my brother works for a home health agency and he says they do this ALL THE TIME because it saves them money on their unemployment insurance rates. they keep everyone on the books as "active" even when they have no work for them. total scam. definitely appeal and mention that you suspect this is why they're suddenly contacting you after months of silence.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when agencies pull this kind of stuff. I had a similar experience with a different type of caregiving situation. One thing that really helped me was getting a statement from someone who knew about the specific nature of your employment arrangement. Do you have any documentation from when your mother-in-law was receiving care that shows you were hired specifically as her family caregiver? Medical records, care plans, or even correspondence that mentions your relationship to the patient can be powerful evidence that this wasn't a general healthcare position. Also, if you can get any written confirmation of her passing date from hospice, hospital, or funeral home, that creates a clear endpoint for when your specific job duties ended. The fact that they waited until after your UC claim to suddenly offer work is really telling - make sure to screenshot and save every email they've sent you since filing. You've got a strong case here!

glad it worked out for u! i swear the PA UC system just randomly throws old messages at us to see if we'll panic lol

So glad you were able to figure this out! This is exactly why I always tell people to screenshot EVERYTHING with PA UC - their system glitches are notorious for causing panic attacks over old determinations that randomly resurface. For anyone else who might face this issue: always check the actual date stamps on messages, not just when they appear in your dashboard. The PA system has a habit of "refreshing" old notices during maintenance cycles, making them appear new when they're not. Emma, definitely keep that Statement of Benefits PDF saved locally and maybe print a copy too. PA UC has a tendency to make documents mysteriously disappear from dashboards during "system updates." You've got solid proof now that your appeal decision is still valid and active.

Just wanted to update - my payment finally went through this morning. Seems like it was just the holiday delay. Everyone else get theirs?

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was starting to freak out because my payment didn't come through yesterday like usual either. Reading everyone's experiences with the Presidents Day delay makes me feel so much better. I had no idea federal holidays could mess with the timing like that. Going to download that Money Network app right now so I get notifications, and definitely looking into switching to direct deposit after this. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know you're not alone when these delays happen!

I used to work as a paralegal helping with UC appeals, and I've seen these cases go both ways. The deciding factor is usually whether the claimant can prove they remained able and available for full-time work despite the freelance activities. Bring a detailed calendar showing when your husband did the freelance work versus when he was job searching, interviewing, etc. Also, if the consulting work was in any way different from his regular occupation (different skills, industry, etc.), make sure to emphasize that. Good luck!

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got laid off from my retail job in January and have been doing some freelance graphic design work while job hunting. I've been reporting everything but now I'm terrified they'll come after me too! This thread is super helpful though. I didn't realize there was such a specific distinction between "sideline work" and "self-employment" in PA's eyes. Quick question for those who've been through appeals - about how long does the whole process take? I'm worried if I get hit with an overpayment notice, how much time I'd have to prepare a defense. Also, does anyone know if you can get a lawyer for these hearings or is it mostly just you representing yourself? Really hoping your appeal goes well OP! The fact that your husband reported everything and was actively job searching should work in your favor.

my cousin said just ignore it they cant really do anything lol

Update: I filed my appeal online yesterday and requested a breakdown of the overpayment calculation. I also found the waiver form and am filling that out as a backup in case the appeal doesn't work. I'm still stressed but feeling a bit more in control now. Thanks everyone for the advice!