anyone else think its weird that they make these hearings at such specific times but dont have any flexibility for real life? like some of us have kids and jobs and traffic exists lol. 9 minutes is nothing, they should have still let you in. the whole system feels like its designed to deny as many people as possible.

UPDATE: I filed the Request for Reopening form today and also used Claimyr to get through to an actual UC rep! The rep confirmed they received my written statement from yesterday and said they would attach it to my file. She said the referee will likely issue a decision on my original case within 7-10 days, but I should still be prepared to appeal if it goes against me. Thanks everyone for the help - will post another update when I hear something!

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED they make it impossible on purpose so people give up!! been through this 3 times now and its always something different

UPDATE: I finally got through this morning after calling around 20 times! The claims rep said my payments were on hold because they needed to verify my last employer's information, even though nothing showed up online about this. She released all three weeks of payments while I was on the phone, and said they should be on my card within 2-3 business days. Keep trying to call!

btw i forgot to mention, when i won my appeal they sent all the backpay at once to my Money Network card. it was like $8,400 for my 12 weeks! but be prepared that it might take another 2-3 weeks AFTER u win before the payments actually hit ur account. at least thats what happened to me

One more important point: make sure to thoroughly review the referee handbook before your hearing. You can find it on the PA UC website. It explains the hearing process and your rights. Since your case involves misconduct vs. position elimination, the burden of proof is on your employer to prove misconduct. If they don't appear at the hearing or don't provide sufficient evidence, that significantly strengthens your case. Also, if you win, don't be alarmed if you see "overpayment" notices in your account before the backpay arrives. This is a common system quirk that happens when they're processing large backdated payments and generally resolves itself.

Good luck! My sister had twins last year and her boss was horrible about it. Make sure you apply for WIC too if you haven't already. And congrats on the baby :

One other thing to consider - you mentioned the company wouldn't "hold your position" but did they explicitly say you were terminated, or that you had to resign? If they told you that you had to resign, that's actually a constructive discharge which is treated differently than a voluntary quit. The details matter a lot here for your UC claim. Also, how large is the company, and how long had you worked there? That determines FMLA eligibility which could be relevant to your case.

When I was waiting on my board appeal I had to apply for food stamps just to survive. Might be worth looking into while you wait. The county assistance office was actually pretty helpful in my case.

Based on your comments about having text messages from your supervisor approving your adjusted schedule, you absolutely should submit those to the Board ASAP. This is exactly the kind of evidence that can overturn a referee decision. Here's how to properly submit additional evidence: 1. Log into your PA UC dashboard 2. Go to the "Appeals" section 3. Select your pending Board appeal 4. Look for "Submit Additional Documentation" option 5. Upload screenshots of the text messages 6. Include a brief explanation of why these texts are relevant 7. Reference the specific finding in the referee decision that these texts contradict If you can't find this option online, you can also fax or mail copies to the Board of Review with your appeal number clearly marked on each page. This could make all the difference in your case!