


Ask the community...
You've been so helpful, thank you! I'm going to start a job search log right away. I'll also check our employee handbook - pretty sure they have a 3-strike policy they completely ignored in my case. Hopefully that helps my claim!
I'm so sorry you're going through this! The same thing happened to my brother last year - suddenly fired for "performance issues" after 5+ years and consistently good reviews. It's like they keep you thinking everything is fine then blindside you. From what I've learned lurking here, having those positive reviews is HUGE for your case. Screenshot/save every email, review, or text that shows you were doing well. Even casual "good job" messages from your boss can help. One thing that really helped my brother was writing down EVERYTHING he could remember about the termination call while it was still fresh - exact words used, who was on the call, time, etc. The details matter if it goes to a hearing. You've got this! The system is designed to help people who get wrongfully denied benefits. Just be patient with the process and keep detailed records of everything.
This is such great advice! Writing everything down immediately is so smart - I wish I'd thought of that right after my termination call yesterday. I'm definitely going back through my memory now to document as much as I can remember. Your brother's situation sounds almost identical to mine. Did he end up winning his case? I'm trying to stay optimistic but it's scary not knowing what to expect from this whole process.
One more important thing to remember: PA UC is required to consider all available evidence, but they also understand that not everything can be documented. The referee's job is to determine the facts based on credibility and preponderance of evidence. Since your hearing is next week, you should prepare a brief statement explaining the situation in clear terms. Practice saying it out loud a few times so you don't ramble during the hearing. Be specific about dates, names, and details even if you don't have documentation for everything. If the restaurant manager is unwilling to provide a statement, you might also consider if there's anyone else who knew about your job offer - perhaps a friend or family member you told about it at the time? While not as strong as employer confirmation, it can help establish that you were consistent about the job offer at the time it happened.
That's a good idea. My roommate knew about the job and I was pretty excited about it at the time. I told several people actually. I'll ask if any of them would be willing to write a quick statement confirming I had talked about getting the job back then. And I'll definitely practice what I'm going to say beforehand. Thanks for all the help!
I had a similar situation with a verbal job offer during my appeal last year. Here's what I learned: PA UC referees vary widely in how thoroughly they investigate, but having ANY supporting evidence helps tremendously. Your text messages about scheduling are actually really strong evidence - they show the employer was treating you as a hired employee by discussing your work schedule. One thing that helped me was creating a simple one-page summary with bullet points of what happened, including exact dates and the manager's name. Even though my offer was also verbal, having those specific details written out clearly made me seem more credible during the hearing. Also, don't stress too much about them calling the restaurant. Even if they do, employers usually just confirm basic facts like "yes, we made an offer" and "yes, we had to rescind it due to circumstances." Most restaurants right now are dealing with staffing issues from the recent outbreak, so they're likely to be straightforward about having to cancel new hires. Good luck with your hearing - sounds like you're preparing well!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through something similar! I've been stressing about this all week. Creating that one-page summary with bullet points sounds like a great idea - I'll definitely do that. It makes sense that having the specific details organized would make me look more prepared and credible. And you're probably right about the restaurant just confirming basic facts if they do call. With everything that's been happening lately, they're probably dealing with bigger issues than trying to dispute my story. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks everyone for the advice! I called off work for the whole morning just to be safe. One more question - will I find out the decision right after the hearing ends or do I have to wait?
You typically won't get the decision immediately. The referee will mail their written decision to both parties, usually within 1-2 weeks after the hearing. You can also check your PA UC dashboard online as it sometimes appears there first.
Just wanted to add - if you're feeling anxious about representing yourself, remember that the referee is neutral and actually wants to help get to the truth. They're not there to intimidate you. I was super nervous before my hearing but the referee was patient and explained things clearly. They'll make sure you understand the questions and give you chances to clarify your answers. The most important thing is to be honest and stick to the facts about what happened when you were separated from your job. Having those texts from your supervisor about your position being eliminated should definitely work in your favor!
This is really reassuring to hear! I've been losing sleep over this hearing because I keep imagining it being like a scary courtroom drama. It's good to know the referee will actually help guide the process. Those texts from my supervisor are definitely my strongest evidence - they literally said "we're eliminating your position effective immediately" so hopefully that's clear enough proof I was laid off and didn't quit.
I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Got hit with a $3,200 overpayment notice and panicked just like you are now. The good news is that if you have documentation proving you were laid off due to downsizing, you have a really strong case to get this overturned completely. Here's what worked for me: 1. Filed the UC-46 appeal form immediately (don't wait!) 2. Requested my complete claim file through a Right to Know request 3. Gathered EVERY piece of documentation about my layoff - termination letter, emails, even LinkedIn posts from my company about the restructuring 4. Called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (it actually does work - got through in 45 minutes vs weeks of trying) The hearing took about 3 months to get scheduled, but once I presented my evidence that it was a legitimate layoff, they reversed the entire overpayment determination. No payment plan needed, no garnishment, everything wiped clean. The key is proving your employer gave UC different information than what actually happened. Companies do this ALL the time to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes. Don't let them get away with it! You've got this - just act fast on that appeal deadline!
This gives me so much hope! Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm definitely going to file that UC-46 form today and request my claim file. Did you have to pay anything upfront for the Right to Know request, or is it free? Also, when you had your hearing, was it over the phone or did you have to go somewhere in person?
@Chloe Anderson This is exactly what I needed to hear! Your story gives me so much confidence that I can fight this. I m'filing the UC-46 today and will request my claim file too. Quick question - did you have to pay anything for the Right to Know request, and was your hearing conducted over the phone or in person? Also, how long after you requested your claim file did you actually receive it? I want to make sure I have everything before my hearing gets scheduled.
I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I had a very similar situation last year - got three overpayment letters totaling $5,400 after being back at work for just a month. The panic is real, I totally get it. Based on what you described about the "separation reason being disqualifying," it sounds like your employer may have told UC something different than what they told you about the layoff. This happened to me too - I was told it was a layoff due to budget cuts, but my employer reported to UC that I was terminated for performance issues. Here's what I wish I had known from day one: 1. File that UC-46 appeal form IMMEDIATELY - you're running out of time on the 15-day deadline 2. Request a copy of your employer's response to UC through a Right to Know request - this will show you exactly what they reported 3. Don't just keep submitting waivers without appealing the underlying overpayment determination first The silver lining is that if you can prove the separation issue was incorrectly determined, the entire overpayment disappears. You won't need to worry about waivers, payment plans, or any of it. I ended up winning my appeal because I had my termination letter clearly stating "position eliminated due to organizational restructuring" which contradicted what my employer told UC. The whole process took about 4 months but was worth it to clear the debt entirely. You mentioned you have documentation showing it was downsizing - that's golden! Get that appeal filed today and don't let them intimidate you. The system can be beaten when you have the right documentation and follow the proper procedures.
Jacob Smithson
I'm in the same boat - payment date shows 3/6 but no check yet. This is really stressful because I have rent due Monday and was counting on that money. At least seeing everyone else having similar issues makes me feel like it's not just my claim that got messed up. Going to try calling first thing Monday morning but sounds like I should maybe wait until Tuesday based on what NebulaNinja found about the Treasury notice. Has anyone had luck getting through to UC on the phone lately or is it still taking forever?
0 coins
Natasha Volkov
•@Jacob Smithson I m'in a similar situation with rent due soon too! Based on what everyone s'been saying here, it sounds like there s'a Treasury processing issue affecting multiple people this week. I d'probably wait until Tuesday like @NebulaNinja suggested since there s'an official notice about the delays. As for getting through on the phone - @Fatima Al-Suwaidi mentioned that Claimyr service helped her get connected faster, though I haven t tried'it myself yet. Hang in there, it sounds like our payments are coming, just delayed!
0 coins
Sunny Wang
This is exactly why I switched to direct deposit last year after dealing with similar check delays multiple times. Even though @Sofia Morales mentioned direct deposit was also delayed this week, it's usually much more reliable than waiting for paper checks in the mail. You can set up direct deposit through your UC portal - it takes about 2 weeks to go into effect but saves so much stress long-term. For now though, sounds like you should follow @NebulaNinja's advice and wait until Tuesday since there's an official Treasury notice about the processing delays.
0 coins