wait what form did u get? was it a UC-1697A? cause that one is for the telephone hearng not in-person. some people go to the wrong place and miss their hearng completely. double-check ur notice!!

Update: I just checked and mine is form UC-1697A so it IS a telephone hearing! Thanks so much for pointing that out - I would have shown up in person for nothing! The hearing is next Thursday at 10:15am. I'm gathering all my documentation now. Will let everyone know how it goes afterward in case it helps someone else.

Actually, I think there IS a minimum weekly benefit amount in PA - isn't it like $68 or something? So maybe you won't get that $11 after all? The system is probably just showing your remaining balance.

By the way, make sure you're using your reference number when filing that final claim. I know it sounds obvious, but I accidentally used my old reference number from a previous benefit year when filing my last claim and it caused a huge mess. Double-check all your info before submitting!

One important thing to prepare for your misconduct appeal hearing: PA uses a two-part test for attendance-related misconduct: 1. Did you violate a known and reasonable employer policy? 2. Was the violation deliberate/willful or was it due to good cause? The burden of proof is initially on the employer to show there was a policy and you violated it. Then the burden shifts to you to show you had good cause. Childcare emergencies generally count as good cause, especially if you made efforts to find alternatives and communicated properly. Make sure you're prepared to clearly explain the circumstances of each absence, what you did to try to resolve it, and how you communicated with your employer. Bring any evidence showing you tried to find alternative childcare. This can make a big difference in how the referee views your case.

after my appeal got approved i got backpay for all the weeks i was waiting which was like $6200!!! make sure u keep filing every week during the wait even tho they'll all say 'appeal pending' or whatever. its a pain but worth it if u win

My friend just went through the appeal process last month and she said to make sure you call and confirm they received your mailed documents at least once a week. They kept saying they didn't have her stuff but suddenly "found it" after she called for the third time. She ended up winning her appeal and got backpay for all 6 weeks.

One additional thing to note about PA UC appeals: if you win your appeal, be prepared for a delay of 2-3 weeks before any back payments are processed. It's a separate department that handles payment after appeals, and they're still working through backlogs. You may need to proactively contact them after receiving your favorable decision. Also, be sure to continue certifying for benefits every week during the entire appeal process, even though you won't receive payment until after a decision is made.

this is why the whole system needs to be rebuilt. its designed to frustrate people so much they give up. my buddy waited 17 weeks for benefits and by then hed already found another job so he just gave up fighting for backpay. thats what they want.

Final update: My claim was approved! All weeks were paid including backpay from when I first filed. For anyone else in the immigration verification loop - persistence is key. Call early, ask for supervisors, and document everything. Thanks again everyone for your help and advice!