Update: I called PA UC this morning (finally got through after trying for hours) and the rep confirmed that the two disqualification letters are for different issues even though they look nearly identical. One is questioning my reason for job separation and the other is about my availability for work. She said I was right to appeal both separately and that they'll likely schedule one hearing to address both issues. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Great update! So glad you got through and got clarification. For your appeal hearing, make sure you have documentation ready for both the job separation issue and the availability for work issue. For job separation, bring any termination paperwork, emails, or documentation about why you left your job. For availability, have proof of your job search activities, any medical documentation if health was a factor, or evidence that you were ready and able to work. Having everything organized by issue will help the referee understand your situation clearly. Wishing you the best with your appeal!

One more thing - if you lose the hearing, you can appeal to the UC Board of Review. You'll have 15 days from the date on the decision letter. I had to do this and eventually won at that level. Just something to keep in mind as a backup plan, but focus on winning this hearing first!

I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago - employer showed up with their lawyer and everything! But I still won because I had solid documentation. Here's what really helped me: I organized all my evidence chronologically and made a simple timeline showing what actually happened vs. what they claimed. The safety complaint angle could definitely work in your favor - in PA, if they can't prove the misconduct happened BEFORE you made those complaints, it looks like retaliation. Make sure you have dates on everything. Also, don't let them intimidate you if they bring multiple people. I was terrified when my former manager showed up with HR and their attorney, but the referee kept everything fair and focused on facts. You got this! The emails about planned layoffs are going to be your strongest evidence.

UPDATE: Just finished my hearing and I think it went well! The referee was actually pretty nice and seemed to understand my situation. It only took about 25 minutes. I explained my work search activities in detail and she seemed satisfied with my evidence. She said I should receive a decision in 7-10 days. Fingers crossed! Thank you all for the advice - it really helped calm my nerves.

Glad to hear your hearing went well! That's such a relief after all the stress you've been through. The fact that the referee seemed satisfied with your evidence is definitely a positive sign. I went through something similar last year and when the referee was engaged and asking detailed questions about my job search (rather than seeming dismissive), I knew it was going in the right direction. The 7-10 day wait is tough but try to stay optimistic. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims like others mentioned - that's crucial even while waiting for the appeal decision. Also, if by chance you don't hear anything after 10 business days, don't panic. Sometimes it takes a bit longer but that doesn't mean it's bad news. Really hoping you get that favorable decision and backpay soon. You've been through enough stress these past 14 weeks. Keep us posted when you hear back!

One additional point to consider: if you file a new claim after this one ends, make absolutely sure during the application process that you clearly indicate you no longer have any self-employment income. The PA UC system sometimes carries over information from previous claims, and you don't want this $74/week assumption to continue into your next benefit year. When you get to the income reporting section, explicitly state that the business ended and provide an approximate end date.

I had something similar happen but with a different twist - PA UC kept assuming I was still getting income from a freelance writing gig that had dried up months earlier. The frustrating part is they never actually asked me to verify if I was still earning that money, they just kept it in the system. In my case, I did end up filing the appeal (Request for Reconsideration) because I was worried it might mess up my tax documents or cause issues later. It took about 6 weeks to resolve, but they did eventually remove the phantom income from my records. The process wasn't too bad - I just had to write a letter explaining when the work ended and why I was no longer earning that income. Since you're so close to the end of your benefit year, you could honestly go either way. But if you have the energy for it, getting your records cleaned up might give you peace of mind for the future.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know I got my payment today!!! All 3 weeks worth of benefits showed up on my Money Network card this morning. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

Congrats on getting your payment! This gives me hope - I'm in a similar situation where my dashboard just switched to showing my weekly benefit amount with zero issues after being stuck on "open issue" for over a month. Still no payment yet but sounds like I should see something in the next few days. Did you get any notification when the payment was processed or did it just show up on your card?