Comparison · filing vs hearing prep
AppealKit files the appeal. We do not.
If you just got the determination letter, do not buy this binder. The deadline to file is printed on the letter (often 10–30 days). AppealKit.org files appeals for $10. Your state portal is free. Legal aid is free. Come back when the referee hearing is scheduled — that is the only SKU we sell.
Two different jobs
| Appeal filing | Hearing evidence binder | |
|---|---|---|
| When | You were denied. Clock is on the letter. | You already appealed. Hearing date is set, ≥3 days out. |
| Who sells it | State portal ($0), AppealKit.org ($10), some attorneys $300–$1,200 | Corpus AI $79; Verity Guides-style email review $35–$55; hearing attorneys $800–$3,000 |
| What you get | The appeal is on file. That only gets you to the hearing. | Indexed exhibits, timeline tied to your documents, witness list (firsthand vs secondhand), copies to serve, hearing-day checklist. |
| Legal line | Form-filling. | Fact assembly only. “Which arguments to lead with” is legal strategy — we will not do it. |
Nolo’s line is the honest one: many workers denied at first are later approved on appeal. The hearing is where the record is made. Higher-level reviews generally do not take new evidence.
Buy AppealKit or file free if
- You have not filed yet
- You only need the form and the deadline confirmed
Buy the $79 binder if
- The Notice of Hearing is in hand
- You have emails, texts, pay stubs, warnings, or a termination letter to organize and serve
- You will present your own case and want the file labeled
Do not buy either if you need a lawyer
Misconduct fights, overpayments, employer represented by counsel, or you want someone to tell you which arguments to lead with. Call legal aid or the state claimant advocate. We refund and refer the moment the intake is actually legal strategy.
Hearing already scheduled?
Get the hearing binder — $79 File with AppealKit ($10)
Not legal advice. Not representation. No outcome guaranteed. After pay, email intake@corpuslocalization.com with subject “Hearing binder intake”.