Montana Title 39. Labor § 39-51-2402. Determination--redetermination

(1) The department shall promptly examine a claim for benefits, and on the basis of the department's findings of fact, the department shall determine whether or not the claim is valid.  If the claim is valid, the department shall determine the week the benefits commence, the weekly benefit amount payable, and the maximum benefit amount.  The department may refer the claim or any question involved in the claim to an appeals referee who shall make the decision on the claim in accordance with the procedure prescribed in 39-51-2403.  The department shall promptly notify the claimant and any other interested party of its determination and the reasons for reaching the determination.

(2) The department may for good cause reconsider its determination and shall promptly notify the claimant and other interested parties of the redetermination and the reasons for the redetermination.

(3) A determination or redetermination is final unless an interested party applies for reconsideration of the determination or appeals within 10 days after the determination or redetermination was sent to the interested party's address of record.  The 10-day period may be extended for good cause.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), a redetermination of any issue of an original determination may not be made after 2 years from the date of the original determination of that issue.

(5) A redetermination of any issue of an original determination may be made within 3 years from the date of the original determination of that issue if the original determination was based on a false claim, misrepresentation, or failure to disclose a material fact by the claimant or the employer.