How to File an Unemployment Appeal

You can file an unemployment appeal.

If your claim for unemployment benefits has been denied, you need to know how to file unemployment appeals and you're going to need lots of patience. But, rest assured, that there is hope in the process and, if you're persistent and thorough (and are truly entitled to unemployment benefits), you have a good chance of a successful unemployment appeal.

Things You'll Need

• Lots of patience
• As much documentation as possible to support your unemployment appeal

Instructions

1. Don't procrastinate!! Find out how much time you have in your state to file unemployment appeals. Locally, it's 21 days which doesn't give you much time, so make sure that you know that deadline, mark it on the calendar and don't leave this until the last minute. Your best chance of overturning unemployment appeals is to give yourself plenty of time.

2. Be thorough. Remember, the folks at the employment office don't want to deny your claims (no matter what it might feel like), but they need plenty of evidence to award you benefits once you've been denied. So, make sure to dot every i and cross every t. Along these same lines, if you have access to a computer or typewriter, use it! If not, print very, very neatly. You want to give the impression that you've given this your full attention (I know you *have*, but you want to make sure *they* know that, too).

3. Include copies of all documentation you have from time cards to worker's comp reports to employee contracts. Make sure all copies are legible (you'd be surprised how often they're not--and that makes it look like you're hiding the truth even though what it usually means is that the copier jammed). If you don't have these documents, your unemployment appeal won't necessarily be denied, but know that having them is always better than not having them.

4. Recruit as many witnesses as possible. This can be difficult if the people who knew what happened still work for the company, but witnesses really strengthen unemployment appeals. Don't ask anyone to be a witness if you're not fully certain of what they'll say--if your witness gives ambiguous answers, that can harm your credibility.

5. Show up at your unemployment appeal hearing!! If you don't, your appeal will almost certainly be denied. So, make sure you're there, and be prepared to make a good impression. That means dress sensibly, speak clearly, and be respectful. If you're like me, you may tend to mumble when you're nervous, so remind yourself to look everyone in the eye and enunciate. Other people may get stubborn when in a contentious situation like this--it's not enough that you're now unemployed, but the company you worked for has also tried to deny your claims?!--but that won't help either. Trot out your very best manners, make your mother proud, and you'll be just fine at the unemployment appeal hearing.

6. Get back on the job market and focus on moving forward. It's easy to get wrapped up in bitterness following a betrayal like losing your job and then having to fight for what's yours, but that would be a mistake. Not only will that kind of anger make it harder to find a new job, but it'll also be detrimental to your life in other ways. So, as much as you can, practice forgiveness (if only for your own sake) and move on with your life. Chances are a much better job is waiting for you in the wings.