64 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 12

Department may make such additional investigation as it may
deem necessary, and shall make such decision as to the grant-
ing of assistance and the amount of assistance to be granted
the applicant as in its opinion is justified and in conformity
with the provisions of this Article. Applicants or recipients
affected by such decisions of the State Department shall, upon
request, be given reasonable notice and opportunity for a fair
hearing by the State Department.

All decisions of the State Department shall be final and
shall be binding upon the county involved and shall be com-
plied with by the County. Department.

15. PERIODIC RECONSIDERATION AND CHANGES IN AMOUNT OF
ASSISTANCE. All assistance grants made under this Article
shall be reconsidered by the County Department as frequently
as may be required by the rules of the State Department. After
such further investigation as the County Department may deem
necessary or the State Department may require, the amount of
assistance may be changed or assistance may be entirely with-
drawn if the State or County Departments find that the re-
cipient's circumstances have altered sufficiently to warrant

such action.

16. RECOVERY FROM A RECIPIENT. If at any time during the
continuance of assistance the recipient thereof becomes pos-
sessed of any property or income in excess of the amount stated
in the application, it shall be the duty of the recipient imme-
diately to notify the County Department of the receipt or pos-
session of such property or income and the County Department
may, after investigation, either cancel the assistance or alter
the amount thereof in accordance with the circumstances. Any
assistance paid before the recipient has come into possession
of such property or income and in excess of his need shall be
recoverable by the County Department as a debt due. One-
half of the net income realized from all such claims shall be
promptly paid or credited to the United States Government,
and the balance divided between the Slate and the county in
proportion to the amount of the assistance paid by each respec-
tively.

17. RECOVERY FROM THE ESTATE. On the death of any
recipient, the total amount of assistance paid under this Ar-
ticle shall he allowed as a preferred claim against his estate,
ranking in order of priority, after funeral expenses, and prior
to all other claims and expenses. One-half of the net amount
realized from all such claims shall be promptly paid or cred-
ited to the United States Government, provided, that no such
claim shall be enforced against any real estate of a recipient
while it is occupied by the recipient's surviving spouse or de-
pendents.