upon in determining ineligibility, and the process for persons with disabilities to request a reasonable accommodation pursuant to section 46a-64c of the Connecticut General Statutes.
2. (b) Applicants determined to be ineligible for a housing opportunity who request a hearing shall be entitled to a hearing before the entity’s hearing officer or hearing panel, as applicable, as set forth in sections 8-37ee-907 and 8-37ee-908 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, except as otherwise set forth in section 17b-812-14 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
3. (c) Concurrent with the right to request a hearing, applicants determined to be ineligible for a housing opportunity shall have ten (10) business days from the date of the written determination of ineligibility to informally contest the determination of ineligibility with the entity. An applicant may informally contest a determination of ineligibility by contacting the entity in writing, by electronic communication, or orally, to explain the reason the applicant believes the determination was in error. The entity shall document the date on which an applicant contacts the entity to informally contest a determination and the applicant’s reason for contesting the determination.
4. (d) The determination of ineligibility shall state that informally contesting the determination shall not extend the time in which applicants may request a hearing pursuant to section 8-37ee-907(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Entities shall inform applicants that a determination of ineligibility should be contested immediately to assure their return to the applicant pool should they prevail.
5. (e) Not more than five (5) business days after the date on which an applicant informally contests a determination of ineligibility, entities shall notify applicants in writing of whether the determination of ineligibility has been upheld. In the event an applicant does not prevail after informally contesting the determination of ineligibility, such written notice shall state the time remaining in which the applicant may request a hearing pursuant to section 8-37ee-907(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
6. (f) Persons with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation pursuant to section 46a-64c of the Connecticut General Statutes to provide such persons with an opportunity to informally contest the determination.

(Effective February 4, 2025)