I'm in a very similar situation - just got terminated from Amazon last week for attendance issues and I'm terrified about getting denied for UC benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both scary and encouraging at the same time. It sounds like the key things are: 1) File immediately even if you think you'll get denied, 2) Document EVERYTHING with dates and times, 3) Don't give up after the initial denial - appeal!, and 4) Focus on proving you had "good cause" for absences and followed proper procedures. I'm definitely going to start putting together that chronological chart someone mentioned with all my call-off details. Has anyone had success when some of their absences were just regular sick days (not family emergencies)? I had a few days where I was genuinely too sick to work but didn't go to the doctor since it was just a bad cold/flu. Worried that won't count as "good cause" without medical documentation. Also, for those who won their appeals - how long did it take from filing the appeal to actually getting your hearing scheduled? Trying to plan financially here since I'm a single parent too and really stressed about making ends meet.

I'm going through something very similar right now - got terminated from Amazon a few days ago for attendance issues and I'm honestly panicking about the whole UC process. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though, especially seeing that people are actually winning these appeals! I had 5 tardies and 2 absences over about 4 months. One absence was when my car broke down on the highway (I have the towing receipt), and the other was when I had food poisoning. The tardies were mostly traffic-related but a couple were my fault - I overslept twice. I always called the ERC though and got confirmation numbers. My biggest worry is that HR mentioned "willful misconduct" when they fired me too, and I keep seeing that phrase in the denial letters people are talking about. But it sounds like that's just their standard language and doesn't necessarily mean you can't win on appeal? I'm definitely going to file today and start putting together that documentation chart everyone's mentioning. For anyone who's been through this - is it worth trying to get a statement from the towing company about my car breakdown, or is the receipt enough proof? Just want to make sure I have everything I need for when this inevitably gets denied the first time. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's making this whole situation feel a little less hopeless!

Congrats on getting your approval! In my experience, unemployment deposits usually hit between 2-4 AM, but it definitely depends on your bank. Some banks process ACH transfers overnight while others wait until business hours. Since today is Columbus Day (federal holiday), many banks aren't processing until tomorrow anyway, so you'll likely see it Tuesday morning. The state usually sends the payment on the date shown, but banks hold it until they process ACH batches. Hope this helps ease the waiting!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I do freelance social media management while collecting UC benefits from my marketing job layoff. The examiner asked me those same confusing yes/no questions about "direction and control" when my work relationship is much more nuanced. What I've learned from reading everyone's experiences is that being classified as an independent contractor seems to be the better outcome for people with legitimate side gigs. The key points that seem to matter most are: 1) emphasizing the huge income difference between your main job and freelance work, 2) stressing the irregular/unpredictable nature of the side work, and 3) showing you're still actively job searching and available for full-time employment. For anyone still waiting on their determination - it sounds like 3-4 weeks is pretty typical, which feels like forever when you're stressed about bills but at least gives us a realistic timeline. The weekly reporting after approval seems much more straightforward than this initial classification process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's made this whole confusing situation feel much less scary!

I'm currently going through this exact same process and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I do freelance marketing consulting while on UC from my corporate job loss. The examiner's questions were so confusing - they kept asking if I have "complete freedom" in my work, but it's not that black and white when clients give you parameters but you execute independently. What I've learned from everyone's experiences here is that the key is emphasizing three things: 1) the massive income difference (my corporate salary was $55K vs maybe $300-500/month freelancing), 2) how irregular and unpredictable the work is (some months nothing, other months a small project), and 3) that you're actively job searching and available for full-time work. It sounds like independent contractor classification is actually preferable since you still get benefits, just with weekly income reporting and adjustments. The 3-4 week wait time everyone mentioned gives me realistic expectations too. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's made this stressful process so much more manageable knowing others have successfully navigated the same situation!

I'm going through something similar right now - my former employer also filed a late appeal claiming misconduct when I was clearly laid off due to budget cuts. What really helped me was creating a detailed timeline with dates of everything that happened leading up to my termination. I also gathered any text messages or emails that showed the real reason for the layoff. One thing I learned is that you should also prepare for them to ask about your job search efforts during the hearing. The referee might want to know that you've been actively looking for work while collecting benefits. Keep records of where you've applied and when. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but remember that the burden of proof is on them to show you committed misconduct, not on you to prove you didn't. Stay strong and stick to the facts!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago when my retail job let me go due to "restructuring" and then my manager tried to appeal claiming I had attendance issues (which was totally false - I had maybe called out sick twice in a year). A few things that really helped me: 1. Screenshot or print EVERYTHING from your termination - any emails, texts, or written notices that mention the real reason (business being slow) 2. If you had good performance reviews or any positive feedback before the layoff, gather that too 3. Write down names of any coworkers who witnessed conversations about the business struggling The fact that they filed late is honestly a huge advantage for you. In my case, the referee spent the first 10 minutes of the hearing just grilling my former employer about why they missed the deadline. They had no good answer and seemed really unprepared. Also, don't be intimidated if they bring their HR person or lawyer to the hearing. I was terrified about going up against "professionals" but the referee was totally fair and just wanted to hear the facts from both sides. You know what actually happened better than anyone! Keep us updated on how it goes - we're rooting for you! 💪

I went through almost the exact same scenario about 8 months ago - left two part-time jobs for what I thought was a better full-time opportunity, then got let go after 6 weeks for "performance issues." The anxiety while waiting for the appeal hearing was terrible, but I wanted to share that it worked out in my favor. The hearing officer was very clear that since I was involuntarily terminated from my most recent job (the office position) for non-misconduct reasons, that's what determined my eligibility - not the previous voluntary separations. My former part-time employer also appealed the charges, but like others have mentioned, that's separate from whether you qualify for benefits. What really helped during my hearing was having a clear timeline of events and being able to articulate that leaving the part-time jobs for a higher-paying full-time position was a reasonable decision. From filing the appeal to getting my first payment took about 2 months total, but I did receive back pay for the weeks I was waiting. Hang in there - based on what you've described, you have a strong case!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I left my retail job last month to take what I thought was a better position at a local company, but they let me go after just 3 weeks saying I wasn't "the right fit." When I filed for UC, my old retail employer is now listed as the chargeable employer and they're fighting it. Reading everyone's responses here makes me feel much more confident about my case - it sounds like as long as we were terminated from our most recent jobs for non-misconduct reasons, we should still qualify for benefits regardless of the previous employer appeals. The documentation advice is really valuable too. I'm going to make sure I have my termination letter, the original job offer, and a clear timeline ready. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this confusing system!