I went through this exact nightmare scenario two years ago and I'm still recovering financially. My employer waited until I had collected nearly $8,000 in benefits before filing their appeal - turns out they were "gathering documentation" the whole time. The hearing was brutal because I wasn't prepared at all. I had no idea I could bring witnesses or documentation to support my case. Lost the appeal and had to set up a payment plan for the overpayment that's STILL draining my bank account every month. The one thing I wish someone had told me is that you can request a postponement if you need more time to prepare - don't rush into the hearing unprepared like I did. Also, if your employer doesn't show up to the hearing (which happens more than you'd think), you basically win by default. Document EVERYTHING about why you left that job and be ready to explain it clearly. The system is definitely stacked against us but it's not impossible to win if you're prepared.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago and it was incredibly stressful. My employer filed their appeal 3.5 months after I started collecting benefits, claiming they never received the initial notice (which turned out to be their "good cause" argument). Here's what helped me prepare: 1. Create a detailed timeline with exact dates - when your hours were cut, any conversations about it, when you quit, when you filed for UC 2. Gather ALL documentation - pay stubs showing before/after hours, any texts or emails about schedule changes, even notes from conversations if you have them 3. Practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely - you'll likely have limited time to present your case The good news is that a 70% hour reduction (40 to 12 hours) is considered constructive discharge in PA, which means you should qualify for benefits. The fact that you tried to make it work for 3 weeks before quitting actually strengthens your case - it shows you didn't just quit immediately. Don't let the employer's late appeal psych you out. Focus on preparing your case with the facts. You've got this! Keep us updated on how the hearing goes.

For future reference: If you encounter system maintenance during your filing period, you have three options: 1. Wait for the system to come back online (usually 24-48 hours for emergency maintenance) 2. Call the UC service center (though busy signals are common during outages) 3. If your benefits are at risk due to approaching deadlines, you can submit a request for backdating through your dashboard once the system is back up PA UC typically extends filing deadlines automatically when there are system-wide issues, but it's always best to file as soon as possible once service is restored.

Wow, what a nightmare! I'm so glad I found this thread. I was panicking yesterday when I couldn't access the site - thought maybe my account got suspended or something. It's ridiculous that they don't send out any kind of notification when the system goes down. At minimum they should put up a banner on the homepage or send an automated email. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and tips here, especially about the phone filing option and the deadline extensions. Going to sign up for those text alerts Paolo mentioned once everything is stable again!

I'm going through something similar right now! Got approved yesterday morning, then denied 2 hours later for the same 401(d)(1) reason. I'm perfectly healthy and was laid off from my retail job - never said anything about being unable to work. This is so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss! I'm definitely filing an appeal today after reading all this advice. It's crazy how common this system error seems to be. Really hoping they get this sorted out soon because people depend on these benefits to survive while job hunting.

This exact same thing happened to my brother in January! He got the approval email in the morning, then the 401(d)(1) denial that afternoon. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that was automatically flagging certain claims. He appealed it online and won his hearing about 3 weeks later. The key things that helped him: 1) He appealed within the 15-day deadline, 2) He kept filing his weekly claims during the appeal process, and 3) He brought documentation to his hearing showing he was actively job searching. The referee at his hearing even said they'd been seeing a lot of these system error cases recently. Don't stress too much - it sounds like you're already doing everything right by appealing quickly!

Good luck! And remember - persistence is key with PA UC. If you get denied, request a hearing right away. Many waivers get approved at the hearing stage when you can actually explain your situation to a real person.

I'm in a similar situation - got hit with a $2,900 overpayment notice last week and I'm terrified. Reading through all these responses is actually giving me some hope though. @Aaron Lee your insider perspective is incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the 15-day deadline or that there were different types of waivers. @Avery Flores please keep us updated on how your application goes - I'll be watching this thread closely. Going to start gathering my financial documents today and submit the waiver ASAP. This whole system is so overwhelming when you're already struggling financially.

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I've been struggling with PA UC for the past 6 weeks because my former employer (a retail chain) hasn't responded to their questionnaire either. I had no idea about the 30-day rule or that I could specifically request they move forward without the employer response. I've been calling constantly but never knew the magic words to say. Reading Ella's success story gives me so much hope - I'm definitely calling first thing Monday morning and using the exact language everyone suggested here. It's ridiculous that we have to fight this hard for benefits we've earned, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share strategies and support each other. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This is such an eye-opening thread! I'm currently in week 4 of waiting for my benefits because my former employer (a small manufacturing company) hasn't responded to their questionnaire either. I had absolutely no idea about the 30-day rule until reading through all these responses. It's honestly shocking that PA UC doesn't inform claimants about this option upfront - how many people are just sitting there waiting indefinitely when they could be pushing for action? I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and use the specific language everyone mentioned here about "proceeding with determination based on claimant information only." Thank you Ella for sharing your experience and congrats on getting your claim escalated! This community is invaluable for helping each other navigate this broken system.