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PA UC Identity Theft & 1099 Tax Nightmare - Claim Hijacked Since October
I'm at my breaking point with PA Unemployment. Someone stole my identity and has been collecting MY unemployment benefits since early October! I haven't received a single payment for 3+ months, and now the final blow - just got a 1099-G form showing over $6,400 in benefits that I NEVER RECEIVED! The thieves got all this money while I've been struggling to pay bills. Now I can't even file my taxes properly because the IRS thinks I received all this money. I've called UC at least 25 times and never get through. I've sent messages through the portal with zero response. Has anyone dealt with identity theft on their PA UC claim and actually resolved it? What do I do about this incorrect 1099? I'm desperate!
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PA UC approval after 8 weeks but no payment date - Will I get paid after my next weekly claim?
After waiting for what felt like FOREVER (8 weeks in 'under review' status), my PA UC claim was finally approved yesterday! I'm so relieved but also confused because there's no payment date or transaction number showing in my portal. All the issues are marked as cleared though. Does this mean I'll receive my back payments when I file my weekly claim this Sunday? Or will I only get this upcoming week? I'm trying to figure out when money will actually hit my account because I've got bills piling up. Anyone been through this after a long review period?
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dont get too excited, the money network card is a pain if thats how ur getting paid. took me another week to actually get the card after payments were issued
Thankfully I set up direct deposit when I first applied. At least that's one thing I did right!
Just a reminder - after you file tomorrow, give the system 24-48 hours to process and show payment dates. Don't panic if they don't show up immediately after you certify. The system usually updates overnight Sunday into Monday, but sometimes it takes until Tuesday morning.
Thank you for the reminder. I'll try to be patient (though it's really hard after waiting 8 weeks already!
PA UC appeal denied for son with ADHD/autism at Amazon - misconduct ruling worth fighting?
My son (who has ADHD and autism) just had his unemployment appeal hearing denied last week, and I'm beyond frustrated with the system. He worked at an Amazon warehouse for about 8 months before the incident. They regularly left him alone at his station where boxes would pile up beyond what one person could handle. The alarms would start going off, and due to his sensory issues, he'd get overwhelmed. After repeatedly asking for help and getting none, he had a meltdown and hit a filing cabinet with his hand. We contacted ADA advocates who gave us contact info for Amazon's accommodation team, but when we tried going through proper channels for accommodations, Amazon never followed through. A month later, when left alone again during a high-volume period, he threw a strap in frustration and hit his head against the wall. They fired him for 'willful misconduct' and now the UC referee sided with Amazon at the appeal hearing! I actually asked during the hearing, 'Don't you think Amazon should have responded to our ADA accommodation requests to figure out why he was getting so frustrated?' They're denying him almost $8,800 in benefits that he should be entitled to. Yes, he's found a better job now (thank goodness), but the principle of this makes me furious. The denial letter says his actions were 'willful misconduct' despite his documented disabilities. We can appeal to the UC Board of Review, but I'm wondering if it's even worth it or if we should just hire an attorney at this point? Has anyone successfully appealed a misconduct ruling with disability factors involved?
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you should probably report amazon to the EEOC too!!!! what they did is basically discrimination if they knew he had disabilities and didnt help him when it was getting too much. my friend's brother got a settlement from his employer for something similar
This!!! The unemployment appeal is just one part of it. Amazon's behavior sounds like it violated multiple laws. Document everything!
Since he has a new job now, one thing to keep in mind: Pennsylvania UC benefits are calculated based on your highest quarterly earnings during the base year. So even though he's employed now, those past earnings at Amazon still matter for his benefit eligibility and amount. That $8,800 is likely based on his earnings there, and he's entitled to those benefits if he was wrongfully terminated. For the appeal to the Board of Review, be very specific about the timeline: when he was hired, when Amazon became aware of his disabilities, when incidents occurred, when accommodation was requested, etc. Timeline clarity helps demonstrate the causal relationship between his disability, Amazon's failure to accommodate, and the incidents that led to termination.
That's a great point about being specific with the timeline. I'm going to put together a detailed chronology tonight. The referee seemed to get confused about the sequence of events, which probably didn't help our case. And you're right about the benefit calculation - his Amazon wages were higher than his current job, which is why the benefit amount is so significant.
PA UC denied for cell phone policy violation with no prior warnings - preparing for appeal hearing
I need some advice from anyone who's been through this. My husband was let go last month after 19 YEARS at the same company for supposedly violating their cell phone policy. He applied for unemployment and just got denied! Here's the crazy part - he NEVER received any warnings about cell phone use in his entire time with the company. Not one verbal warning, not one write-up, nothing. When they initially let him go, they mentioned they were "restructuring" but then on the UC paperwork they cited this phone policy thing. This seems like a total excuse to avoid paying unemployment. Has anyone successfully appealed something like this? Our hearing is scheduled for next month and I'm trying to figure out what evidence we need to gather or if we should try getting a lawyer. Any advice would be really appreciated!
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I went through something similar last year. The key for me was documenting the inconsistencies in what my employer said. If they told your husband they were restructuring but then claimed a policy violation to UC, that's a huge red flag the referee will notice. In my case, I had my denial overturned and received backpay for all the weeks I was eligible. Make sure your husband keeps filing his weekly claims even while waiting for the appeal hearing - that way if you win, he'll get paid for all those weeks.
Oh! I didn't realize he should keep filing weekly claims. He stopped after getting the denial letter. Should he start again right away? Will he miss out on the weeks he didn't file for?
Yes, he should absolutely resume filing weekly claims immediately! This is one of the most common mistakes people make. Even when denied, you should continue filing your weekly claims while appealing. If you win your appeal, you can only be paid for weeks you properly filed for. He may have already lost some weeks of potential benefits, but he should start filing again right away to prevent losing more. In some cases, you can request to file for past weeks by calling UC and explaining that you didn't understand you needed to keep filing, but it's not guaranteed they'll allow it.
Thank you so much! He's going to start filing again today. This forum has been incredibly helpful - I feel so much more prepared for the hearing now. I'll update after it happens to let everyone know how it went!
Can PA UC representatives help with appeals or only initial claims?
I got denied for PA unemployment last week and I'm planning to file an appeal. I know the call center representatives can help with filing initial claims, but does anyone know if they can also help with appeals? My determination letter says I was denied for 'voluntary quit' but I was actually laid off due to 'lack of work' and I have documentation from my employer. I've tried looking at the appeal instructions online but I'm confused about what evidence I need to submit with my appeal form. Should I just call the regular UC number for help with this or is there a special appeals department? Anyone gone through this process recently?
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Chloe Robinson
Quick update on the tax implications: Even while you're waiting for a corrected 1099-G, you can still file your taxes. The IRS recommends only reporting income you actually received. Include a statement explaining that you've reported suspected unemployment fraud to the state and have requested a corrected 1099-G. Keep documentation showing you reported the fraud. The IRS has procedures in place for these situations, especially since fraud has increased dramatically in recent years.
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Freya Andersen
AuthorThat's a relief to hear. I was worried about filing without matching what's on the 1099-G. I'll definitely include a detailed explanation and copies of all my fraud reports. Thank you!
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Omar Zaki
One last tip: Make sure you take screenshots of EVERYTHING in your UC portal now - claim status, message history, payment records, everything. Sometimes these records change or disappear during fraud investigations. Those screenshots could be crucial evidence later, especially if you need to prove you never accessed the stolen funds.
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Freya Andersen
AuthorGreat idea! I just took screenshots of all my portal pages and saved them. Also printed out all the emails I've sent to the fraud department. I have a good feeling that with everyone's advice here, I'll finally get this resolved. Will update once I make progress!
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