The Maui News

The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations announced it will start accepting telephone appointments for complex, disputed unemployment insurance claims today to allow claimants to schedule slots beginning on Aug. 23.

The appointments will provide an opportunity for claimants to speak with DLIR claims examiners to assist with fact-finding on their claims.

Claimants can request appointments online at labor.hawaii.gov/ui/.

“The adjudication process requires detailed fact-finding and can include information provided by both the claimant as well as the separating employer,” said DLIR Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio in a news release. “Overpayments also fall within this category of claims that require due process to make a fair and impartial determination.”

When an “issue” is created on a person’s initial or weekly claim, it’s because a question of eligibility has been raised and the claim must be adjudicated to determine the most appropriate resolution for the claim, according to the department.

Issues are created any time information provided on a claim conflicts with either the eligibility requirements of the unemployment insurance program or if the information provided by the claimant conflicts with that of the separating employer.

Determinations of eligibility are subject to appeal by either the claimant or the employer who does not agree with the outcome.

Officials ask that claimants be aware that the adjudication process is separate and apart from the undisputed unemployment insurance benefits process and customer representatives within the UI Call Centers do not have access to adjudication information.

The department also noted that unemployment benefits of any kind are not available to employees who are terminated for cause, quit their job without good cause or refuse to return to work.

Attempts to collect benefit payments in these situations could be viewed as fraudulent. Investigation of job separation is part of the eligibility determination process.

For more information about the adjudicated claims telephone system, visit www.hawaiiunemploymentinfo.com/.

For more information about unemployment insurance and other labor issues, visit labor .hawaii.gov/covid-19-labor-faqs/.