I just wanted to jump in and say don't panic about the process! I know it seems overwhelming but everyone here has given you solid advice. The key things are: 1) Call ASAP to request the phone hearing (mention transportation hardship), 2) Submit the form at least 7 days early, 3) Get your documentation super organized with dates/details, and 4) Test your phone setup beforehand. I've seen people stress themselves out so much about the hearing that they forget the basics. You clearly have good records if you're keeping a spreadsheet, so you're already ahead of a lot of people. The referees deal with these cases all day - they're not out to get you, they just need to see that you followed the rules. Take a deep breath and tackle it one step at a time!

I went through a similar situation with my PA UC appeal hearing last year. You absolutely CAN request a phone hearing - I had the same transportation issue since the office was over 2 hours away. Here's exactly what you need to do: Call the UC Service Center RIGHT NOW and ask for a "telephone hearing due to transportation hardship." They'll send you a form to fill out, but make sure you submit it at least 7 days before your hearing date. Don't wait on this! I made the mistake of calling just 5 days before and it was cutting it close. The phone hearing itself was actually much less stressful than I anticipated. Just make sure you're somewhere quiet with good reception and have all your documents organized. The referee will ask similar questions to what they would in person, so be ready with dates, details, and any evidence you have. You've got this - the transportation hardship is a totally valid reason and they approve these requests regularly!

Thanks everyone for the advice! I called off work for the whole morning just to be safe. One more question - will I find out the decision right after the hearing ends or do I have to wait?

Just wanted to add - if you're feeling anxious about representing yourself, remember that the referee is neutral and actually wants to help get to the truth. They're not there to intimidate you. I was super nervous before my hearing but the referee was patient and explained things clearly. They'll make sure you understand the questions and give you chances to clarify your answers. The most important thing is to be honest and stick to the facts about what happened when you were separated from your job. Having those texts from your supervisor about your position being eliminated should definitely work in your favor!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Got hit with a $3,200 overpayment notice and panicked just like you are now. The good news is that if you have documentation proving you were laid off due to downsizing, you have a really strong case to get this overturned completely. Here's what worked for me: 1. Filed the UC-46 appeal form immediately (don't wait!) 2. Requested my complete claim file through a Right to Know request 3. Gathered EVERY piece of documentation about my layoff - termination letter, emails, even LinkedIn posts from my company about the restructuring 4. Called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (it actually does work - got through in 45 minutes vs weeks of trying) The hearing took about 3 months to get scheduled, but once I presented my evidence that it was a legitimate layoff, they reversed the entire overpayment determination. No payment plan needed, no garnishment, everything wiped clean. The key is proving your employer gave UC different information than what actually happened. Companies do this ALL the time to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes. Don't let them get away with it! You've got this - just act fast on that appeal deadline!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I had a very similar situation last year - got three overpayment letters totaling $5,400 after being back at work for just a month. The panic is real, I totally get it. Based on what you described about the "separation reason being disqualifying," it sounds like your employer may have told UC something different than what they told you about the layoff. This happened to me too - I was told it was a layoff due to budget cuts, but my employer reported to UC that I was terminated for performance issues. Here's what I wish I had known from day one: 1. File that UC-46 appeal form IMMEDIATELY - you're running out of time on the 15-day deadline 2. Request a copy of your employer's response to UC through a Right to Know request - this will show you exactly what they reported 3. Don't just keep submitting waivers without appealing the underlying overpayment determination first The silver lining is that if you can prove the separation issue was incorrectly determined, the entire overpayment disappears. You won't need to worry about waivers, payment plans, or any of it. I ended up winning my appeal because I had my termination letter clearly stating "position eliminated due to organizational restructuring" which contradicted what my employer told UC. The whole process took about 4 months but was worth it to clear the debt entirely. You mentioned you have documentation showing it was downsizing - that's golden! Get that appeal filed today and don't let them intimidate you. The system can be beaten when you have the right documentation and follow the proper procedures.

I've been using Varo for my PA UC direct deposits for about 5 months now and it's been great! My payments typically arrive around 12:15pm on Mondays after I file on Sunday, which is so much better than waiting until Tuesday morning with the ReliaCard. The transition took about 10-12 days for me. I updated my direct deposit info on a Wednesday, kept filing as normal, and got one more ReliaCard payment before it switched over to Varo automatically. No missed payments or weird issues during the switch. Just make sure you have your Varo routing number (124303120) and account number ready when you update your payment info. I took screenshots of both from my Varo app to make sure I didn't make any typos. Also definitely keep your ReliaCard active until you see at least one successful deposit in your Varo account - better safe than sorry! The instant notifications through the Varo app are amazing. You'll get pinged the second your money hits instead of constantly refreshing the ReliaCard site. Totally worth making the switch if you're already using Varo for your other banking!

I switched from ReliaCard to Varo about 2 months ago and it's been fantastic! My deposits hit around 11:45am on Mondays consistently after filing Sunday - such a relief compared to those stressful Tuesday morning waits with ReliaCard. The transition was smoother than I expected - took about 2 weeks total. I got one final ReliaCard payment, then the next one showed up in my Varo account right on schedule. No missed payments or confusion. My advice: Update your direct deposit info mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) so you have time to double-check everything before your next filing. Copy your routing number (124303120) and account number directly from your Varo app - don't type them manually. And definitely keep some money in your ReliaCard account during the switch just as a safety net. The Varo app notifications are incredible - you get that instant ping when your money arrives instead of obsessively checking the ReliaCard balance. Plus Varo's customer service is way better than trying to get through to PA UC if you ever need help. Highly recommend making the switch if you're already using Varo for everything else!

This is actually a really common source of confusion! I went through the same thing when I first started my claim. The system calculates your total benefit amount based on your earnings history, but PA law still caps you at 26 weeks maximum regardless of that balance. Think of it like having a gift card with $100 on it but the store policy says you can only spend $75 - the remaining $25 just can't be used. It's frustrating but that's how the system is designed. The good news is you're actively job searching, so hopefully you won't need to worry about hitting that limit anyway!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently went through this exact situation! I had a balance of about $18,500 with a weekly rate of $580, so similar math to yours. When I called PA UC (after many attempts), the rep explained that the balance calculation includes your total monetary entitlement based on your base period wages, but the 26-week duration limit is separate and takes precedence. She said it's designed this way because in some states or during emergency extensions, you might be able to access that full balance, but PA's regular program is capped at 26 weeks regardless. I ended up finding work after 19 weeks, so I left about $4,000 on the table. It stings a bit knowing that money is just sitting there, but at least I'm back to earning a steady paycheck! Keep pushing on that job search - you've got this!