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In my case, it was just my supervisor and the HR person. They didn't bring separate witnesses. But every case is different - depends on what the issue is and who has relevant information. The hearing notice should say who's expected to participate. One thing that really helped me was taking notes during my employer's testimony so I could address specific points when it was my turn to respond. Good luck with everything!
I've been through the PA UC appeal process twice and wanted to add a few things that might help: The Hermitage office specifically tends to be pretty organized and professional. Both times I dealt with them, they were on time and well-prepared. Regarding your warehouse job situation - if you were there 14 months and this was about "rule violations," make sure you understand exactly what rule they claim you violated and when. Sometimes employers will try to bring up general performance issues during the hearing that weren't part of the original termination reason. The Referee should keep them focused on the specific misconduct claim. Also, if you haven't already, request a copy of your complete UC file before the hearing. You can do this online or by calling. Sometimes there are documents in there from your employer that you haven't seen yet, and it's better to know what they submitted ahead of time. The warehouse environment can be tricky because safety rules are taken seriously, but often these places have inconsistent enforcement. If you can show that the rule wasn't consistently enforced or that you weren't properly trained on it, that can help your case significantly. Don't let the anxiety get to you too much - most people who prepare well and have a legitimate case do fine in these hearings.
This is really helpful information, thank you! I hadn't thought about requesting my complete UC file beforehand - that's a great tip. You're absolutely right about the warehouse environment and inconsistent rule enforcement. In my case, the "violation" was something that literally everyone on my shift did regularly, and management never said anything about it until they decided to terminate me. I have those text messages from coworkers that confirm this was normal practice. How do I go about requesting my complete UC file? Is there a specific form I need to fill out or can I just call and ask for it? I want to make sure I see everything they submitted before I walk into that hearing room. The anxiety is definitely getting to me, but reading everyone's experiences here is making me feel more prepared and confident about the whole process.
Oh wow, that's good to know! I wasn't sure if I needed to do those while it was still under review. Going to start my job search activities today then. Thanks for the heads up!
I went through this exact same situation in December when my retail seasonal job ended. The "under review" status for reopened claims is honestly the worst part because you have no idea what's happening behind the scenes. A few things that helped me: 1) I called right at 8 AM when lines opened and got through after about 2.5 hours on hold, 2) The agent told me they were just verifying my employer's separation information which took about 12 days total, and 3) I kept filing my weekly certs the whole time even though it felt pointless. When it finally got approved, I received all the back pay in one lump sum. Also definitely keep up with your work search requirements like others mentioned - they're super strict about that now even during the review period. Hang in there, it's frustrating but it will get resolved!
Thanks Joy, this is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing! 2.5 hours on hold sounds brutal but at least you got through eventually. I'm definitely going to try calling right at 8 AM tomorrow. Did they give you any kind of reference number or way to track the employer verification process, or did you just have to wait it out? Also super helpful to know about the lump sum back pay - that actually works out better for my rent situation if I can just get through this review period!
Wow, this thread is super helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where I filed too early and got denied for insufficient base period wages. It's so frustrating that in 2025 we still have to deal with mailing forms and impossible phone lines. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service to get through - seems like multiple people here had success with it. Also good to know about the CareerLink option as backup. The PA UC system really needs to catch up with modern technology!
You're absolutely right about the system needing to modernize! I just went through this exact same process last month. The Claimyr service really does work - I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration. Just make sure you have all your information ready when they connect you to the agent (SSN, claim number, etc.) so you can get everything handled in one call. The whole situation is ridiculous but at least there are workarounds now. Good luck with your withdrawal and reapplication!
I went through this exact same nightmare situation in December 2024! Filed too early, got denied for insufficient wages, and then discovered the archaic withdrawal process. Here's what actually worked for me: I tried the Claimyr service that others mentioned and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to process my withdrawal over the phone immediately - no mailing forms or waiting weeks! She explained that phone withdrawals are definitely possible for denied claims, it's just not well-publicized on their website. Cost me like $20 for the Claimyr service but saved me literally weeks of waiting. After the withdrawal was processed (took about 3 business days), I was able to file a new claim with my updated wages and got approved. The whole PA UC system is stuck in the stone age but at least there are ways to work around it now!
This is really encouraging to hear! I'm in almost the exact same boat - filed in early January and got the dreaded insufficient wages denial. Been putting off dealing with the withdrawal because the whole mailing process seemed so antiquated. Your experience with Claimyr gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved quickly. $20 is totally worth it to avoid weeks of bureaucratic limbo. Did you have to provide any specific information when the agent processed your withdrawal over the phone, or was it pretty straightforward once you got connected?
UPDATE: I finally got through to PA UC this morning after trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. It actually worked! The rep told me my employer DID respond last week but there's another issue with my claim about my base year earnings that's holding things up. They're sending me a letter about it. At least now I know what's happening instead of being completely in the dark. Thanks everyone for your help!
Glad you got some answers! Base year issues usually mean they need to verify your wages from the quarters they're using to calculate your benefit amount. Make sure you have your pay stubs ready if they request them. Hope it gets resolved quickly for you!
So glad you finally got some clarity on your situation! The waiting game with PA UC is absolutely brutal, especially when you're stressed about finances. I went through something similar last year and the not knowing was honestly worse than the actual delay. At least now you can focus on getting the base year earnings issue resolved instead of wondering if your employer even bothered to respond. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience might help someone else in the same boat!
Absolutely agree that the uncertainty is the worst part! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 2.5 weeks with the same "pending employer information" status. Your update gives me hope that there might actually be progress happening behind the scenes even when the dashboard doesn't show it. Did the Claimyr service cost much? I'm getting desperate enough to try anything at this point.
Lydia Santiago
Wow, reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational! I had no idea there were so many potential technical issues that could cause legitimate wages not to show up in the UC system. The payroll company change angle that Samantha mentioned really resonates - companies switching systems mid-year seems like it could easily cause these kinds of database matching problems. For anyone else dealing with this, it sounds like the key is getting that detailed breakdown from UC showing exactly which employer names/EINs are associated with each quarter's wages. That seems to be the smoking gun for identifying whether it's a standard reporting error, a timing issue, or one of these more complex technical mismatches. I'm also bookmarking all the specific forms and documents people mentioned (monetary determination worksheet, wage and benefit year statement, UC-785 wage protest form) since those seem to be the concrete tools you need to actually fight these denials effectively. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for breaking down these bureaucratic processes into actionable steps!
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Sean Murphy
•This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - my partner got denied last week for the same "insufficient wages" reason despite working steadily for over 18 months. Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much hope that this is fixable rather than just accepting the denial. I had no idea about all these potential technical issues like payroll system changes, late quarterly reporting, or EIN mismatches. I'm going to start with requesting that detailed wage breakdown tomorrow and see what shows up (or doesn't show up) in his record. It's amazing how this community breaks down these complex bureaucratic processes into actually manageable steps. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!
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Dananyl Lear
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Got denied three weeks ago with the same "insufficient base year wages" reason even though I've been working full-time at $22/hr for almost two years. After reading all these responses, I'm realizing I probably should have been more proactive about investigating the specific cause instead of just feeling defeated by the denial letter. The advice about requesting those detailed wage breakdowns sounds crucial - I had no idea you could get that level of specificity about which quarters are missing or have errors. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone who can tell me exactly what's in my wage record versus what should be there. It's so frustrating that the system seems designed to reject people first and make us fight for benefits we've legitimately earned, but reading everyone's success stories gives me hope that persistence pays off. Going to start gathering all my documentation tonight and make some calls tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps to know this is fixable!
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