Good news! Just got the determination letter today and I was APPROVED! The UC examiner said my employer didn't provide sufficient evidence that I committed willful misconduct. They said performance issues without proper documentation and warnings don't constitute misconduct under PA law. Thank you everyone for your help and support through this stressful process! First payment should arrive next week.

Congratulations! This is such a relief to read. Your case gives me hope since my situation sounds almost identical. I'm still waiting for my determination letter after my employer contested my claim with similar vague accusations. It's reassuring to know that PA UC actually does look for real evidence of misconduct rather than just taking the employer's word for it. Thanks for sharing the positive outcome!

UPDATE: You guys were right! Decision came through this morning (Tuesday) and I was APPROVED! Payments are now listed as "in progress" - feeling so relieved right now. Thanks for helping me not freak out too much while waiting.

Congratulations Julian! This is such great news and hopefully gives others hope who are in similar situations. It's really encouraging to see that when PA UC examiners give specific dates like they did with you, they actually follow through. Your story is going to help a lot of people who are stressed about waiting for decisions. Glad you can finally breathe easy and get caught up on your bills!

UPDATE: I used Claimyr this morning and actually got through to PA UC in about 25 minutes! The agent was really helpful - turns out a company I interviewed with last month accidentally reported me as hired when they meant to report another candidate. The agent put a note on my account and is sending the issue to a supervisor who will review and fix it. She said I should keep filing my weekly claims and should see the issue resolved within 7-10 business days. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!!

So glad you got this sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend people file appeals right away and use services like Claimyr to actually reach someone at UC. The phone system is basically useless otherwise. Your story will definitely help other people who run into the same issue - it's scary how common these employer reporting mistakes seem to be. Hope your benefits get restored quickly!

my mom works for the state (not UC but different department) and she says theres actually a special pandemic backlog team still working on cases from 2020-2021!!! so definitely worth trying!!!!!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Filed in March 2020, got stuck in "pending review" forever, and just started pursuing it again last month. Here's what I've learned so far: 1. Your claim record is definitely still in their system - I was able to log into my old UC account and see everything from 2020 2. The key is getting to someone who understands pandemic-era claim issues. Regular phone reps might not know the special procedures 3. I found success by calling first thing Monday morning around 8:02 AM - still took 45+ minutes but I got through When I finally talked to someone, they told me there's a specific "COVID Claims Review Unit" that handles these exact cases. They transferred me and I'm now waiting for a callback within 10 business days. The agent said many claims from that period are being successfully resolved, especially ones that were never officially denied. Don't give up! The fact that your sister got benefits in the identical situation is actually strong evidence in your favor. Document everything and be persistent. I'll update if my review comes through!

To answer your question about documenting work search activities: You'll record them when you file your bi-weekly claims. The system will prompt you to enter details about your work search activities for each week. However, you should also keep your own detailed records in case you're selected for an audit. PA UC can request proof of your work search activities going back up to two years. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet or document with: date, employer/position, contact method (application, interview, etc.), contact details (website, email, phone), and any follow-up information. This makes it easy to transfer information to the bi-weekly claim forms.

Just wanted to add - make sure you have all your employment documents ready when you file! PA UC will need your Social Security card, driver's license, and employment records for the past 18 months. For seasonal work, they might also ask for your employment contract or termination letter showing it was a seasonal layoff (not a firing or quit). Having everything organized beforehand will make the application process much smoother. Good luck with your claim!