Why attend?
An unemployment insurance (UI) hearing is a
high-stakes endeavor for your client and his or her family. UI, a critical
safety net during periods of joblessness, is especially important now to help
workers and their families during this recession. This seminar will provide you
with the expertise you need in order to help your clients get the UI benefits to
which they are legally entitled. Unemployed workers often cannot afford to
retain the services of the private bar, and therefore you will provide an
invaluable service to your client as a pro bono or legal services
representative. Our expert panel guides you through the intricacies of the
entire UI system from eligibility criteria through the appeals process,
including presentation of a mock UI hearing.
You will learn . . .
- The UI claims process, including appeals;
- UI eligibility criteria;
- The availability of extended benefits for job training, UI-related health
insurance, and federal extended UI benefits;
- The law on disqualifications from UI;
- Advocacy tips for successfully representing your client at a hearing;
and
- What to expect at a UI hearing . . . by observing a mock hearing with
commentary.
Agenda
- Introduction to the UI system; How the system
works/funding/administration; Resources for case preparation;
Application/ongoing eligibility; UI & job training; UI & health
insurance; Federal extended UI; UI & noncitizens;
- Representing your client before the DUA; Sequence of a claim; The UI
hearing; Reconsideration/ redetermination/overpayment waivers;
- Advocacy tips for the UI hearing; Informal fair hearing rules; Direct and
cross examination of witnesses; Working with interpreters;
- Disqualification based on separation; Deliberate misconduct and knowing
violation of work rule; Voluntary quit: Employer's good cause and employee's
urgent, compelling and necessitous reasons; Special rules for workers who
leave temporary assignments;
- New systemic issues (to be announced); and
- Mock unemployment insurance hearing,
Written materials include the 2011-12 Unemployment Advocacy
Guide: An Advocate's Guide to Unemployment in Mass
Click
here for additional program and faculty information
and to register online.