Beginning May 18, the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board will reopen. It has been closed since March when the state-mandated lockdown began. This is a welcome return of due process for the many people who have been denied UI who want to contest those denials and receive unemployment funds. According to the press release, only some of the board’s offices will reopen, and all appeals will have to be made by telephone only. If your appeal is accepted you will receive a notice via the post office with the scheduled date and time for your appeal where a judge will call you.
As part of the Appeal Board reopening, several rules have been changed or modified to accommodate the dramatically different world in which we find ourselves. Both the NYS Department of Labor and the Unemployment Action Center have useful tools for understanding your rights, why you might have been denied, and your available options for appeal.
As states attempt to reopen, there will be much confusion, and we are here to provide you with information about your employment and unemployment questions and any issues you have faced, such as employers or the state threatening to deny your UI or take other actions if you refuse to return to an unsafe work environment. If you feel you are being pressured into returning to work or that your workplace is not safe to return, sign up for one of our freeconsultations.
