How do I appeal?
Appeal process
The Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Law provides an opportunity for a fair and impartial hearing to any party who disagrees with a determination issued by the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program. The Appeal Hearing Guide explains how the appeal phone hearing process works.
Appeals must be filed electronically, mailed, or faxed within the timeframe specified on the determination to be appealed. Instructions for filing an appeal are printed on all determinations.
We are currently processing a record number of applications for unemployment benefits.
Given this volume, we have had to make some adjustments to our appeals hearing schedule.
*Phone lines listed on the Appeal Hearing Guide are not available at this time.
View common question and answers about these changes.
An appeal submitted online or by fax is not considered filed until the department actually receives it. The following are the progression of appeals:
- APPEAL HEARING: The hearing will be scheduled with an Unemployment Law Judge. Hearings are conducted by telephone unless circumstances of a particular case make it impractical to conduct the hearing by telephone.
Videos about the appeal process:
Filing an Appeal (video, 12:10)- REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION: Any Decision issued by an Unemployment Law Judge as the result of a hearing may be reviewed by the same judge if a Request for Reconsideration is filed within 20 calendar days of the mail date of the Decision.
- COURT OF APPEALS: Any decision reconsidered by an Unemployment Law Judge may be taken to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Instructions on how to appeal a reconsidered decision are on the Court of Appeals website (www.mncourts.gov) - see Filing an Unemployment Appeal.
If you remain unemployed, it is important to continue to make requests for benefit payments every week while awaiting a final decision. You can only be paid for weeks that have been properly requested.