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 in a form prescribed by the department. A written notice of the determination of insured status shall be furnished to the individual promptly. Each such determination shall be based on and include a written 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 such 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. Unless the individual, within ten (10) days after such determination was mailed to the individual's last known address, or otherwise delivered to the individual, asks a hearing thereon before an administrative law judge, such determination shall be final and benefits shall be paid or denied in accordance therewith.
(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 such individual with a notice in writing 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 such individual from such employer. Unless the employer within ten (10) days after such notice of benefit liability was mailed to the employer's last known address, or otherwise delivered to the employer, asks a hearing thereon before an administrative law judge, such determination shall be final and benefits paid shall be charged in accordance therewith.
(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 of such facts within ten (10) days after the mailing of notice that a former employee has filed an initial or additional claim for benefits on a form prescribed 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 therefor, and the cause for which the claimant left the claimant's work, or may refer such claim to an administrative law judge who shall make the initial determination with respect thereto 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 such claim, the eligibility of the claimant for waiting period credit or benefits, or the imposition of a disqualification period or penalty, or the denial thereof, and of the cause for which the claimant left the claimant's work, of such determination and the reasons thereof.
(f) Except as otherwise hereinafter provided in this section regarding parties located in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, unless the claimant or such employer, within ten (10) days after the notification required by subsection (e), was mailed to the claimant's or the employer's last known address or otherwise delivered to the claimant or the employer, asks for a hearing before an administrative law judge thereon, such decision shall be final and benefits shall be paid or denied in accordance therewith.
(g) For a notice of disputed administrative determination or decision mailed or otherwise delivered 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 mailed to the claimant's or employer's last known address or otherwise delivered to the claimant or employer, asks for a hearing before an administrative law judge thereon, such decision shall be final and benefits shall be paid or denied in accordance therewith.
(h) If a claimant or an employer requests a hearing under subsection
(f) or (g), the request therefor shall be filed with the department in writing within the prescribed periods as above set forth in this section and shall be in such form as the department may prescribe. 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 said claimant unless said 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 appearing therein. 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 writing within the prescribed periods as above set forth 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.
  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.