Appeals 

The Division of Adjudication and Appeals

The Division of Adjudication and Appeals contains the Appeals Unit, the Workforce Appeals Board, the Fair Hearing Unit, the Department's Legal Counsel, the Information Release Unit, the Equal Opportunity Liaison, and the Constituent Affairs Specialist.

Initial Appeal

The Appeals Unit conducts the initial appeal hearings for unemployment insurance (UI), public assistance and training services.  At the initial appeal you have the opportunity to participate in a hearing with an impartial administrative law judge (ALJ).  You can file an online unemployment insurance (UI) appeal.  For all the other programs, follow the appeal instructions located to the left under Public Assistance Appeals. Click here for our contact information

You have the right to have representation at the hearing and to have witnesses testify to relevant facts about the case.  The original decision of the Department is made part of the hearing record.  However, the ALJ hears the case without being obligated to make the same decision as the Department.  The appeal hearing is recorded and testimony is taken under oath.  The recording and the documents entered into evidence become the official record of the hearing.  After the hearing the ALJ issues a written decision, which contains the ALJ's findings of fact, reasoning and conclusions, and decision based on law.  The ALJ may affirm, reverse or modify the Department's decision.  The ALJ may also send the case back to the Department for further review.

Further Appeal

If you disagree with the decision of the ALJ, you may appeal further by following the instructions in the ALJ's decision.  Unemployment insurance appeals will go to the Workforce Appeals Board.  Public assistance and training service related appeals go to the Director of the Division of Adjudication or District Court.

Workforce Appeals Board

The Workforce Appeals Board (Board) is made up of individuals appointed by the governor who sit in three-person panels to determine whether the ALJ made the correct decision regarding an unemployment insurance matter.  The Board does not hold another hearing.  Instead, it issues its decision based on a review of the record created at the initial hearing.  The Board may affirm, reverse or modify the ALJ's decision.  The Board may also send the case back to the ALJ for further proceedings if the record is inadequate.  If a party is unsatisfied with the Board's decision, the matter can be appealed to the Utah Court of Appeals.