I went through this exact same situation last year. One thing that helped me was also checking with local food banks and churches - many have emergency assistance programs for rent/utilities that can help bridge the gap while you figure out your next steps. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to file for SNAP benefits ASAP since your income situation has changed. The application process can take a few weeks but they sometimes backdate benefits. Don't give up - there are more resources out there than you might think!

Hey, I know this is a really stressful situation. I went through something similar a few months ago when my benefits ran out unexpectedly. One thing that really helped me was contacting 211 (you can dial 2-1-1 or visit pa211.org) - they have a database of all the local assistance programs in Pennsylvania and can help you find emergency rent and utility assistance programs in your specific area. Many counties have emergency rental assistance that people don't know about. Also, since you mentioned you're in a training program through CareerLink, definitely ask them about Supportive Services - they sometimes have emergency assistance funds specifically for people in training programs to help with things like transportation, childcare, or even emergency financial help. Don't lose hope - there are usually more safety nets available than we realize, they're just not always well-publicized.

I was wondering the same thing last month when I got laid off. My claim was approved in 12 days which seemed fast compared to my friend who quit her job. Just make sure you have your final pay stub ready when you file because they asked me questions about it. Also don't forget you need to do the work search every week now. Not like during COVID when they waived that requirement.

Update: My claim was just approved! Only took 8 days from when I filed. Thanks everyone for the advice and guidance. For anyone else in the same situation, the layoff designation definitely seems to speed things up. Now I just need to keep up with the weekly work search requirements!

I'm so glad to hear you got it resolved! This gives me hope for my own situation. I accidentally selected "yes" to refusing suitable work last week when I meant to click "no" - was filing on my phone and my thumb slipped. Now I'm in the same boat with my claim under review. I've been calling nonstop but can't get through. Did the Claimyr service cost anything? And how quickly were you able to get connected? I'm really stressing because rent is due in a few days and this is my only income right now.

Wow, this is exactly what I needed to see! I'm dealing with the same nightmare right now - accidentally clicked "yes" to being absent from work when filing my weekly claim three days ago. My heart sank when I saw that review message pop up. I've been calling the UC office every hour on the hour but just get busy signals or disconnected after waiting forever. Reading through all these responses is giving me some hope though. Sounds like this mistake is way more common than I thought! I'm definitely going to try that live chat option first thing tomorrow morning, and if that doesn't work I might have to bite the bullet and try that Claimyr service. Twenty-five dollars is definitely better than missing rent payments while waiting weeks for this to get sorted out. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's such a relief to know I'm not the only one who's made this stupid mistake with PA's confusing system!

This sounds like a classic case of an employer trying to game the system to reduce their UC tax liability. The fact that they're claiming to have "just discovered" information in their own personnel files is a huge red flag - that's not newly discovered evidence, that's evidence they should have reviewed during the original determination process. Your cousin should definitely attend the hearing with all her documentation. The key points she should emphasize are: 1. She has the original termination letter stating position elimination/restructuring 2. The employer had access to all personnel files during the original claim 3. The 2-year delay suggests this isn't about genuine fraud but about reducing UC costs I've seen similar cases where employers wait until their annual UC rate review and then try to contest multiple old claims at once. The referees are usually pretty good at spotting this pattern. As long as your cousin has her documentation and can clearly explain what happened, she should be fine. One more tip: if the employer can't produce the alleged "final warning letter" they claim exists, that's going to seriously damage their credibility with the referee.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! My former employer tried to appeal my UC determination after 14 months, claiming they had "new evidence" that I was fired for cause instead of laid off. Turns out their "new evidence" was just a different interpretation of the same disciplinary write-up they had during my original claim. The key thing that helped me was understanding that PA UC referees look very carefully at whether the evidence is actually "newly discovered" or if the employer just failed to present it properly the first time. In your cousin's case, personnel files aren't newly discovered evidence - they're records the employer always had access to. I'd also suggest your cousin request a copy of her complete personnel file from the employer before the hearing (she has a right to this under PA law). If there really was a final warning letter, it should be in there. If it's not, that's pretty strong evidence they're fabricating this claim. The referee will also want to know why the employer waited so long to bring this up. "We were reviewing our UC tax rate" isn't a valid legal reason for missing the 15-day appeal deadline, even in fraud cases.

One more thing - make sure you're checking your dashboard regularly for any notices about "open issues" that could delay payment. Sometimes they need additional information even if your financial determination looks good. The UC system isn't great about notifying you when there's a problem.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep records of your layoff documentation (like your termination letter or notice) in case PA UC requests it later during the review process. Sometimes they do random audits or your former employer might contest the claim. Having that paperwork ready can save you a lot of headaches if any questions come up about your separation reason. The financial determination is just the beginning - the real test is when they verify everything with your employers.