All awards to needy blind persons made under the provisions of this Article shall be made subject to reopening and reconsideration at any time when there has been any change in the circumstances of any needy blind person or for any other reason. The Department of Health and Human Services and the board of county commissioners of each of the counties in which awards have been made shall at all times keep properly informed as to the circumstances and conditions of the persons to whom the awards are made, making reinvestigations annually, or more often, as may be found necessary. The Department of Health and Human Services may at any time present to the proper board of county commissioners any case in which, in their opinion, the changed circumstances of the case should be reconsidered. The board of county commissioners shall reconsider such cases and any and all other cases which, in the opinion of the board of county commissioners, deserve reconsideration. In all such cases notice of the hearing thereon shall be given to the person to whom the award has been made. Any person to whom an award has been made may apply for a reopening and reconsideration thereof. Upon such hearing, the board of county commissioners may make a new award increasing or decreasing the former award or leaving the same unchanged, or discontinuing the same, as it may find the circumstances of the case to warrant, such changes always to be within the limitations provided by this Article and in accordance with the terms hereof.

Any changes made in such award shall be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, and shall be subject to the right of appeal and review, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 111-16 (1937, c. 124, s. 9; 1971, c. 160; 1973, c. 476, s. 143; 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a).)