i got backpay and it took 4 days but my cousing got his in like 2 weeks so i think its just random how fast they do it lol

Just checking in - any updates? Has your payment status changed or have you received your backpay yet?

I'm going through something similar right now - my employer is also claiming misconduct when I know I was laid off due to budget cuts. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! A few things I've learned from my research that might help you: 1. Pennsylvania considers it misconduct only if it was "willful" - meaning you deliberately violated company policy knowing it could lead to termination. Being laid off for lack of work doesn't meet this standard. 2. Keep your answers short and factual during the hearing. The referee will ask specific questions, so don't feel like you need to tell your whole story at once. 3. If your employer mentions any attendance issues like in your packet, be ready to explain which absences were approved/excused vs. unexcused. Documentation helps a lot here. 4. I've heard that having a coworker who was also laid off testify can be really powerful evidence that it was truly a reduction in force. The fact that you have emails about restructuring and budget cuts sounds like strong evidence in your favor. Make sure to mention these right at the beginning when the referee asks about additional evidence. You've got this! The preparation you're doing now will make all the difference.

I haven't been through a PA UC appeal hearing myself, but I wanted to share something that might help with your nerves. My sister went through this exact situation last year - her employer also tried to claim misconduct when she was clearly laid off due to company downsizing. A few things that helped her prepare: - She practiced explaining her situation out loud beforehand so she wouldn't stumble over words during the actual hearing - She made a simple timeline of events leading up to her layoff with dates - She kept a glass of water nearby during the call in case her mouth got dry from nerves Her hearing ended up being much less intimidating than she expected. The referee was professional and gave her plenty of time to explain her side. She won her appeal because she had documentation showing the layoffs were company-wide due to financial reasons, similar to what you described with the restructuring emails. The fact that you have documentation about budget cuts and restructuring puts you in a really strong position. Try to get a good night's sleep before the hearing - being well-rested will help you think more clearly. You've got this!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - started a new job recently and feeling like I might be heading toward termination due to performance issues. Reading everyone's experiences and advice has been eye-opening. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from a friend who works in HR: if you do get terminated, ask for a copy of your termination paperwork or at least take notes on exactly what reason they give you. Sometimes employers will say one thing verbally but put something different in writing, and having that documentation can be important for your UC claim. Also, I've seen a few people mention keeping personal documentation, but wanted to emphasize - make sure you're not violating any company policies about recording conversations or taking notes during work hours. Some employers have strict policies about this, and you don't want to give them additional ammunition if they're already looking for reasons to let you go. The base year earnings explanation really cleared things up for me - I was panicking thinking my short time at the current job would disqualify me, but knowing it's based on total work history over the past year is such a relief. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here!

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you - warehouse job, about 2 months in, supervisor keeps moving the goalposts on performance metrics. It's so stressful not knowing if you'll have income next week! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring though. The key thing I'm taking away is that it's really about your TOTAL work history during the base year, not how long you've been at the current job. Since you worked retail for 10 months before this, you should definitely meet the earnings requirements. One thing that's helped me cope with the stress is focusing on what I can control - I've started keeping detailed notes about every conversation with my supervisor and every time they change expectations. Even if nothing bad happens, at least I feel more prepared. Also wanted to mention - if you're feeling anxious about this whole situation, you're not alone! The uncertainty is really hard to deal with, but at least now we both have a much better understanding of how the system actually works. Fingers crossed things improve for both of us, but if not, we'll be ready.

I've been on PA UC for about 4 months now and went through this same vacation dilemma back in December. I was so anxious about it, but I followed the advice to file my weekly claim and honestly report that I wasn't available to work during my vacation days. Everything went perfectly - got $0 for that week as expected, but my claim stayed completely active and I resumed normal filing when I returned. The thing that really helped reduce my stress was filing early (you can file up to 4 days before the week ends) so I didn't have to worry about finding reliable internet while I was away. I also kept screenshots of my filing confirmation just for my own peace of mind. For your 5-hour work week, just report those gross earnings when you file - the system will automatically calculate any partial benefits you're entitled to based on your weekly benefit amount. Reading through this entire thread really shows how well the PA UC system handles vacation situations when you're honest about your availability. The only problems seem to come from people who skip filing entirely. You're definitely taking the right approach by planning to file truthfully. Don't stress about it and enjoy your vacation - you've got this!

This entire thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! As someone who's been on PA UC for about 2 months and has been dreading this exact vacation scenario, seeing so many real experiences shared here has completely transformed my anxiety into confidence. What really stands out is how unanimous everyone's advice is - always file your weekly claim and be completely honest about your availability, even if it means getting $0 for that week. The consistency across all these different experiences really proves this is the established, reliable approach. The early filing tip (up to 4 days before the week ends) has been mentioned by so many people and sounds like the perfect solution for avoiding internet connectivity stress while traveling. I'm definitely going to use that for my upcoming trip in April! Also love the idea of taking screenshots for peace of mind - such a simple but smart way to have documentation. It's clear that PA UC is actually designed to handle vacation situations smoothly when you're truthful about it. All the problems people mentioned came from skipping weeks entirely, never from honest filing that results in $0 payment. This community is incredible for sharing real-world experiences that you just can't get from the confusing UC website. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories - you've helped so many of us navigate this stressful situation with confidence!

I switched from Money Network to direct deposit about 6 weeks ago and can confirm what most people here are saying - there's definitely a one payment delay. Updated my info on a Thursday, filed my weekly claim that Sunday, and that payment still went to the Money Network card. The next week's payment was the first one to hit my bank account directly. The whole process took about 6 business days from when I submitted the change to when I saw the confirmation message on my UC dashboard. Just keep your Money Network card handy for at least one more payment cycle and you should be good to go!

I switched from the Money Network card to direct deposit about 3 months ago and had the exact same concerns! Here's what happened: I made the change on a Wednesday, filed my weekly claim that Sunday, and yep - that payment still went to my Money Network card. The following week was when it finally hit my bank account. The whole thing took about 5-6 business days to process. One thing I learned is to check your UC dashboard regularly because they'll post a little notification when the direct deposit change is officially active. Also, don't close or throw away your Money Network card until you're 100% certain the direct deposit is working - I kept mine for like a month just to be safe! The direct deposit is definitely faster once it kicks in though, usually hits my account by Tuesday instead of having to wait for the card to load.