- what type of information is the department looking for, and
- is there some type of strategy used in reporting the information, especially if the employer doesn't feel the unemployment is justified?
UI Program Answer: When someone applies for UI benefits, you always get a notice or determination with instructions about what common issues are raised and how to raise one. If the employee is laid off and you know he or she is looking for full-time work, there is probably no issue to raise and you do not have to respond.
The best way to raise an issue is in your online UI account. Click on 'Determinations' and 'Issue Summary', then input the social security number of the applicant. Follow the links for raising an issue. You choose from a menu of possible issues, such as "quit", "refused offer of work", "not available for work", and so on. Once you choose the issue you want to raise, a questionnaire appears with specific questions you need to answer about the issue.
So there is no strategy or secret to contesting UI benefits, other than to give complete and detailed responses to the questions. All of your responses are reviewed by real human beings who do this for a living.
You may assume that they will read your submission carefully, but you should not necessarily assume they understand your business or why certain rules are important to you and how they affect your business – we deal with 120,000 employers and they are all a little different. Don’t use shorthand or inside jargon. Don’t assume that we know how your particular business works.
