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.

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!

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.

I think ur gonna be fine because u were laid off and didnt quit. My cousin just got benefits last month and she only worked like 4 months at her job before getting laid off. The lack of work thing is the important part i think

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! I was a seasonal landscaper, only worked 14 weeks but made around $18K during that time. Initially got denied for not meeting the 18-week requirement, but I appealed and provided pay stubs showing my high quarterly earnings. Took about 5 weeks total but eventually got approved under the alternative eligibility. The appeals process was actually pretty straightforward - just had to fill out a form explaining my situation and provide wage documentation. Since you already applied and mentioned lack of work as the reason, you're on the right track. Keep all your pay stubs handy just in case you need them for an appeal!

Just want to add for anyone else reading this - when selecting the separation reason, construction workers should look for "Temporary layoff" or "Lack of work" rather than "Laid off" or "Quit." The system treats these differently and it can really affect your claim processing time. Also, if you're union, definitely reach out to your rep - they deal with seasonal UC claims all the time and know exactly what to select. Better to get it right the first time than deal with the phone system later!

I work for a PA workforce development agency and see this issue constantly with construction workers. A few additional tips: 1) If you're filing in winter, PA actually has specific guidance for seasonal construction workers - look for "seasonal unemployment" on their website. 2) When you do get through to fix it, ask the agent to add a note to your file explaining it was seasonal construction work, this can prevent future delays if you need to file again next winter. 3) The wait times are typically worst Monday mornings and after holidays, try calling Tuesday-Thursday mid-morning for better luck. Hope this helps future filers avoid the same headache!