Appeal deadline questions after an unemployment denial (update)

My claim was denied after 22 weeks of waiting, and the letter says I have a short window to appeal. I have read a lot of threads here and could not find my exact situation. My employer's version of events does not match mine, and I have emails that show it. If you have appealed before, what helped you prepare?

File the appeal before the deadline, even if you are unsure. You can gather documents afterwards. That is the one part I would not wait on.