UPDATE: I just got my hearing notice in the mail today!! It's scheduled for May 18th at 10:45am and will be by phone. That's about 3 weeks from when I got the first letter. Now I need to get all my evidence together. Thanks everyone for the advice and support!

That's awesome news about getting your hearing date! May 18th gives you plenty of time to prepare. Since it's a phone hearing, make sure you're in a quiet location with good reception and have all your documents organized in front of you where you can easily reference them. One additional tip - if you have any prescription records or pharmacy receipts that correspond to your illness dates, those can also help support your case. They show a pattern of medical treatment that backs up your doctor's notes. You've got this! The fact that you have documentation and proof of notifying your employer puts you in a much better position than many people who go into these hearings.

One last piece of advice - make a copy of your decision letter when it arrives and keep it forever. If PA UC ever tries to bring this up again (even years later), having that documentation will immediately shut it down. Also, if the decision is in your favor, check your UC account online after about 2-3 weeks to confirm the overpayment has been removed from your balance. Sometimes they're slow to update the system even after a favorable decision.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! My employer was a no-show for my non-fault overpayment appeal and I was terrified about what it meant. The good news is that I won my case - the referee ruled that without the employer present to dispute my evidence, my documentation of being laid off due to restructuring was sufficient proof. The decision took about 12 days to arrive by mail, and like others mentioned, it came in a plain white envelope that could easily be mistaken for junk mail. Within 3 weeks of receiving the favorable decision, the overpayment was completely removed from my UC account online. Your layoff letter stating "lack of work" should be strong evidence in your favor, especially since your employer chose not to defend their position. Try not to stress too much while you wait - I know it's easier said than done! Keep checking your mailbox daily and your UC account online for any updates.

Update for anyone who finds this thread later: Finally got my hearing notice today - took exactly 4 weeks and 2 days from when I filed my appeal. The hearing is scheduled for phone, but I'm going to request in-person since I have a lot of documentation to present. Thanks everyone for the advice! I'll post again after the hearing to let you know how it went.

Wow, congrats on getting your hearing date Fatima! That timeline matches what I experienced - about 4 weeks. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have a quiet, private space for your phone hearing if you decide to stick with that option. I made the mistake of taking mine in a coffee shop and the background noise was really distracting. Also, speak slowly and clearly - the referee needs to take notes on everything you say. If you do go in-person, arrive at least 15 minutes early to get familiar with the room setup. Rooting for you!

Update: Just wanted to let everyone know that my payments hit my Money Network card today - exactly 8 days after winning the appeal! All my back payments came at once. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

That's fantastic news Sofia! 8 days is pretty reasonable all things considered. I'm currently waiting on my appeal decision (should hear back any day now) and this gives me hope that if I win, I won't be waiting forever for the payments. Did you get any kind of notification before the money hit your card, or did it just show up? Also wondering if the back payments came as one lump sum or broken out by week?

Update: I got a doctor's appointment for tomorrow and explained the situation. He said he'd write up documentation about my back condition and work restrictions. I also filed my claim today and selected "quit" and then "health reasons" like you all suggested. Now showing "open issue" on my dashboard. Going to upload the doctor's note as soon as I get it. Fingers crossed!

Great job being proactive about getting the documentation! One thing that really helped me when I went through a similar situation was keeping a detailed timeline of events. Write down exactly when you started the job, when your back problems began/worsened, any conversations you had with supervisors about your condition, and when you made the decision to quit. Having those specific dates and details ready for your fact-finding interview will show you're organized and credible. Also, if you have any text messages or emails related to your back pain or job struggles during those two weeks, screenshot them as additional evidence. The more documentation you can provide, the stronger your case will be.