UI Benefit Appeal Reversal Rates Vary Considerably by State

The US Department of Labor periodically posts UI Benefit Appeals data showing the UI Appeal Reversal rates when claimants appeal and when employers appeal. The average reversal rates are similar on a national basis. For Lower  Level Appeals, 34.5% for Claimant Appeals and 37.7% for Employer Appeals. At the Higher level Claimants prevail on average 12.7% of the time and Employers appealing prevail 16.2% of the time.

Clearly, the chances of appealing and being successful are better at the lower level for both claimants and employers. Despite similar national averages, there is wide variation state by state. States with the highest and lowest rates of prevailing are provided below for reference. The complete report may be accessed at http://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/ui_appeal_reversal.asp

Employer Appeals

Lower Level

States with the highest rate of employers prevailing when they appeal at the Lower Level:

Delaware             67.9%

Tennessee          56.6%

Arkansas              53.3%

Colorado              53.3%

West Virginia     50.2%

States with the lowest rate of employers prevailing when they appeal at the Lower Level:

New York            18.7%

Utah                      22.1%

Connecticut        23.8%

Virgin Islands     23.8%

DC                          24.3%

Higher Level

States with the highest rate of employers prevailing when they appeal at the Higher Level:

Indiana                 71.3%

Alaska                   50.0%

Florida                  41.9%

South Dakota     40.0%

Wyoming             33.3%

States with the lowest rate of employers prevailing when they appeal at the Higher Level:

North Dakota                     0.0%

New Hampshire               0.0%

Utah                                      1.8%

Oklahoma                           2.6%

Kansas                                  2.9%

Claimant Appeals

Lower Level

States with the highest rate of claimants prevailing when they appeal at the Lower Level:

DC                          48.9%

California             48.8%

Mass                     47.4%

Florida                  47.3%

New Hamp         44.7%

Rhode Island      40.1%

States with the lowest rate of claimants prevailing when they appeal at the Lower Level:

Arkansas              12.9%

Nebraska             14.2%

Delaware             15.1%

Virginia                 17.3%

Texas                    19.7%

Higher Level

States with the highest rate of claimants prevailing when they appeal at the Higher Level:

Indiana                 66.3%

Florida                  35.1%

Missouri               25.6%

Arkansas              25.0%

Montana             24.9%

States with the lowest rate of claimants prevailing when they appeal at the Higher Level:

North Dakota     0.3%

Kansas                  0.4%

New Hamp         0.6%

Mississippi          1.5%

Ohio                      1.7%