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.

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!

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!

dont forget u still have to file ur weekly claims even tho ur waiting for payment

Just a quick update check - has your payment come through yet? Should have hit your account by now if everything's processing normally.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep detailed records of everything during this process. I kept a journal with dates, times, and who I spoke with at UC - it really helped during my hearing when they asked about timeline details. Also, don't panic about the 2-week rent deadline. Many landlords will work with you if you explain you're waiting on UC appeal results, especially if you can show them your appeal paperwork as proof. I had to do this and my landlord gave me an extra 3 weeks once they saw I had a legitimate case pending. Your video evidence sounds really strong! Make sure to watch it yourself a few times and practice explaining what it shows in simple, clear terms. Sometimes what seems obvious to us isn't immediately clear to someone else viewing it for the first time.

I just went through this same situation about 6 months ago! My employer also lied about the reason for my termination and I was SO stressed about the whole process. Here's what helped me: For the hearing timeline - mine took about 5 weeks to get scheduled, but I've heard it can vary. The good news is that your video evidence sounds like exactly what you need! I had text messages that proved my case and they made all the difference. About lawyers - I was torn on this too but ended up representing myself and won. The referee was actually really patient and helped me understand the questions. Just make sure you practice telling your story clearly and stick to the facts that directly relate to why they said you were fired. One thing that really helped my stress was calling the local legal aid office. Even though I didn't hire a lawyer, they gave me a free 30-minute consultation where they explained what to expect at the hearing. Might be worth looking into if you have something similar in your area. Hang in there - having that video evidence puts you in a much stronger position than a lot of people! The hardest part is just waiting for the hearing date.