This business process flow shows the high level steps utilized to process a Fair Hearing in KEES.
A consumer can file a request for a fair hearing with their local DCF office or through the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). If the request is first filed with DCF, the local office must notify OAH.
Create a fair hearing request record on the Hearing Detail page. See Fair Hearings-Create a Fair Hearing Request for detailed steps.
Review the appealed case actions for accuracy and update the case if needed.
Offer an agency conference to the appellant.
Can the appeal be dismissed or withdrawn?
Dismissed: Send the B4, Motion to Dismiss, form from KEES to OAH and a copy of the form to the appellant.
NOTE: OAH reviews the request. If the request can be dismissed, they notify the agency and appellant
Withdrawn: Forward the written request to withdraw the appeal from the appellant to OAH.
Update the Fair Hearing Request on the Hearing Detail page and route any paper documents to imaging. See Fair Hearings-Close a Fair Hearing Request for detailed steps.
NOTE: The process ends here if the appeal is dismissed or withdrawn.
If the appeal request cannot be dismissed or is not withdrawn:
Write an appeal summary on the Proceeding Detail page. See Fair Hearings-Create an Appeal Summary for detailed steps.
Generate and send the appeal summary from KEES for OAH and the appellant. The appeal summary must be printed from KEES and then mailed locally. See Fair Hearings-Generate an Appeal Summary Form for detailed steps.
After OAH receives the appeal summary, they notify DCF of the fair hearing date and time. The Agency Representative updates the Hearing Detail page with the fair hearing date and time. See Fair Hearings-Update a Fair Hearing Request with a Hearing Date for detailed steps.
After the fair hearing is held, OAH affirms or reverses the appeal.
If the appeal is reversed, reverse the benefit determination that caused the appeal.
If the appeal is affirmed, adjust the benefits if they were continued pending the appeal and initiate the overpayment process. See Processing an Overpayment for detailed steps.
Record the results on the Hearing Detail page and close the record. See Fair Hearings-Close a Fair Hearing Request for detailed steps.
Route the paper documentation to imaging.
Image and index the documents to the Appeal document type in the Case-No Task basket.
NOTE: This step could be completed by the Agency Representative. Follow the local office’s business process for imaging Fair Hearing documentation.
Place all documents in the 60 day file retention area by date imaged.
Appeal requests, details, summaries, and results are all recorded in KEES.
An Appellant can request to have benefits continue until an appeal decision has been reached.
When appeal information is received by DCF first, the agency must send the appeal information to OAH. This is done outside of KEES.
The OAH e-file system is a process outside of KEES that allows all parties to electronically upload evidence and document to their case(s), and manage their hearings. OAH must receive a signed form through mail or fax by Appellants and/or Agency Representatives to view already-docketed case information through the OAH e-file system.