First-Level Appeals: Before an Administrative Law Judge
If you disagree with the outcome of a fact-finding decision on your unemployment claim, you have the right to appeal to an administrative law judge (ALJ) at the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). Your former employer also has the right to appeal. Any appeal must be postmarked or received within 10 calendar days from the decision date. If the tenth day is a weekend or a holiday, the appeal period extends to the next working day.
Unlike the fact-finding interview, an appeal hearing is a formal process. Both you and your former employer will be sworn in, and the hearing will be recorded and become public record.
Public Appeals Decisions
Proceedings before DIAL's UI Appeals Bureau are open to the public, and any documents you or your employer submit to the ALJ will become public records. The public will have access to hearings, decisions, exhibits, transcripts and recordings without prior notice to you. This means your hearing and/or its documents may be viewed or listened to by the public without your knowledge. A special portal is maintain where all UI Appeals Decisions are posted online.
The date of the fact-finding decision and the reference number on that decision.
Your name, address and Social Security Number.
Your employer's name, address and account number.
A specific statement that you are appealing the decision.
The reason why you are appealing.
Whether an interpreter is needed – and if so, the language that will be required.
Any appeal hearing on your claim will be conducted by telephone conference call, unless you and/or your employer submit a written request to hold the hearing in-person.
All in-person hearings are held at one of 15 IowaWORKS centers. If you request the in-person hearing, then you will be required to travel to the IowaWORKS center closest to your employer; if he or she is the one who requests the hearing, then the employer will have to travel to the IowaWORKS center closest to you.
Once you appeal, DIAL will schedule a formal hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ).
The AJC WILL NOT call you for the hearing, you MUST call into the number provided above to participate. Failure to participate in the hearing may result in your appeal being dismissed.
You will be required to call in to the toll-free number listed on the Notice of Hearing. You may call in no more than five minutes before your hearing. (You are not the organizer of the hearing; do not press 2 during the initial automated message.) Once on the line, wait for the ALJ to begin the hearing.
If you are unable to participate in the appeal hearing as scheduled, please submit a written request to postpone the hearing. Send it to the Appeals Bureau at least three days prior to the scheduled hearing. Written submissions may be made via fax, email, or regular mail. The appeal hearing will be postponed only for good reason.
Unlike the fact-finding interview, an appeal hearing is a formal process where all parties and witnesses are sworn in, and the hearing is recorded. The ALJ will take new statements concerning the issue even if have already given a statement at the fact-finding interview. Either party may submit additional evidence at the hearing, so participation is important.
You may choose to hire an attorney to attend the hearing on your behalf. This is something both you and your former employer have the right to do, but it is not required. If you choose to hire an attorney, you will be responsible for paying the cost for the attorney yourself. For additional information about what to expect during the appeal hearing, review the instructions you received with the hearing notice.
The ALJ's final decision will be mailed to the parties as soon as possible after the hearing. The decision will state the important facts of the case, as well as the legal conclusions and reasons for the decision. It will include an order stating what the ALJ determined. The decision may disqualify you from receiving unemployment benefits or allow you to receive benefits that may be chargeable to the employer.
For assistance with filing an appeal or general appeal questions, contact the UI Appeals Bureau:
Toll-free in Iowa: 800-532-1483 Toll-free outside of Iowa: 800-247-5205 Des Moines local: 515-281-3747 Fax: 515-478-3528 Email: helpuiappeals@dia.iowa.gov
The appeal must be postmarked within 15 calendar days from the mailing date of the ALJ’s decision. Both sides of the dispute will receive a CD containing a recording of the ALJ’s hearing and will be given an opportunity to submit a written summary of their side. The EAB does not hold hearings. The board decides each case by reviewing all the evidence that was presented to the ALJ. The board may:
Affirm or reverse the ALJ’s decision.
Send the case back to the ALJ for further review.
Order a new hearing and decision if the evidence in the ALJ’s hearing is insufficient or incomplete.
It usually takes 45 to 75 days from the date the appeal is filed to receive the EAB decision. If you or the employer disagree with the eventual EAB decision, you may request a rehearing before the EAB or file a petition for judicial review in Iowa District Court. The procedure and appeal deadlines will be provided on the EAB decision.
For assistance with filing an appeal or general appeal questions, contact the UI Appeals Bureau:
Toll-free in Iowa: 800-532-1483 Toll-free outside of Iowa: 800-247-5205 Des Moines local: 515-281-3747 Fax: 515-478-3528 Email: helpuiappeals@dia.iowa.gov
