Mailed in claim form late. What now? (receive, work, UI)

[TJ Lazer]

I recently had a phone interview due to mailing in a late claim form. I just received a letter stating the information I provided did not show "good cause" for submitting the forms late. The precise wording in the letter is "You are not eligible to receive benefits under CA UI code section 1253A beginning [date] and ending [date] (02 weeks)." An appeal form was also included with instructions.

They've been sending me claim forms for the weeks since. I just want to be sure about what this letter is saying. Are my benefits denied just for that two period in question or have I been kicked off UI for good (barring a successful appeal)?

[Chyvan]

You've only lost benefits for those two weeks. Keep sending in the other claim forms. Better yet, get on webcert so this never happens again.

Why were you late? It might be worth an appeal. CA's system isn't working the way it ought to, and that might have lot more to do with the "lateness" rather than anything you did.

[TJ Lazer]

Thanks for the reply.

I submitted the paper form because there were earnings to report for one of the weeks, but in the future I will use webcert for periods with no earnings. The reason for my lateness was a combination of a misplaced form that took forever to track down and my newbie ignorance about a) the importance of mailing by the deadline and b) the obligation to order a replacement immediately when a form is lost. I doubt claims of ignorance will be sufficient to support an appeal.