Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Emergency Assistance Manual

6.2.1 Request for Fact Finding Review

The Fact Finding Review is the first level of the dispute resolution process. All applicants and recipients have the right to request a Fact Finding Review. The Fact Finding Review is completed by the W-2W-2Wisconsin Works agency’s Fact Finder. An applicant or recipient can petition a Fact Finding Review when they believe at least one of the following has occurred:

  • The EAEAEmergency Assistance worker did not act upon the EA application within 10 working days;
  • The EA application was incorrectly denied and/or erroneously withdrawn;
  • The EA payment amount was incorrectly modified or canceled;
  • The EA payment amount was calculated incorrectly; or
  • The agency’s determination of an IPV was incorrect (see Chapter 8).

The dispute resolution process for EA overpayments is separate from the Fact Finding process for EA application and IPV decisions. (See 7.1.5)

An applicant or recipient who requests a Fact Finding Review should be encouraged to use the Request for Wisconsin Works (W-2) Fact Finding Review form (DCF-F-DWSP10783-E). However, the petitioner may use other documentation containing the same information found in the form. A W-2 agency must also accept phone requests for Fact Finding Reviews and must document the phone request using form DCF-F-DWSP10783-E.

If an applicant or recipient requests a Fact Finding Review for a complaint not related to any of the above reasons, the W-2 agency must provide the petitioner with a completed Fact Finding Review Denial Notice form (DCF-F-2686-E).