CLAIMANT ADVOCACY PROGRAM

Claimant Advocacy Program (CAP) offers free, legal counseling to qualified union members who file unemployment compensation appeals in the District of Columbia. CAP attorneys meet with qualified workers who have been denied unemployment compensation in Washington DC or whose benefit awards have been appealed by the employer. If CAP accepts the case, a CAP attorney serves as a legal representative including appearing at the appeal hearing.

Representation is made on a case-by-case basis based on the facts of each appeals claim. However, all claimants can receive free legal counseling.

Contact us

Contact our staff to ask questions and learn about the options available in your unemployment case.

Tonya Love Director of the Claimant Advocacy Program

Tonya Love
Program Director, CAP
(202) 974-8159

Lolita Martin, Staff Attorney for Claimant Advocacy Program

Lolita Martin,
Staff Attorney, CAP
(202) 974-8149

Filing for Unemployment Insurance

There are several things you should know before filing a claim for unemployment insurance. Read these tips about filing your unemployment claim.

If you need help with an unemployment claim outside of the District of Columbia, get information about services in Maryland or Virginia.

Case Studies

Examples of how our Claimant Advocacy Program has helped individuals with unemployment claims in DC.

Featured
Claimant Advocacy Case Studies: Voluntarily Leave to Care for a Sick Family Member
Claimant Advocacy Case Studies: Voluntarily Leave to Care for a Sick Family Member

An employee requested an adjusted work schedule or extended leave in order to care for his mom, who had recently been diagnosed with terminal illness.

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Claimant Advocacy Case Studies: Insufficient Evidence
Claimant Advocacy Case Studies: Insufficient Evidence

Camera footage showed a delivery person entering the loading dock with supplies. When those supplies couldn’t be found, supevisors accused a worker who had recycled empty boxes the same day.

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Claimant Advocacy Case Studies: Tardiness with Insufficient Evidence of Misconduct
Claimant Advocacy Case Studies: Tardiness with Insufficient Evidence of Misconduct

A local veterinarian clinic fired a veterinary assistant for excessive tardiness of less than ten minutes — despite the employer’s receipt of the employee’s doctor’s note related to treatment for the employee’s PTSD.

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