What Happens at an Unemployment Appeal Hearing?
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If you have appealed an unemployment denial, you may be wondering what happens at your hearing when it is scheduled.
Since COVID, most of the hearings are by telephone. The hearing examiner (a DUA employee who is usually an attorney) will confirm that they have all of the documents you want to submit, and ask you some questions about your claim. If your former employer is present, they will ask questions of them as well. At this point, if you are there by yourself, you will have the opportunity to share whatever information you think is important. Your employer or their representative will have the opportunity to ask you questions and make a statement. You will have the opportunity to ask them questions as well. If you are represented, your attorney will conduct a "direct exam" of you- basically asking friendly questions to get your version of the facts out. They will also "cross-examine" the other side, to try to get any helpful admissions on the record or show gaps or credibility problems in their version of events. The hearing will last just under an hour. It may be continued if the issues are complex and the questioning is not completed. When the hearing is completed, the hearing examiner will take it under advisement and usually issues a decision within a month. Learn more here about unemployment benefits in Massachusetts. |
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