Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook - Alaska
UnemploymentInsurance ClaimantHandbooklabor.alaska.gov/unemployment1
TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction. 4Program integrity. 4Fraud . 4General . 5Benefit year. 5Amount/duration of benefits. 5Benefits are taxable. 6Social Security numbers. 6Dependent allowances. 6Eligibility requirementsand claimant responsibility. 7Ready and able to work. 7Registration for work. 8Work search contact requirements. 8Reemployment Services. 9Quit, fired, refused work. 9Attending school or training. 9Work, wages, income. 9Work . 9Wages . 10How wages affect your benefits. 10Excess earnings. 10Other deductible income. 11Travel/relocate. 11When to file a new claim orreopen your existing claim. 12File a new claim immediately if. 12You must reopen your existingclaim immediately if. 12Information you need before filing. 122How to file a new claim orreopen your existing claim. 13myAlaska. 13Filing weekly claims. 14Weekly claim questions. 14How to report hours worked. 15How to report gross wages. 15How to report net income when self employed. 16How to report employment status. 16Filing online. 16Internet menu. 17Helpful information. 17Payment methods. 17Debit card. 18Direct deposit. 18Filing by phone — VICTOR. 18VICTOR menu. 19Appeal rights. 19Audits. 20Quality Control audit. 20UI Crossmatch. 21Overpayment of benefits. 21Repayment. 21Extended Benefits (EB). 21Alaska job centers. 21Claim center phone numbers. 22VICTOR phone numbers. 22Other UI contacts. 22Internet addresses. 243
INTRODUCTIONGENERALYou are responsible for reading and familiarizingyourself with this handbook. Many of the questionsyou may have are answered in this handbook. Ifyour question is not answered here, please visit ourwebsite at labor.alaska.gov/unemployment.You will find links for additional information as wellas division contacts that will help you with yourUnemployment Insurance (UI) questions. Theinformation in this handbook is based upon, but doesnot replace, Alaska Statute (23.20) and Title 8, Chapter85, (8 AAC 85) of the Alaska Administrative Code.Program IntegrityProgram integrity is the number one focusof the Unemployment Insurance program. Ourgoal is to improve program integrity by reducingimproper payments. You are required to providethe department with timely, accurate and completeinformation in order to determine or reexamineeligibility for any claim or audit conducted by thedivision or its representatives.FraudAlaska law imposes severe penalties forattempting to collect benefits to which you are notentitled. For UI purposes, fraud is knowingly makinga false statement, misrepresenting a material factor withholding information to obtain benefits. Youwill be required to repay the benefits. You may alsohave to pay a penalty equal to 50 percent of thebenefits that were paid to you as a result of themisrepresentation. Additionally, present and futurebenefits may be withheld. All fraud cases are subjectto criminal prosecution, fines and imprisonment.Benefit yearA “benefit year” is typically 52 weeks followingthe effective date of your claim. The effective date ofyour claim is Sunday of the week in which you file.Amount/duration of benefitsThe maximum weekly benefit amount inAlaska is 370. The minimum weekly benefitamount is 56. Your claim is based on wages paidto you in the first four of the last five completedcalendar quarters from when you file your claim.(See diagram below.) If you do not qualify for aregular base period claim, you may be eligiblefor an alternate base period claim. This useswages earned in the last four completed calendarquarters from when you filed your claim.If you have worked in another state duringthe benefit year, those wages may be requestedto increase your weekly benefit amount, or youmay choose to file for benefits with the otherstate. However, you may not file against morethan one state at a time. The duration of benefitsis 16 to 26 weeks, depending on the amount anddistribution of wages paid in the base period.Regular base periodIf you suspect a business or an individual iscommitting fraud, please contact us:Email:Fax:Phone:Toll free:uifraud@alaska.gov(907) 269-4835(907) 269-4880(877) 272-463545
Benefits are taxableWhen you file your federal income tax return,you must report 100 percent of the benefits paid.We will send you form 1099G by Jan. 31. You canprint your 1099G online through myAlaska, whenavailable. Keep us informed of your current addressin order to receive your 1099G.You may request that 10 percent of benefitsbe withheld for taxes. You can start or stop taxwithholdings when filing online, or call your UI claimcenter. We cannot refund any money withheld.ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS andCLAIMANT RESPONSIBILITYAs a claimant filing for UI benefits, you areresponsible for:1. Registering for work as directed by your localstate workforce agency.2. Actively seeking suitable full-time employment.3. Reporting weekly employer work search contacts.4. Reporting all work activity and earnings foreach week you file.Social Security numbersTo protect your privacy, Social Securitynumbers are no longer displayed on documentsmailed to you. A client ID number is displayedinstead. Your social security number will stillbe used in correspondence with your formeremployer and shared with other governmentagencies such as Social Security Administrationand U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.IMPORTANT: U.S. Postal Service does not forwardUI mail. It is your responsibility to maintain acurrent mailing address with our agency. You canupdate your address online while filing for benefitsor call the UI claim center. Work registrationrequirements might change.Ready and able to workYou may be eligible to receive an additionalallowance of 24 per week per child, for up tothree children. A dependent is your natural child,stepchild (by marriage), legally adopted childor court-appointed legal ward. Your dependentmust be unmarried and under the age of 18,unless they have a permanent disability. Youmay be requested to provide documentation fordependent allowance eligibility.A dependent must reside with you, or you mustcertify that you provided more than 50 percent ofthe dependent’s support over the past 12 monthsor since the loss of custody. If you certify toproviding more than 50 percent support, you may berequired to provide proof. You can add a dependentto your claim anytime during your benefit yearbefore exhausting your regular benefits. To add adependent, call your UI claim center.You must be physically able and available toseek and accept suitable full-time work.Should you apply for or be a recipient of Workers'Compensation or Social Security Disability, youmust report this to your claim center as your UIbenefits may be affected. Employers and departmentstaff must be able to contact you. You must havetransportation (car, bus, etc.) and child care available.You may not be considered available for full-timework if you are incarcerated or have legal restrictions.Incarceration is being confined in a correctionalcenter, city jail or community residential center. Legalrestrictions would include, but are not limited to,electronic monitoring or subject to third-party custody.Suitable work means work you are suited for byexperience or training that meets the prevailing wageand working conditions for your locality and is realisticto your labor market. You are expected to be flexiblein your work search and to accept suitable work evenif the pay is less than you earned in your last job.Self-employment is not considered suitable work.67Dependent allowances
Registration for workReemployment ServicesIf you are in Alaska and you are instructed toregister for work, you must register for workand post a resumé online in AlaskaJobs atalaskajobs.alaska.gov. If you have already postedyour resumé in AlaskaJobs, you must make sure itis current and accessible online. You must have aresumé posted online in AlaskaJobs within sevendays of filing your new or reopened claim. It is yourresponsibility to check your resumé often and verifythe date your registration will inactivate on the “MyResumés” page in AlaskaJobs.If you are a member of a dispatching union youmust be in good standing and on the out-of-worklist. If you are outside of Alaska, you must registerwith the local state workforce agency office or withthe local chapter of a dispatching union. Proof ofout-of-state registration may be requested.To register for work in AlaskaJobs go online toalaskajobs.alaska.gov or call your nearest job center.Reemployment Services is a program for jobseekers who are seeking information that will leadto the rapid return to suitable work. Employmentand training resources are available through theAlaska Job Center Network both online and fromAlaska’s statewide job centers. If you are selected toparticipate in a Reemployment Services program, youmust complete all requirements as instructed. Failureto do so may result in denial of your UI benefits.Work search contact requirementsYou may be required to search for work with anemployer each week you file for benefits. Work mustbe suitable based on your skills and capabilities. Thework search information you provide may be reviewedand selected for audit, which means the employer youprovide will be contacted for verification. It is importantto document and save the information while filingfor benefits. To be considered valid, contact must bemade with an employer or person with the authorityto hire, using a method of contact appropriate for theoccupation (i.e., in person, telephone, fax, mail, emailor employer website). If you do not search for workeach week, benefits may be denied.For each work search you are required to report: date of contact, name of employer contacted and method of contact.Failure to follow work search requirements mayresult in your UI benefits being denied.Report your work searches when filing. For moreinformation on work searches, visit: labor.alaska.gov/unemployment/work search.htm.8Quit, fired, refused workYou must report if you quit your job, are firedor refuse work so a determination of eligibilitycan be made. Potential penalties include a sixweek disqualification period beginning with thefirst week you are unemployed, plus a three-weekreduction in benefits. You also may be ineligiblefor Extended Benefits. If you return to work duringthe six-week disqualification period, contact a UIclaim center, as your disqualification may be lifted.Attending school or trainingYou may be eligible to receive benefits whileattending approved vocational or academic training.If you are enrolled in or attending school ortraining, report your school or training when youfile your weekly claim or call your UI claim center.WORK, WAGES, INCOMEWe compare what you report with othersources to verify accuracy. Refer to the sectionon Fraud (Page 4) for information relating tomisrepresentation of work or earnings.WorkReportable work includes time spent on selfemployment or volunteer activities as well as anythingyou do for wages, whether paid or not, during theseven days of the week you claim. Even if you areonly working part-time or temporarily, all work andearnings, including tips and commission, must bereported when you file your weekly certifications.9
WagesWages are any kind of payment you receivefor the work you do, including room and board,goods, barter, tips, commission, stipend,honorarium, per diem, COLA, payment for juryduty, bonuses and back pay.You must report your gross wages earnedeach week, Sunday through Saturday, whetheror not you have actually been paid. Report theamount earned before any deductions are takenout (your gross pay). Report the employer’s nameand address, dates and number of hours workedper week, and your employment status.If you are unsure of the number of hours workedor how much you earned, you can file up to seven daysafter the date you were paid. However, if you wait,you will need to call the UI claim center to file andreport these wages, and your payment may be delayed.When called to active duty, National Guardmembers must report encampments and wagesearned. Do not report weekend drills.If you are currently employed on an alternatingor rotating work schedule – such as two weeks on,two weeks off – you may not be considered to beunemployed during your scheduled time off. Reportyour work schedule to your UI claim center.your monetary determination or access it onlinemy.alaska.gov. Click on "View Your Services," then"Unemployment Insurance Benefits," then "CurrentUI Claim Status" and "Work Search Requirements."Other deductible incomeWhen you are filing for benefits you must reportthe gross amount of any of the following payments:vacation, holiday, sick, pension, retirement,severance, commission, bonus, wages in lieu of noticeand back pay awards. Changes in your gross pensionamount must be immediately reported to the UI claimcenter. A deduction may be taken from your weeklybenefits if you receive any of these payments. SocialSecurity benefit payments are not deducted.TRAVEL/RELOCATEYou must report all travel when filing for benefits.This includes any in-state travel. You are in travelstatus any time you travel outside the area in whichyou reside. You may be eligible while traveling if: How wages affect your benefitsYou must report all the wages you earned eachweek. Your benefit payment will be reduced by 75cents for each dollar you earn more than 50. If youdo not know how much you earned at the time youreport, call the UI claim center within seven dayswith the correct wage amount. Reporting less moneythan you earned could result in an overpayment ofbenefits that you will have to repay. Excess earnings If you have gross wages equal to or more than11 /3 times your weekly benefit amount plus 50,you will not receive a benefit payment for thatweek. To locate your excess earnings amount, use 10You travel in search of work for up to fourconsecutive weeks. You must be legally eligibleto accept work in the area of travel and activelysearch for work during each week you travel.Regulations do not allow for alternative worksearches other than in person. Reasonableefforts to find work can be shown by makingverifiable in-person contact with an employmentservice representative for the purpose of seekingwork (e.g., two in-person employer contacts, inperson pre-arranged job interview or registeringin person with the local chapter of your union).You travel to accept an offer of work beginningwithin 14 days of your departure.You travel to your home following discharge fromthe armed services.You were paid UI benefits the week prior toyour travel, did not refuse an offer of workand you travel to:ᵒᵒ obtain medical services, or accompany a11
spouse or dependent(s) to obtain medicalservices, that are not available where youlive, on the advice of a health care provider.ᵒᵒ attend the funeral of an immediate familymember for up to seven days.If you travel or relocate outside the U.S.,Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands,you are not eligible to collect benefits.WHEN TO FILE A NEW CLAIM orREOPEN AN EXISTING CLAIMFile a new claim immediately if you are: Separated (quit, fired, laid off) from work. Working on-call or part-time.You must reopen your claim immediately if: You stop filing weekly claims for any reasonand want to start filing again. You move out of Alaska, move from onestate to another or move from one area toanother within a state. You travel in search of work for more thanfour weeks.INFO YOU NEED BEFORE FILING Your Social Security numberIf not a U.S. citizen, your alien registrationnumber, work permit type, passport numberand expiration dateName of your last employer, mailing addressand phone numberDates of employmentHours and gross wages earned in your lastweek you workedGross amount of holiday, vacation, severanceor bonus received the last week you workedIf you worked for the federal government inthe past 18 months you will need SF8 or SF50If you were active duty military in the past 18months you will need copy 4 of your DD214Retirement information if currently receivingretirement payments12HOW TO FILE A NEW CLAIM orREOPEN AN EXISTING CLAIMFor the fastest service, apply online. Our onlineservices are available 24 hours a day, seven days aweek. You can also call a UI claim center. (For claimcenter hours and phone numbers, see Page 22.)Claims are effective Sunday of the week in whichyou open or reopen.To file on the Internet, log in to my.alaska.govand click "View Your Services," then “UnemploymentInsurance Benefits.”IMPORTANT: To submit applications online youmust read and certify as instructed and click “IAGREE” to complete the application process. Keep acopy for your records and comply as instructed, orbenefits may be denied. The confirmation page willprovide important links such as AlaskaJobs, directdeposit and work search log.myAlaskaYou must use the same myAlaska accounteach time you access the UI website. If youpreviously registered with myAlaska to apply foryour Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, or for otherreasons, you may use the same account. Pleasestore your myAlaska account information safely forfuture reference. To ensure your privacy and thesecurity of your information, remember to log outof myAlaska when you finish your session.IMPORTANT: Whether filing online or by phone,you are responsible for the answers provided andpayments made using your username, password andPIN. These electronic signatures have the same legalauthority as your signature on paper. Do NOT shareyour user name, password or PIN with anyone.13
FILING WEEKLY CLAIMS Once you’ve opened a new claim or reopenedan existing claim, you will be given dates as towhen to file your weekly claim. You must continueto file every week or two to keep your claim activeand to receive benefits. Weeks that are filed latemay be disqualified.The first eligible week of a new claim is a “waitingweek.” You do not receive payment for this week.However, you must file to get credit for the week andmeet the same requirements as any other week.WEEKLY CLAIM QUESTIONSEach of the questions on the weekly UIbenefits application pertains only to the week(s)listed on the form. Depending on your answers,you may be asked additional questions or tocomplete a questionnaire. Were you available and physically able towork full time each day?Did you miss work or refuse a job offer orjob referral?If you turned down work or refused to bescheduled for work by an employer, answer yes.Were you attending school or a trainingprogram?Did you travel or move to a differenttown?If you traveled outside the area in which youreside, traveled to accept a definite offer of workor if you relocated to a new town, answer yes.Did you receive vacation, sick, retirement,bonus, holiday or severance pay?If you received any of the above paymentsreport the income in the week it was received.Do not report Social Security. If you answeryes but do not report an amount, you will beadvised to contact the UI claim center. Failure tocontact the claim center as advised may result inthe denial or late payment of your benefits.14 Did you work for an employer, or were youself-employed?If you worked for an employer — whether it isfull-time, part-time, temporary, casual/day labor,etc. — you are required to report the amountyou earned, hours you worked, the employer’sname and address, and the last day you workedin the week you are claiming. You must reportthe wages that you earned in the week that youworked not when you are paid for the work. Ifyou performed self-employment services, youmust report the amount of hours you spent onyour business and your net income.Did you search for work?You are required to provide information onweekly work search contacts. (Please see worksearch contact requirements.)How to report hours workedWhen reporting your hours worked in regularor self-employment, include any partial hoursin 15-minute increments (15 minutes .25, 30minutes .50, 45 minutes .75). For example, ifyou worked 3 hours and 45 minutes, enter 3.75.If you work 7 hours and 15 minutes, enter 7.25.How to report gross wagesYour gross wage is the total amount youearned before any deductions have been made.You must report your gross wages earned eachweek, Sunday through Saturday, whether or notyou have actually been paid.Multiply the total amount of hours worked bythe total hourly wage. Report dollars and centsrounded to the nearest lower penny.For example: You worked 3 hours and 45minutes in one week, and you earn 10.25 an hour.Multiply total hours worked (3.75) by hourly wage( 10.25) to obtain gross earnings ( 38.4375).Round wages to the nearest cent to report 38.44.IMPORTANT: Factor in any overtime performed,including tips or earnings from commissions.15
How to report net income whenself employedTo calculate your net income for the week,take your gross income earned from yourself-employment and subtract your businessexpenses for that week.If you did not and will not receive payment forthe self-employment services, you must still reportthe hours you spent on your business.How to report employment statusAfter reporting that you worked for an employeryou will be asked about your employment status.You will be given the following options: laid off,working on call, working part time, quit or fired.If you are a part-time or on-call employee andwork 40 hours or more in a week, do not reportyour status as full-time.Misreporting the status of your employment mayresult in a delay in payment.Failing to report that you were fired or quityour job may result in the requirement to repaybenefits paid to you in error, and you may besubject to penalties for fraud.FILING ONLINEThe Internet is a quick and easy full-service wayto file for benefits and manage your account. Log into my.alaska.gov, and click "View Your Services,"then “Unemployment Insurance Benefits.”INTERNET MENU(Options may be different based on your claimstatus) File a new claim or reopen an existing claimFile Extended Benefits (if available)File for a week of UI benefitsCurrent Claim Status and Work SearchRequirements— shows last payment, currentmailing address and account statusDirect Deposit — start, change or verifydirect deposit accountᵒᵒ If you cancel your direct deposit, youwill be sent a debit cardDebit card EnrollmentDebit card holder account informationHelp finding a job, AlaskaJobs1099G Tax information (if available)Helpful informationChanges to your mailing and/or physicaladdress can be done online by completing a claimapplication; your registration requirements may beaffected.Help Icon will provide additional instructionsand requirements.IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to read all UImail, and to contact the UI claim center any timeyou are instructed to do so. Failure to do so mayresult in denial of your UI benefits.PAYMENT METHODSIMPORTANT: When filing online, additionalinformation may be requested. If you are instructedto contact the claim center on your confirmationpage, you must do so or benefits may be denied.Payments will be automatically dispensedthrough a debit card unless direct deposit isestablished. Electronic payment is typically depositedwithin three business days of filing your weeklycertifications. You can sign up for direct deposit or adebit card online.1617
Debit cardVICTOR menuUnless you establish direct deposit, a debit cardand information packet will be mailed to you whenyou file a claim for benefits. Included in the packetis information on how to activate your card andcontact numbers for customer service. KeyBank’stoll-free customer service number is (866) 295-2955.1. To file weekly claims2. For information about your claim Payment status of weeks claimed — Youwill be given information about the last twoweeks you claimed Excess earnings amount 1099G amount — the amount of benefits andwithholdings reported to the IRS on form 1099G3. Start, change or cancel direct deposit Option to set up, cancel or confirm directdeposit to your personal bank account Current status of debit card You cannot cancel or request a debit cardthrough VICTOR4. Current mailing address5. Change your VICTOR PIN You may change your previously established PIN When changing your PIN, choose a four-digitnumber you have not previously used Once you set up your PIN it is in effect untilyou change it If you do not know your PIN contact the UIclaim center for assistance6. Speak to a claim center representativeDirect depositYou can set up, reactivate or cancel your directdeposit by selecting “Direct Deposit” on our onlineBenefit Internet Filing (BIF) system. You will needthe following information to establish direct deposit:1. The routing number is 9 digits surrounded by :2. The account number (do not include hyphensor other special characters)3. Do not enter the check number IMPORTANT: Direct deposit is automaticallysuspended if it has not been used for a year ormore. Your benefits will be issued by debit carduntil direct deposit is re-established.FILING BY PHONE — VICTORIf you are unable to file online, you can fileweekly by phone using the automated filing systemVICTOR. VICTOR does not provide full service andhas limited hours. Alaska residents more than 55 roadmiles from an Alaska job center can file WednesdaySaturday, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Alaska Standard Time (AST).All other VICTOR filers can file on Thursdays, 6 a.m.-7p.m. For VICTOR phone numbers, see Page 22.18IMPORTANT: If you hang up before VICTOR tellsyou your claim has been accepted, your answerswill not be recorded and your claim will not beprocessed. You will need to call back and file again.If you are instructed by VICTOR to call the UI claimcenter, you must call within seven days. Your benefitswill be denied if you do not contact the UI claimcenter as instructed. If you report less money thanyou earned, you will be required to repay the benefitamount and may be subject to penalties for fraud.APPEAL RIGHTSYou may appeal any written determination thatdenies or restricts your benefits. You must phone,fax, mail or email your request for an appeal toyour UI claim center or the Appeals office within19
30 days of the determination. (Include your SSNor claimant ID with the issue you are appealing.)For contact information, see the other UI contactssection of this handbook.Appeals will schedule a hearing and mail anotice to you (contact Appeals if not receivedwithin two weeks). After the hearing, you willreceive a decision in the mail. If you disagree withthe decision, you have the right to further appeal. Continue to file your weekly claimsthroughout the appeal process.If the decision goes in your favor, weekswhich were not filed timely cannot be paid.Contact the Appeals office directly withquestions, or go to labor.alaska.gov/appeals.Per Alaska Statute 23.20.110(r), appealhearing decisions are public information andare posted online at appeals.dol.alaska.gov.Select "Appeal Tribunal Decisions."AUDITSQuality Control (QC) AuditUnder federal requirements, your claim may berandomly selected at anytime and audited to make surethat all payments or denial of benefits have been madeproperly. All information you have provided is checkedfor accuracy. The reviews are thorough and may involvean interview with you and other interested parties.Failure to respond to a Quality Control audit request forinformation will result in a denial of benefits.For more information, contact QC:Email:Website:Juneau:Anchorage:Fairbanks:Toll 451-2966478-2999465-224720UI CrossmatchCrossmatch compares the earnings youreported with your employers’ reports of earnings.This process discovers errors in reported earningswhich may have resulted in a mispayment ofbenefits. This also is done for persons who mayhave worked in other states. If you fail to reportearnings correctly, a 50-percent penalty may beassessed
Suitable work means work you are suited for by experience or training that meets the prevailing wage and working conditions for your locality and is realistic to your labor market. You are expected to be flexible in your work sear
to respond to the Request for Earnings Information letter and Earnings Verification form. TWC uses earnings information to determine whether a claimant's unemployment benefits are paid correctly. When the earnings amounts provided by the claimant and employer differ, the claimant's unemployment benefits may be adjusted. 2
HANDBOOK A Guide to Unemployment Insurance Benefits . Your Rights & Responsibilities. Revised April 2021. To file or access your claim: M. ontanaWorks.gov. For up-to-date information: uid.dli.mt.gov. Una versión en español está disponible a petición. . and now a growing number of state unemployment insurance agencies, to reduce the risk .
2010. The claimant worked as a full time dental assistant. During this period, the claimant sought other employment. 3. The claimant quit her employment. 4. The claimant went on maternity leave from September 10, 2010
3.1.2 The effect of GBL The Respondent set the Claimant’s GBL at the Claimant’s 2007 load. The Claimant argued that the effect of setting the GBL at the 2007 level is to prohibit the Claimant from selling its biomass energy and realising commercial sales of its premium energy service, unless it is net-of-load electricity (¶2.11).
6 Unemployment Insurance Claimant Guide Notice: Confidential information collected from you as part of the unemployment insurance process may be requested and used fo
Judge Larry Zervos Alaska Superior Court, Sitka Rural Access Subcommittee Judge Dale Curda, co-chair Alaska Superior Court, Bethel Judge Roy Madsen (retired), co-chair Alaska Superior Court, Kodiak Louise Brady Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitka James Jackson Alaska Court Magistrate, Galena Judge Michael Jeffery Alaska Superior Court, Barrow
Alaska Airlines Inflight Magazine. Economics 300: Economy of Alaska, Notes-Introduction to Alaska Geography, page 9 Alaska Census Areas For purposes of collecting and reporting economic and social Alaska data, Alaska is divided into 27 “census areas.” These census areas are shown in the map below.
employee, that the boss was sad to see the claimant go, and that the claimant would be welcomed back some day. Claimant applied for UC benefits but received a determination denying benefits due to quit but not for an exception that allows benefits. Quit/discharge/something else? Does he have a meritorious appeal to obtain benefits?
