One more thing - if you're able to get your hearing changed to phone, make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception when they call. Have all your documents spread out where you can see them. Take notes during the other party's testimony so you can address any inaccuracies. And most importantly, speak clearly and answer only what is asked without volunteering extra information that might hurt your case.

just wondering did u get thru to them yet?? let us know what happens!!

btw what happened with me was that i won my appeal but then the company appealed AGAIN to the next level (the board of review i think??). just be prepared that even if you win the first hearing, they might take it further. don't let it stress you out like it did me - i won at that level too eventually.\n\ni was so mad because they dragged it out for like 3 months total! my manager even admitted during the hearing that several other people had gotten exceptions to the point system (which proved they weren't applying it fairly) and i still had to go through all that!

Oh no, I didn't realize they could appeal again if I win! That's stressful. Were you able to keep collecting benefits during that second appeal period?

I just went through this entire process and finally had my hearing last month after waiting about 5 months. One thing I didn't realize - you can request an expedited hearing if you're facing financial hardship (like potential eviction, utility shutoffs, etc.). You need to submit the request in writing with documentation of the hardship. It didn't speed things up dramatically for me, but I did get scheduled about 3-4 weeks after submitting my hardship letter instead of continuing to wait indefinitely.

There's no specific form for hardship requests. Write a detailed letter explaining your situation and include copies of any eviction notices, past due bills, etc. Send it to the UC Appeals office (same address that should be on your appeal acknowledgment letter). Also, after you send it, try calling the Appeals office directly to confirm they received it and added it to your file. Sometimes these requests get overlooked unless you follow up.

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - make sure when you talk to UC, you specifically ask about the work search requirements during medical unavailability. Typically, when someone has an approved medical exemption, they're also temporarily exempt from the work search requirements for those specific weeks. But you need to get this confirmed and documented in his case notes by a representative.

update: I finally got through to someone at UC today after calling for 3 hours straight! They told me I can submit a paper form on his behalf with a doctor's note from the rehab facility. They're also rescheduling his RESEA appointment for late August when he'll be out. Thank you all for the advice - it really helped me figure out what to do!

any chance u can get anything in writing from coworkers who heard the racial slurs? that would help ur case big time. also check ur work email if u still have access - any evidence that u reported the issue before being fired would be super helpful to counter the misconduct claim.

Quick update for those following - I've seen several similar cases recently get resolved within 9-10 weeks (still too long, but better than 12+). Make sure you're responding immediately to any mail or messages from UC. If you receive a questionnaire about your separation, return it within 24 hours if possible. This is also a good time to gather any documentation about the racial harassment - text messages, emails, names of witnesses, dates of incidents, and especially any proof you reported it before being terminated. One last tip: if you do need to appeal (hopefully you won't), request a hearing by telephone rather than in-person. The telephone hearings are typically scheduled 3-4 weeks sooner.