Pennsylvania Unemployment

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PA UC denied for 'unprofessionalism' after termination letter showed no reason - 13 weeks of waiting for nothing?

I'm beyond frustrated right now. After 13 LONG weeks of waiting, PA Unemployment just denied my claim citing 'unprofessionalism' as the reason. Here's the thing - I was given an actual termination letter from my employer with NO REASON listed on it whatsoever. I worked at this property management company for 2+ years with zero write-ups or warnings. I honestly thought my claim was solid. My former boss just decided one day he wanted to bring in his nephew to replace me (I later found out). When I filed, I uploaded the termination letter showing no cause. Why would they suddenly claim unprofessionalism now? I called the UC office 47 times yesterday and couldn't get through to anyone. Please help - I'm panicking about rent next month. Do I file an appeal? What evidence do I need? Has anyone successfully fought a denial like this?

hey just wondering did they send u anything showing how they determined u were "unprofessional"?? like did they have specific dates or incidents? or was it just a general claim? that makes a BIG difference in how u should approach ur appeal!!

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The determination letter just says "The claimant was discharged for unprofessional conduct in the workplace" with no specific incidents or dates mentioned. There's literally nothing else about what I supposedly did wrong! That's why I'm so confused and frustrated.

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I was a PA UC claims examiner for 5 years (not anymore). Here's what you need to know: The vast majority of employers contest ALL unemployment claims automatically, even when they know they don't have a case. They hope claimants won't appeal or won't show up to the hearing. Your case sounds very winnable. The fact that your termination letter has no reason listed is extremely helpful for you. In PA, vague allegations of "unprofessionalism" without specific documented incidents almost always get overturned on appeal. Just make sure you file that appeal within the 15-day window, keep filing weekly claims, and be prepared to explain your side calmly and factually during the hearing. Good luck!

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This is so true! My former employer fights EVERY claim even when they do mass layoffs that are clearly not the employees' fault. It's disgusting but standard practice. The whole system favors employers because they know most people give up after being denied.

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Thank you for sharing your insider perspective! That makes me feel a lot better about my chances. It's frustrating that employers can just make vague accusations without proof, but I'm relieved to hear that appeals referees usually see through this.

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Can I get PA UC after quitting my job 2 weeks ago as a single mom?

Hi everyone, I'm in a tough spot and need advice. I walked out of my job 2 weeks ago and never returned. The working conditions were awful (60+ hour weeks with no overtime) and my manager kept changing my schedule last minute which made childcare impossible as a single mom. I literally just stopped showing up because I was at my breaking point. I know quitting usually disqualifies you from unemployment but I've heard there are exceptions. Has anyone successfully claimed PA unemployment after quitting for family reasons? My savings are almost gone and I'm getting desperate.

Based on your last comment, SAVE THAT TEXT showing the 10pm notification for a 6am shift! That's exactly the kind of documentation that helped me win my appeal. Make sure to file your initial claim ASAP - the system will likely deny you automatically, but then you'll have the right to appeal and present your evidence. Start applying for jobs immediately too, as you'll need to show job search efforts regardless of the outcome.

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Just submitted my initial claim online. You're right, I'll plan for the appeal process just in case. I've already started applying for jobs with more regular hours. Hoping to find something soon but UC would really help in the meantime. Thank you all for the advice!

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Good luck with your claim! I went through something similar as a single parent and the appeal process can be stressful but it's worth fighting for. One thing I learned - when you have your eligibility interview, bring printed copies of all your texts and documentation. The referees appreciate having physical evidence they can review during the call. Also, if you get denied initially (which is common), don't panic. The appeal process is where most people actually win their cases because you get to present your full story with evidence. Keep applying for jobs in the meantime and document your job search efforts. You've got solid documentation with those schedule change texts, especially that 10pm-for-6am example. That shows exactly the kind of impossible situation that makes continued employment unreasonable for a parent.

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Received unexpected $5K PA UC backpay check from 2020 pandemic - Is it safe to cash?

I just got a surprise check in the mail from PA Unemployment for $5,000! It seems legit - has all the watermarks, security features, and came from the Treasury address in Harrisburg. The thing is, I never filed for any backpay. According to the dates on the check stub, this covers 10 weeks from April-June 2020 when I was temporarily laid off during COVID shutdowns. I did collect UC during that time but thought everything was settled years ago. There's no explanation letter, just the check. I'm hesitant to cash it because: 1. It's been almost 5 years since those claims 2. I don't want to get hit with an overpayment notice later 3. I'm worried it might be some weird mistake in their system Has anyone else received random backpay this long after the pandemic? Should I cash it or call UC first? I really could use the money, but I don't want trouble down the road.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at PA UC after using that Claimyr service (thanks for the recommendation). The agent confirmed the check is legitimate! Apparently, there was a statewide review of pandemic claims and they found that I should have received the additional $600 federal supplement for 2 weeks I was eligible but didn't get it, plus they recalculated my base year wages and found I qualified for a higher weekly benefit rate than I received. The agent said a notification letter was supposedly mailed 3 weeks ago explaining all this, but I never received it (typical PA UC). She's having another letter sent and noted in my file that the payment was confirmed legitimate. I'm depositing the check tomorrow! Thanks everyone for your help. If anyone else gets a surprise payment, definitely verify before cashing, but it might be legitimate backpay from this review they're doing.

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Just be careful and SAVE some of that money for taxes next year!!! UC payments are taxable and they probably didn't withhold anything on this check!!!

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@Emma Davis is absolutely right about the taxes! I learned this the hard way when I got a surprise 1099-G for unemployment benefits I forgot about. Set aside at least 20-25% for federal and state taxes since they probably didn t'withhold anything. Also, keep all your documentation from this call - reference numbers, agent name if you got it, confirmation details. PA UC has a history of forgetting "phone" conversations happened.

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Congratulations on getting it sorted out! This gives me hope that PA UC is actually trying to make things right from the pandemic chaos. I was laid off in May 2020 and always wondered if I got everything I was entitled to - the whole system was such a mess back then. For anyone else reading this thread, I'd recommend keeping an eye on your mailbox over the next few months. Sounds like they're working through these claims chronologically, so if you had unemployment during the pandemic, you might be getting a surprise too. And definitely use that Claimyr service if you need to call - trying to get through to PA UC the regular way is like winning the lottery! Thanks for sharing your update QuantumQuest - really helpful to know how this all played out.

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This whole thread has been super helpful! I was also unemployed during the pandemic (March-July 2020) and never thought to question if I got everything I was entitled to. The whole system was so overwhelmed back then - half the time I couldn't even log into the website to certify my weekly claims. Now I'm wondering if I should proactively call to see if I'm owed anything from this review they're doing, or just wait to see if a check shows up in the mail. Anyone know if there's a way to check if your claim is part of this audit without having to spend hours on hold?

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PA UC Money Network debit card payments - anyone received theirs yet?

Hey everyone, I'm seriously stressing out about my PA unemployment payments. I recently switched to the Money Network debit card option instead of direct deposit (my bank was putting 5-day holds on UC deposits). It's been 9 days since my last weekly claim was marked as 'payment issued' but NOTHING has shown up on my card yet! The UC dashboard shows payments were processed, but my card balance is still $0. First time using this card system and I'm getting worried. Is this normal delay for the first payment to a new card? Has anyone else gotten their UC benefits loaded to their debit card recently? How long did yours take?

UPDATE: My payment finally showed up on my Money Network card this morning! All at once - both weeks' worth of payments appeared. Seems like the first card payment really does take 8-10 business days like some of you mentioned. Thanks everyone for the advice and reassurance - was really starting to panic about this!

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That's great news! Yes, the first payment cycle is always the longest. Now that your card is established in their system, future payments should arrive much faster - typically 1-2 business days after PA UC shows 'payment issued'. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims on time to avoid any interruptions.

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told ya! same thing happened to me. the system is slow but it works eventually

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Glad to hear you got your payment! I'm going through the exact same thing right now - switched to the Money Network card 6 days ago and still waiting for my first payment to show up. The UC dashboard says "payment issued" but my card balance is still zero. Reading through all these comments is really reassuring that this delay is normal for the first payment. Hopefully mine shows up in the next few days like yours did!

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PA UC payment delays - stuck for 6 weeks with no contact option

I'm at my wits' end trying to get hold of someone at the PA unemployment office. My benefits stopped showing up 6 weeks ago without any explanation or notification. My claim status still shows as 'active' but there's been zero movement on payments since mid-March. I've called the PA UC number literally 47 times this week alone and either get a busy signal or that automated message saying they're experiencing high call volume. I've sent emails through the dashboard message center and nothing. I've got rent due next week and my landlord isn't exactly the understanding type. Has anyone found an actual working method to reach a human being at PA unemployment? I'm desperate at this point.

UPDATE???? did u get through??? im starting to worry about my claim again cuz I got this weird letter yesterday about quarterly review or something

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Yes! I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and finally got through yesterday! Turns out there was an employer protest on my claim that never showed up in my dashboard. The agent was able to push it through to review and said I should see payments resume within 7-10 days. Such a relief!

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@Gianni Serpent That s'awesome news! So glad you got it sorted out. An employer protest that doesn t'show up on the dashboard is exactly the kind of BS hidden issue that keeps people stuck for months. For your quarterly review letter - definitely don t'ignore it! Sometimes those require documentation or responses within a certain timeframe. If you can t'get through on the phone, try uploading whatever they re'asking for through the document upload section in your dashboard.

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Wow, an employer protest that doesn't show up on the dashboard - that's exactly the kind of hidden issue that keeps people trapped in limbo for months! I'm so glad you finally got it resolved @Gianni Serpent. This is a perfect example of why the PA UC system is so frustrating - critical information that directly affects your payments is completely invisible to claimants. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, this really highlights how important it is to actually speak with an agent, even if it takes using a service like Claimyr or going through your state rep. The dashboard clearly can't be trusted to show you everything that's affecting your claim status. @Henry Delgado - definitely take that quarterly review letter seriously and respond ASAP if it requires any action on your part. Sometimes those have tight deadlines that aren't clearly stated.

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