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.

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.

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!

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?

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!

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!

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.

Any update on your situation? Did you file the appeal yet? And were you able to get through to someone at the service center to get more details about the denial reason?

That vacation time issue explains a lot! I had a similar problem when I got laid off - HR processed my final day wrong in their system and it looked like I quit. Make sure you keep copies of everything you submit for your records. Also, just a heads up that the hearing referee might ask about your job search efforts during those first 6 weeks even though you weren't getting paid, so have those records ready too. Sounds like you caught this early enough that it should get resolved quickly once you have your hearing. Good luck!