Guidance for Filing a Claimant Appeal

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You have only 21 calendar days from the date of the Administrator's predetermination hearing decision to file an unemployment appeal with the Appeals Division. Do not delay. Likewise, you have only 21 calendar days from the date of the Referee's decision to file an appeal to the Board of Review.

Do not delay filing your appeal at either step.

Filing an Appeal

You may file an appeal through your ReEmployCT account, which allows for prompt receipt by the Appeals Division. You may also file an appeal in person at any American Job Center or at any Appeals Division office, by mail or by fax. Representatives who lack access to the ReEmployCT portal may file an appeal by Internet, in addition to the other listed methods.

Preparing Your Case

Read the decision you received to determine the points of law that pertain to your case and what factors were used in reaching the decision. Determine what documentation and witnesses you will need to present a strong case. Proper documentation and credible, first-hand witnesses are vital to your success. See the Preparing for the Hearing and What Goes on at the Hearing sections of the Claimant's Guide to the Appeals Process for additional information.

Documentation
Records such as time cards, financial records, written warnings, employee handbooks, contract of hire, application for employment, medical records, police reports, and other agency reports (CHRO, Workers' Comp, rehabilitation reports, etc.) are examples of useful documentation. 

All documentation that you wish to present should be submitted to the referee and the opposing party as soon as possible after your receipt of the referee’s hearing notice. Documentation that is not received by the referee at least 24 hours before your scheduled hearing could be excluded. Parties may email, fax, or mail their documents as instructed on the referee’s hearing notice. ReEmployCT does not permit parties to upload their own documents.

Witnesses
Witnesses with first-hand, personal knowledge of the circumstances leading to the separation are vital to your case. Have those witnesses attend the Referee's hearing. Written statements by witnesses, even with first-hand knowledge, will be given little, if any, weight because the author is not available for cross-examination. See the What Goes on at the Hearing section of the Claimant's Guide to the Appeals Process for additional information.

Attendance at Scheduled Hearings

If you file an appeal and do not show up at the hearing, you will probably lose the case. You may be able to get another hearing but only if you can show good cause for not appearing, such as sudden, documented illness or a personal emergency. Overslept, on a job interview, unexpected appointment, forgot, someone did not remind you, lost the hearing notice, and similar excuses are not good reasons. The Referee's hearing will likely be your only opportunity for a hearing to present witnesses and documentation in support of your case. The Board of Review rarely conducts hearings. See the Once an Appeal is Filed section of the Claimant's Guide to the Appeals Process for additional information.

Requesting a Postponement

Ask for a postponement as soon as possible if you have an unavoidable conflict. Last minute requests are generally denied unless you have a real emergency, as described above. See the Once an Appeal is Filed section of the Claimant's Guide to the Appeals Process for additional information.

Representation

You may bring legal or other professional representation to the hearing if you wish. However, witnesses with first-hand knowledge are still vital to the success of your appeal. Please read the above section about WITNESSES again. A list of free legal services  is provided in the Free Legal Services section of the Claimant's Guide to the Appeals Process. You may also request a list of independent hearing representatives by completing the web form. See the General Information and Preparing for the Hearing sections of the Claimant's Guide to the Appeals Process for additional information.

Free Video

The Appeals Division has a twenty-minute video, "Preparing for a Hearing," that explains the appeals process and shows you what goes on at the Referee's hearing. You can watch this video on the Appeals home page. Alternatively, you may request that a copy be mailed to you if you cannot view it by calling the Appeals office nearest you, or filling out the request form.

Contact Information and Location