73B-20.004. Method of Filing an Appeal or Request to Reopen

(1) Appeals or requests to reopen made pursuant to subsection 73B-20.017(4) or 73B-20.022(1), F.A.C., may be filed with the Office of Appeals:

(a) Online via the Department of Economic Opportunity CONNECT system at http://www.floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center or the Reemployment Assistance Help Center at https://FloridaJobs.org/RAHelpCenter;

(b) By facsimile (FAX), [phone];

(c) By mail, P.O. Box 5250, Tallahassee, FL 32399-5250; or

(d) By courier service or in person, Caldwell Building, MSC #347, 107 East Madison Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-4143.

(2) If an appeal or request to reopen is submitted to the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, the Commission will forward the appeal or request to reopen to the Office of Appeals. The filing date for purposes of computing timeliness of the appeal or request to reopen will be calculated as set forth in Rule 73B-20.005, F.A.C.  However, submitting an appeal or request to reopen to the Commission may result in delay in processing the appeal or request to reopen.

(3) Additional information for appeals or requests to reopen filed online:

(a) To access the CONNECT system, the claimant will be asked to  provide the following information:

1. Claimant email address; and,

2. Claimant password.

(b) To access the CONNECT system, the employer will be asked to provide the following information:

1. Employer User ID; and,

2. Employer password.

(c) To file an appeal through the CONNECT system, the claimant will be asked to:

1. Select the determination to be appealed;

2. State why the appeal is untimely filed, if applicable;

3. Describe the reason for the appeal;

4. Update address and telephone numbers if incorrect in the CONNECT system;

5. State whether the claimant will be represented by an attorney;

6. State whether the claimant will present witnesses at the hearing;

7. State whether the claimant will need the services of an interpreter and, if so, the language needed;

8. Provide a temporary mailing address for the appeal, if necessary;

9. Provide a telephone number for the hearing; and,

10. Upload files related to the appeal.

(d) To file an appeal through the CONNECT system, the employer will be asked to:

1. Select the determination to be appealed;

2. State why the appeal is untimely filed, if applicable;

3. Provide the name of the individual filing the appeal;

4. Provide the job title of the individual filing the appeal;

5. Provide the name of the contact person for the hearing;

6. Provide the job title of the contact person for the hearing;

7. Provide the contact person’s telephone number;

8. Describe the reason for the appeal;

9. State whether the employer will be represented by an agent or attorney who was not sent a copy of the initial determination;

10. State whether the employer will be presenting witnesses other than the contact person for the hearing;

11. Provide a telephone number for the hearing; and,

12. Upload files related to the appeal.

(e) To request a rehearing through the CONNECT system when a party failed to attend a hearing, the party will be asked to provide:

1. Name of the party requesting reopening;

2. Docket number; and,

3. Reason for reopening request.

(f) To file an appeal through the Reemployment Assistance Help Center, the claimant will be asked to provide the following information:

1. Issue identification number and distribution date of the determination to be appealed;

2. Claimant’s address and telephone number;

3. Claimant’s name, claimant ID, and the last four digits of his or her social security number;

4. Why the appeal is untimely filed, if applicable;

5. Reason for disagreeemnt with the determination;

6. Contact information of an attorney or authorized representative, if applicable;

7. Contact information for any witness(es), if applicable;

8. A request for an interpreter and for what language, if applicable; and

9. A temporary mailing address, if applicable.

(g) To file an appeal through the Reemployment Assistance Help Center, the employer will be asked to provide the following information:

1. Issue identification number and distribution date of the determination to be appealed;

2. Employer account number and business name;

3. Employer’s address and telephone number;

4. Claimant’s name and last four digits of his or her social security number, if known;

5. Why the appeal is untimely filed, if applicable;

6. Reason for disagreeemnt with the determination;

7. Contact information of an attorney or authorized representative, if applicable;

8. Contact information for any witness(es), if applicable;

9. A request for an interpreter and for what language, if applicable; and

10. A temporary mailing address, if applicable.

Rulemaking Authority 443.012(11) FS. Law Implemented 443.151(4)(b)1., (d) FS. History–New 5-22-80, Formerly 38E-5.04, Amended 8-20-86, 8-7-01, Formerly 38E-5.004, 60BB-5.004, Amended 10-4-12, 9-8-15, 8-5-19, 2-15-23.