Company shutdown unemployment benefits state DOL looking to reclaim these benefits

My company has a summer shutdown every year. I've been with my company for over 10 years. We all know about this showdown way in advance. However, our company offers to file on our behalf for temporary unemployment for that week. Now the state DOL is claiming we are ineligible to receive benefits for this week and we are looking at being forced to pay the benefits back. I'm currently in the appeals process awaiting my phone interview with all parties including my employer, who had been noticeably quiet on this manner. I am also hearing from others who've had their interview that they're possibly looking back years on this. What if any options do I (we as possibly hundreds in the company are currently going through this) have here? Any advice on what I can say or present during the phone interview? Thanks