The following is a recorded sample of a typical unemployment insurance benefits hearing. The majority of unemployment hearings involve whether the claimant is qualified for benefits, based on his or her last separation from work.

A hearing has several distinct parts: opening, claimant testimony, employer testimony, and closing. You can review the recorded sample in each of its parts, or you can review all of the components for a broader perspective of how a hearing is conducted. Although this sample hearing is typical of unemployment insurance hearings, hearing officers have flexibility in the way they choose to conduct a hearing. Hearings vary depending on the facts, issues, witnesses, documents, and other pertinent factors. No two hearings are ever exactly the same.

To listen to the hearing, you must have a computer with external speakers or headphones. When you access the file, the system checks to determine if you need to download Windows Media Player. If your computer does not have Windows Media Player, the system prompts you to download the software program. Windows Media Player is a free download.

When you click on the audio file links, the system directs you to a non-TWC web site called Microsoft Live Meeting. You can access these files at no cost. If you get an error message, click on OK. Clicking on OK will take you to the audio recording.

Click the links below to access the text or recorded audio files.