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i forgot to ask, did u check ur determination letter carefully?? sometimes they deny ppl for dumb technical reasons like u answered a question wrong or didnt report some tiny income. might be easier to fix that than fight about the separation if thats actually the problem
One more important tip - when you file your appeal (do it online if possible), clearly explain the specific facts that disprove the job abandonment claim. Don't just say "I disagree" or "This is unfair." For example: "I appeal this determination because I did NOT abandon my position. I provided written two-week notice on [date], worked all scheduled shifts through my final day on [date], and even trained my replacement. My manager [name] acknowledged my notice and final day. I have text messages and witness testimony to verify these facts." This approach immediately focuses the referee on the key dispute. Good luck with your appeal!
Thank you for the template! I just submitted my appeal using similar wording. Now I'm gathering all my evidence and trying to contact former coworkers for statements. I'll update here once I get a hearing date or any news. Thanks to everyone for the guidance - I feel much more confident about fighting this!
forgot to mention - make sure ur bank acct info is 100% correct. my friend put the wrong routing number and it delayed everything by another 3 weeks
Honestly the whole PA system is designed to make it as difficult as possible to get your benefits. I bet they'll keep sending checks just to make it harder for you. Not trying to be negative but that's just how they operate. They hope you'll miss a check in the mail and then they save money. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!
While the system can definitely be frustrating, there's actually a legitimate reason for the delay. PA UC uses a verification process for new direct deposit information to prevent fraud. It's not designed to make you miss payments. If you're concerned about mail delivery, you can request mail forwarding or set up informed delivery with USPS to get digital previews of incoming mail.
Excellent progress! The 3-day wait is standard for the ICON database updates. Make sure when you call PA, you specifically mention that NJ has updated your status in the ICON system and provide that confirmation number. This will prevent them from simply telling you to call NJ again. Good luck!
FINAL UPDATE: Success! After waiting the 3 days, I couldn't get through to PA UC on the phone, so I used the Claimyr service someone mentioned here. Got connected to a UC rep in about 30 minutes. They confirmed they could now see the NJ claim was closed in their system. The rep processed my PA claim on the spot and said I should see payment for all weeks (including the ones during this mess) within 2-3 business days. What a relief! Thanks everyone for your help - this forum saved me!
UPDATE: I finally got in! System is working now but super slow. For anyone still trying, be patient after you enter your PIN - it took almost 3 minutes for the next screen to load but it eventually did. Make sure you don't refresh or you'll have to start over!
For future reference, the best times to file your weekly claim are usually Tuesday or Wednesday mornings between 9-11am. The system has the least traffic then. Sundays and Mondays are always nightmares because everyone tries to file as soon as the week opens up. Also, if you ever can't file online, remember you can use the PA UC phone filing system at 888-255-4728, though it's pretty tedious to use.
That's really helpful advice! I'll definitely try mid-week next time instead of stressing on Sunday. Do you know if filing on a Tuesday vs Sunday affects when the payment gets processed?
Diego Rojas
One more thing to consider - if you hire an attorney, make sure they specialize in unemployment cases specifically. I initially talked to a general practice lawyer who gave me completely wrong information about the appeal process. PA unemployment hearings have very specific rules and procedures that not all attorneys understand. Ask potential lawyers how many UC appeals they've handled in the past year.
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Zara Ahmed
•Completely agree with this. I've seen many claimants hire general practice attorneys who weren't familiar with the nuances of PA's unemployment law, particularly around the different standards for willful misconduct, voluntary quit, and able/available issues. Each type of case has different elements that need to be proven or disproven. A specialist will know exactly what to focus on for your specific situation.
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Sean O'Donnell
My friend who works at the unemployment office (not in appeals tho) says a lot of people represent themselves and win. Just depends on how complicated your case is and how well you can organize your thoughts when you're nervous.
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StarStrider
•Yeah well I represented myself and LOST even though my employer was CLEARLY in the wrong! The hearings are intimidating and if your employer has someone from HR who does this all the time, you're at a disadvantage from the start. Don't risk it!!
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