Ex-employer contested my DEO benefits - is appealing worth it?

ABSOLUTELY APPEAL!!! I went through this exact nightmare in February. My former employer made up some garbage about performance issues when they actually eliminated my entire department. It took 9 weeks from filing my appeal to getting a hearing date, but I WON! Make sure you gather ANY emails about the restructuring, performance reviews, and write down a detailed timeline of events. The appeals referee was actually really fair and saw through my employer's story. Don't give up! The DEO system is DESIGNED to discourage people from appealing.

same thing happened to me! appeal it appeal it appeal it

I recommend appealing but prepare properly. You'll need to gather any evidence showing the restructuring was real - emails, meeting notes, severance documents that mention restructuring, etc. During the hearing, stick to facts and avoid emotional statements about your former employer. Key points to focus on: 1. You did not violate any specific company policies 2. The separation was due to business needs, not your actions 3. Any witnesses who can confirm the restructuring You should also be prepared to explain how you performed your job satisfactorily before the separation. The burden is on the employer to prove misconduct, not on you to disprove it. Most employers don't properly prepare for these hearings.

I had an appeal hearing last week and still waiting on the decision. The whole process is super slow and I'm getting really tired of it. My employer straight up lied in the hearing too. Hope the referee saw through it. Good luck if u decide to appeal!

I tried calling DEO to ask questions about my appeal hearing but can't get through to a live person. Been calling for THREE DAYS!!! Is there any trick to actually getting someone on the phone who knows what they're talking about?? The automated system just keeps disconnecting me after 30 minutes on hold!

Appeals have a surprisingly good success rate, especially in restructuring cases. Here's what you need to know: - Florida is an at-will employment state, but being fired for company restructuring qualifies you for benefits - For an employer to prove misconduct, they must show you willfully violated policies - Most employers fail to provide sufficient documentation during appeals - You'll receive a Notice of Hearing with a specific date/time (usually by phone) - The entire appeal process generally takes 8-12 weeks from start to finish I've helped several people through this process, and when the separation was truly due to restructuring and not misconduct, the appeal usually succeeds. Document everything you can, and be completely honest in your testimony.

Yes, absolutely continue claiming weeks during your appeal! If you win, they'll pay you for all properly claimed weeks. If you don't claim them, you can't get back pay even if you win the appeal.

my neighbor had this happen and she ended up getting a job before the appeal finished so it was kinda pointless for her lol. but different situation for everyone i guess. good luck!!

The DEO system is RIGGED against workers!!!! I appealed and the hearing was a complete joke - the referee barely let me talk and believed everything my employer said without question. Complete waste of my time. Now I'm dealing with an overpayment notice for benefits I already spent on BILLS AND FOOD. This system is designed to PROTECT EMPLOYERS not help workers!!!

UPDATE: I just wanted to follow up with something important for anyone going through appeals. Make sure you're very specific about reviewing your Notice of Hearing document when it arrives. It will list what issues are being addressed in the hearing, and you want to prepare evidence SPECIFICALLY for those issues. Also, if you can't make the scheduled hearing date, contact the Office of Appeals immediately to request a reschedule. Missing the hearing almost always results in losing the appeal automatically.

One more thing I forgot to mention - during my appeal hearing, my former employer didn't even bother to show up! The referee still conducted the hearing, asked me questions, and ruled in my favor. So sometimes these appeals are easier than you might expect.