29.405—Appeals to the Department.
(a) Who may file.
Any claimant
whose claim for a Federal Benefit Payment has been
denied (in whole or part) by the Benefits
Administrator in a reconsideration decision under
§ 29.404(d) may appeal that decision to the
Department.
(b) Form of appeal.
An appeal
must be in writing, must include the claimant's
name, address, date of birth and claim number, if
applicable, and must state the basis for the
appeal.
(c) Time limits on Appeals.
(1)
An appeal must be received by the Department
within 30 calendar days from the date of the
reconsideration decision under § 29.404(d).
(2)
The Department may extend the time limit
for filing when the claimant shows that he or she
was not notified of the time limit and was not
otherwise aware of it, or that he or she was
prevented by circumstances beyond his or her
control from making the request within the time limit, or for other good and
sufficient reason.
(d) Final decision.
After
consideration of the appeal, the Department will
issue a final decision. The Department's decision
must be in writing, must fully set forth the
Department's findings and conclusions on the
appeal, and must contain notice of the right to
judicial review provided in § 29.406. Copies of
the final decision must be sent to the claimant
seeking appeal, to any competing claimants (see § 29.407) and to the Benefits
Administrator.