I went through this exact scenario last year and won my appeal! My employer didn't show up to the hearing AND the supervisor who had accused me of misconduct had already left the company - sounds just like your situation. While it's definitely not an automatic win, these factors work strongly in your favor. The referee still reviewed all the paperwork my employer submitted initially, but without anyone there to defend their position or provide testimony, their case was much weaker. What really made the difference for me was coming prepared with solid documentation - I brought emails showing I followed proper procedures, relevant employee handbook sections, and even some text exchanges that supported my version of events. The fact that your accusing supervisor is gone is actually huge because they can't provide direct testimony about the alleged misconduct. During my hearing, the referee specifically noted how the employer's lack of available witnesses made it difficult to substantiate their claims. My advice: gather every piece of evidence you can that shows you followed company policy or contradicts their misconduct allegations, and be ready to clearly explain why your actions don't meet PA's legal definition of misconduct. Practice your explanation beforehand so you stay calm during the hearing. Also, keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process - you'll get back payments if you win! The hearing was way less intimidating than I expected, and given your circumstances, I think you have excellent chances. Stay positive!

I was in almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago! My employer didn't show up to my PA UC appeal hearing and the manager who accused me of misconduct had also left the company by that time. While it's not an automatic win, these two factors definitely work heavily in your favor. The referee will still review whatever documentation your employer submitted initially, but without someone there to defend their claims or answer questions, their case becomes much weaker. What really helped me was being super prepared with my own evidence - I brought printouts of emails showing I followed company procedures, relevant pages from our employee handbook, and even some messages from coworkers that backed up my version of events. The fact that your accusing supervisor is gone is actually a major advantage because they can't provide firsthand testimony about the alleged misconduct. Make sure to mention this early in your hearing because referees definitely take note of missing key witnesses. My biggest advice is to gather every document you can that supports your case and practice explaining clearly why your actions didn't constitute misconduct under PA law. Keep filing those weekly claims too - I got all my back payments when I won! The hearing was way less scary than I thought it would be. Given your circumstances, I honestly think you have a really strong chance of winning this appeal. Stay confident and come prepared!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 10 days ago and have been panicking seeing "not applicable" on my weekly certifications. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea this was so common! What's really frustrating is how the PA UC system gives you these cryptic status updates without any explanation of what they actually mean. Reading everyone's experiences here has helped me understand that "not applicable" usually just means they're waiting on something (employer response, wage verification, etc.) rather than my claim being denied. I've been doing everything by the book - filing weekly, completing my 5 work search activities, keeping detailed records with screenshots. But the anxiety of waiting while bills are piling up is really getting to me. One question for those who've been through this - did anyone else have trouble with their employer not responding quickly to the separation notice? I'm wondering if that might be what's causing my delay since I was laid off from a pretty disorganized company. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. It's such a relief to know I'm not the only one dealing with this confusing system!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just filed my initial PA UC claim last week and was starting to panic when I saw my first weekly certification switch to "not applicable" status. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like this is just a normal part of the process while they verify everything behind the scenes. I've been doing all the required work search activities (applied to 6 jobs this week through Indeed and company websites) and keeping detailed screenshots of everything. Also just set up the SMS alerts that several people mentioned - had no idea that was even an option! One thing I'm wondering about - for those who eventually got their claims approved, about how long after your main claim changed from "under review" to "approved" did it take for the weekly certifications to start processing? I'm trying to get a sense of the timeline so I can plan accordingly for my rent payment next month. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories and advice. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating this confusing system!

Really glad to hear you got the 7-day extension and that your state rep is helping! That's fantastic progress. Just wanted to add - if you haven't already, make sure to document EVERYTHING about your case (dates you called, reference numbers, names of people you spoke with, etc.). Keep a written log because if there are any issues later, having that paper trail can be super helpful. Also, some food banks in PA can help with utility assistance too if you need additional resources. Fingers crossed your examiner contacts you soon!

Hey Scarlett, I just went through this exact situation about 3 months ago. Had an examiner assigned for a separation issue and was facing utility shutoffs too. Here's what helped me get through it: First, you're doing all the right things by calling 211 and your state rep - that's huge! The 7-day extension gives you some breathing room. For the examiner timeline, mine called exactly 9 business days after assignment. When they do call, make sure you answer - they usually only try a few times before moving on to the next case. Have all your documentation ready and be very clear about why leaving was necessary for you. Also, if you haven't already, check with your local Salvation Army or Catholic Charities - they often have emergency utility funds that are separate from what 211 offers. Sometimes you can stack assistance programs. One more thing - when the examiner does contact you, ask them directly if there's anything else you can provide to speed up the determination. Sometimes they'll tell you exactly what they need to make a quick decision. Hang in there! The waiting is the worst part but it sounds like you're being proactive with all the right steps.

This thread is a goldmine of information! I'm currently on UC benefits and anticipating a job offer soon, so this is exactly what I needed to read. The step-by-step breakdown is so clear: continue filing weekly certifications until you actually start working, then mark that you've returned to full-time work on that week's certification. What really caught my attention were all the stories about people who just stopped filing and ran into problems later - "irregular closure" and system flags sound like a nightmare to deal with. I'm definitely going to follow the proper procedure and keep documentation like several people suggested. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and creating such a helpful resource for the community!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been on UC for a few months and just started my job search, it's great to know the proper procedure ahead of time. The consensus is crystal clear: keep filing until you actually start working, then mark your return to full-time work on that week's certification. What really stands out is how many people emphasized keeping documentation - screenshots, confirmation emails, etc. That seems like such a simple step that could save major headaches later. Also really appreciate the tip about setting a phone reminder for filing that final certification during your first week of work, since that's definitely when you'd be most distracted with new job stuff. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable when dealing with government systems!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been filing for about 2 months and was getting so anxious about the inconsistent timing. What really stood out to me was learning that the status update is separate from when they actually process your payment - I had no idea those were two different things! I was treating the portal like it was Amazon tracking, expecting real-time updates. The batch processing explanation makes so much sense now. I'm definitely going to start doing the "check only twice a week" approach because constantly refreshing was honestly making me more stressed than just waiting for the money to hit my card. It's amazing how much better I feel just knowing that the randomness is totally normal and not a sign that something's wrong with my claim.

I'm so grateful you asked this question! I just started filing about 3 weeks ago and have been driving myself absolutely crazy checking the portal multiple times a day. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - especially learning that the inconsistent timing is completely normal and that "in progress" just means they received my claim, not that there's a problem. The batch processing explanation really opened my eyes to why it feels so random. I love all the practical tips people shared like setting specific check days and keeping a simple log. I'm definitely going to try the "check only on Wednesday mornings" approach instead of refreshing constantly throughout the week. It's amazing how much anxiety comes from just not understanding how the system actually works behind the scenes!