Unemployment/Labor Law?

[emek]

Dear Community,

I have been unemployed for the past 14 month. When I lost my job(i was forced to resign), i filed for unemployment. At first my claim was denied on the basis of "not exhausting all alternatives", however, after i filed for appeal, i received unemployment.

Two weeks ago, I received a letter saying that by benefits were suspended. I immediately went to the unemployment office where at first i was accused of some how altering decision or tinkering with internal systems.(neither I nor my relatives or friends have ever worked for Illinois unemployment office) Later, i was told that my original appeal letter was not found and i should have never received unemployment. two days later, i received a letter ordering me to pay back 23K back

What are my legal rights?

[bernd]

i was fired i fired i won then the company appeal i won then it went to a one man hearing i won than it went to a 3 man hearing i lost the next step was court or like you had to pay all the money back got a pro bono lawyer told me not to pay it back because according to fed law the next time i get lay off thy will take it out then up to 4 years than after 4 years it goes off your record that was 8 years ago never paid a penny back and the company (brinks) to this day hate me

[ardwyad]

This sounds like a complex situation, possibly beyond what can suggested via YA.

My recommendation is that you talk to an attorney specialized in workplace/employment law.

Here is my main thought tho:

You should have received a more detailed explanation of a) why your benefits were suspended and b) why they believe you should have never recevied unemployment in the first place.

For an employee of the state of Illinois to make accusations of tinkering or other influence is a very serious accusation, and I think even a government employee would know better than to "spout off" like this. There must be something more to the story?