What Happens During Adjudication

What Adjudication Is

Adjudication is the process by which Special Case requests are reviewed and assessed.
 

Each request is examined individually and considered in the context of the program’s available resources, operational capacity, and review criteria at the time of evaluation. The goal of adjudication is to ensure that decisions are made fairly, consistently, and responsibly.
 

Being assigned to adjudication does not imply approval or rejection. It simply means your request is actively under review.
 

To ensure fairness and consistency, reviews are conducted independently and without preference, and previously reviewed files may be reconsidered in future cycles as capacity allows.

What is Considered During Review

During adjudication, reviewers consider information provided in your application, including:
 

• The nature of the request

• Program eligibility considerations

• Available resources and capacity at the time of review

• The need to ensure fairness and consistency across all requests
   

Every request reflects a real situation, and all information is reviewed with care. However, decisions must also account for the program’s ability to responsibly support requests within its current capacity.

What Adjudication is Not

To help clarify expectations, adjudication:
 

• Is not a first-come, first-served process

• Does not guarantee approval

• Is not influenced by outside factors

• Is not affected by financial contributions or support
   

All reviews are conducted independently and without preference.

Timing & Communication

Adjudication timelines can vary depending on the volume of requests and available review capacity.
 

While your file is under review:
 

• No action is required from you

• You do not need to follow up unless contacted

• You will be notified once a decision has been reached

• You may be contacted if additional information is needed
   

We understand that waiting can be difficult, and we appreciate your patience during this stage.

Possible Outcomes

Once adjudication is complete, one of the following outcomes may occur:
 

• Approval, subject to program availability

• Deferral, meaning your file remains on record for future consideration

• No approval in the current cycle, due to resource limitations
   

Decisions reflect the program’s capacity at the time of review and are not judgments about personal circumstances or the importance of your request.

Support Program Capacity (Optional)

We recognize that many people whose files are under review are navigating financial uncertainty. For most applicants, contributing financially is not possible and that is fully understood and expected.
 

Some members of the broader community who are in a position to do so choose to support the program’s capacity so that reviews and operations can continue over time.

Voluntary support helps sustain:
 

• Review and administrative capacity

• Program operations and oversight

• The ability to responsibly review additional files over time