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?

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.

Just wanted to add that when you get your doctor's note, make sure it includes specific language about your inability to perform "heavy lifting," "repetitive bending," or whatever specific physical demands were required at the warehouse job. PA UC looks for clear connections between your medical limitations and the job requirements you couldn't meet. Also, if your doctor can reference your pre-existing back injury and how the warehouse work aggravated it, that strengthens your case that this wasn't a new condition you were trying to use as an excuse. I've seen cases where people got approved even without getting the doctor's note before quitting, as long as they could prove the medical condition existed and made the job impossible to continue. Stay positive and keep fighting for what you're entitled to!

Hey Liam! I went through this exact same situation when I got RIF'd from the Department of Defense last year. A few things that helped me speed up the process: 1) Make sure you're logging into the PA UC portal regularly to check for any additional document requests - they don't always send email notifications, 2) If your claim shows "monetary determination pending" that usually means they're still verifying your federal wages, which is the longest part, 3) You can actually call your former agency's payroll office directly and ask them to expedite the wage verification to PA - some agencies are faster at responding than others. Also, since you mentioned bills coming due, consider applying for emergency assistance through 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you with local programs that help with utilities and rent while waiting for benefits. The waiting is brutal but hang in there!

Based on my experience helping other federal workers navigate PA UC, here are a few additional tips that might help speed things up: 1) If you haven't already, double-check that your Social Security Number matches exactly between your federal employment records and your UC application - any mismatch can cause delays, 2) Keep copies of all your federal pay stubs from the last 18 months handy in case PA UC requests them for wage verification, 3) If your claim gets stuck in "pending" status for more than 6 weeks, you can file an appeal which sometimes forces a review and speeds up processing. Also, since you mentioned being "stationed" in PA, make sure you filed in the correct state - if you're military or worked at a federal facility in multiple states recently, there might be interstate claim complications. The good news is that once federal claims get approved, the back payments usually come through pretty quickly (within a week). Hang in there!