134 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 CONCLUDED CASES 17.9% 17.7% Rejections for formal reasons3 Investigations1 2017 Total cases 5,062 64.4% Other forms of processing and assistance to citizens2 18.9% Rejections for formal reasons3 18.1% Investigations1 2016 Total cases 4,682 63% Other forms of processing and assistance to citizens2 17% Rejections for formal reasons3 21% Investigations1 2015 Total cases 4,860 62% Other forms of processing and assistance to citizens2 1) The overall category ‘Investigations’ comprises cases in which the Ombudsman carried out various investigations and assessments, including cases where the Ombudsman carried out an in-depth investigation after obtaining statements from the authorities involved. 2) The category ‘Other forms of processing and assistance to citizens’ comprises cases processed dif­ ferently than by way of investigation. For instance, the Ombudsman may have provided guidance to the citizen. Or the Ombudsman may have forwarded the case to the authorities – for example as a complaint, in order for the citizen to get more details of the grounds for a decision, or with a view to the authorities expediting the case. 3) Cases are rejected for formal reasons if, for instance, the authority etc. to which a complaint relates is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, if a citizen has exceeded the one-year deadline for lodging a complaint with the Ombudsman or if an appeal option has not been used and can no longer be used. See the table on page 135 for further information.