Ind. Code § 22-4-17-2 – Filing; determination of status; disputed claims; hearings

(a) When an individual files an initial claim, the department shall promptly make a determination of the individual's status as an insured worker. A notice of the determination of insured status shall be furnished to the individual promptly. Each determination shall be based on and include a statement showing the amount of wages paid to the individual for insured work by each employer during the individual's base period and shall include a finding as to whether the wages meet the requirements for the individual to be an insured worker, and, if so, the week ending date of the first week of the individual's benefit period, the individual's weekly benefit amount, and the maximum amount of benefits that may be paid to the individual for weeks of unemployment in the individual's benefit period. For the individual who is not insured, the notice shall include the reason for the determination. The following apply in regard to the determination:
1. (1) Unless the individual, within fifteen (15) days after the determination was sent by the department to the individual, asks for a hearing before an administrative law judge, the determination shall be final and benefits shall be paid or denied in accordance with the determination. The date listed under date sent on the determination of eligibility is prima facie evidence that the determination was sent to the party on that date.
2. (2) If an individual asks for a wage investigation, the unemployment insurance tax division shall promptly perform an investigation to determine whether wages from insured work should be added or subtracted from the claim. A determination of the wage investigation shall be furnished to the individual promptly upon completion. Unless the individual, within fifteen
3. (15) days after the determination was sent by the unemployment insurance tax division, requests an appeal to a liability administrative law judge under IC 22-4-32-1 , the determination shall be final.
(b) The department shall promptly furnish each employer in the base period whose experience or reimbursable account is potentially chargeable with benefits to be paid to the individual with a notice of the employer's benefit liability. The notice shall contain the date, the name and Social Security account number of the individual, the ending date of the individual's base period, and the week ending date of the first week of the individual's benefit period. The notice shall further contain information as to the proportion of benefits chargeable to the employer's experience or reimbursable account in ratio to the earnings of the individual from the employer. Unless the employer within fifteen
(15) days after the notice of benefit liability was sent by the department to the employer, asks for a hearing before a liability administrative law judge, the determination shall be final and benefits paid shall be charged in accordance with the determination.
(c) An employing unit, including an employer, having knowledge of any facts which may affect an individual's eligibility or right to waiting period credits or benefits, shall notify the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department of those facts within ten
(10) days after the claim for benefits was sent by the department.
(d) In addition to the foregoing determination of insured status by the department, the deputy shall, throughout the benefit period, determine the claimant's eligibility with respect to each week for which the claimant claims waiting period credit or benefit rights, the validity of the claimant's claim, and the cause for which the claimant left the claimant's work, or may refer the claim to an administrative law judge who shall make the initial determination in accordance with the procedure in section 3 of this chapter.
(e) In cases where the claimant's benefit eligibility or disqualification is disputed, the department shall promptly notify the claimant and the employer or employers directly involved or connected with the issue raised as to the validity of the claim, the eligibility of the claimant for waiting period credit or benefits, or the imposition of a disqualification period or penalty, or the denial of the claim, and of the cause for which the claimant left the claimant's work, of the determination and the reasons for the determination.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this section regarding parties located in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, unless the claimant or the employer, within fifteen (15) days after the notification required by subsection (e), was sent by the department to the claimant or the employer, asks for a hearing before an administrative law judge, the decision shall be final and benefits shall be paid or denied in accordance with the decision.
(g) For a notice of disputed administrative determination or decision sent by the department to the claimant or employer either of whom is located in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, unless the claimant or employer, within fifteen (15) days after the notification required by subsection (e) was sent to the claimant or employer, asks for a hearing before an administrative law judge, the decision shall be final and benefits shall be paid or denied in accordance with the decision.
(h) If a claimant or an employer requests a hearing under subsection
(f) or (g), the request shall be filed with the department within the prescribed periods provided in this section and shall be in the form and manner prescribed by the department. In the event a hearing is requested by an employer or the department after it has been administratively determined that benefits should be allowed to a claimant, entitled benefits shall continue to be paid to the claimant unless the administrative determination has been reversed by a due process hearing. Benefits with respect to any week not in dispute shall be paid promptly regardless of any appeal.
1. (i) A person may not participate on behalf of the department in any case in which the person is an interested party.
2. (j) Solely on the ground of obvious administrative error appearing on the face of an original determination, and within the benefit year of the affected claims, the commissioner, or a representative authorized by the commissioner to act in the commissioner's behalf, may reconsider and direct the deputy to revise the original determination so as to correct the obvious error. Time for filing an appeal and requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge regarding the determinations handed down pursuant to this subsection shall begin on the date following the date of revision of the original determination and shall be filed with the commissioner in the form and manner prescribed by the department within the prescribed periods provided in subsection (c).
3. (k) Notice to the employer and the claimant that the determination of the department is final if a hearing is not requested shall be prominently displayed on the notice of the determination which is sent to the employer and the claimant.
4. (l) If an allegation of the applicability of IC 22-4-15-1 (c)(8) is made by the individual at the time of the claim for benefits, the department shall not notify the employer of the claimant's current address or physical location.
5. (m) All individuals who have not previously verified their identity with the department shall, prior to filing a new claim for unemployment benefits, verify their identity in the form and manner prescribed by the department.
6. (n) An individual is ineligible for unemployment benefits or extended benefits unless the individual has verified the individual's identity in the form and manner prescribed by the department.
  Formerly: Acts 1947, c.208, s.1802; Acts 1953, c.177, s.22; Acts 1955, c.317, s.10; Acts 1965, c.190, s.11; Acts 1969, c.300, s.5; Acts 1971, P.L.355, SEC.42; Acts 1972, P.L.174, SEC.2. As amended by Acts 1977, P.L.262, SEC.27; P.L.18-1987, SEC.47; P.L.135-1990, SEC.6; P.L.1-1991, SEC.152; P.L.21-1995, SEC.86; P.L.290-2001, SEC.10; P.L.189-2003, SEC.5; P.L.273-2003, SEC.5; P.L.97-2004, SEC.84; P.L.108-2006, SEC.29; P.L.175-2009, SEC.27; P.L.110-2010, SEC.31; P.L.1-2010, SEC.88; P.L.42-2011, SEC.41; P.L.154-2013, SEC.7; P.L.122-2019, SEC.29; P.L.200-2025, SEC.22.