Reading through this entire thread has been so eye-opening! I'm currently in week 2 of my PA UC approval and thanks to everyone's experiences shared here, I now know I need to keep filing biweekly claims. I honestly had no idea - like so many others, I thought getting approved meant the payments would just start automatically. The detailed breakdown of the 14-day window, the early morning calling strategy, and especially the work search documentation requirements are incredibly valuable. I'm definitely going to start keeping that spreadsheet @Felicity Bud mentioned to track my job applications with dates and specifics. It's really frustrating that PA UC doesn't make these ongoing requirements clear upfront, but this community stepping up to help each other navigate the system is amazing. I'm bookmarking this thread and will definitely pay it forward if I see someone else with similar questions. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - you've probably saved me and many others from weeks of stress and confusion!

This thread is absolutely incredible! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got approved for PA UC about a week ago and had no clue about the weekly filing requirement until I found this discussion. The amount of detailed, practical advice here is amazing and honestly way more helpful than anything on the official PA UC website. I'm particularly grateful for the tips about the 14-day window and the early morning calling strategy. Since I'm only at the one-week mark, it sounds like I should still be able to file through the regular system without needing to call. Going to log in right now and look for that biweekly filing option! Also starting that work search spreadsheet immediately - the idea of having to reconstruct job applications from memory weeks later sounds like a nightmare. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and timelines. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these confusing government systems actually manageable!

Kennedy, I've been following this entire thread and I'm honestly amazed at how much valuable information you've received from this community! As someone who works as a paralegal specializing in employment law, I can confirm that all the legal advice you've gotten here is spot-on. Your case is about as strong as they get for UC appeals. Having 15 people laid off from your department is what we call "slam dunk" evidence of legitimate business restructuring. The non-fault overpayment protections everyone has explained will absolutely shield you from having to repay those benefits you've already received. I wanted to add one small but important detail: during your phone hearing, make sure you're in a quiet location with good reception and have all your documents spread out in front of you for easy reference. Sometimes technical issues or fumbling for papers can make claimants seem unprepared even when they have great cases like yours. You've gone from being terrified about owing back $4,800 to being better prepared than 99% of claimants who go into these hearings. Between your rock-solid documentation, understanding of the non-fault protections, and all the practical tips you've gathered here, June 15th should go very smoothly. This thread is honestly a masterclass in how community support can turn a scary situation into a manageable one!

Kennedy, I've been reading through this entire thread and I'm so impressed by how this community has rallied around you! As someone who went through a PA UC employer appeal in 2021, I can add my voice to everyone confirming that you're in excellent shape. My situation was almost identical - laid off as part of a department restructuring affecting 12 people, employer appealed claiming "performance issues," and I was terrified about repaying benefits. Just like all the experts here have explained, the non-fault overpayment protections worked exactly as intended - I never had to repay a single dollar. One thing that really struck me reading your updates is how much stronger your case is than mine was. Having 15 people eliminated from your department, plus all that documentation about business restructuring, makes this about as clear-cut as UC cases get. Your employer is really reaching by appealing this. The preparation advice you've gotten here is fantastic - that one-page summary idea, requesting their evidence beforehand, having coworker contact info ready - all of that will serve you well. Most importantly, you now understand your legal protections and rights, which takes away so much of the fear. You've transformed from panicking to being incredibly well-prepared. June 15th is going to go great! This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone facing employer appeals - the expertise and support shown here is just amazing.

Just want to add another potential cause that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you started working for your employer late in a quarter, they might not have included you in their quarterly wage report until the following quarter. For example, if you started in mid-December, your wages might not show up until they file their Q1 report. Also, some employers (especially smaller ones) sometimes file their wage reports late or make corrections after the initial filing. This can cause temporary mismatches in the UC system even when everything is actually correct. @23909c3d58a1 Diego - really glad you got it resolved! Your experience will definitely help others dealing with the same issue. The parent company name thing is so common but not something most people would think to check.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm a new member here and just filed my UC claim last week, only to get the same "employer hasn't reported wages" message. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me a much clearer roadmap for what to do. I'm definitely going to start with calling my employer's HR department tomorrow to check on the company name issue that @23909c3d58a1 Diego discovered. My company was recently acquired by a larger corporation, so there's a good chance they're reporting wages under the parent company name now. A few questions for the group: 1. When you call UC, is there a specific department or extension that handles wage reporting issues, or do you just go through the general line? 2. For those who successfully resolved this - did UC automatically process any back payments for the weeks you were waiting, or did you have to request that separately? 3. Should I be documenting all my phone calls and attempts to reach UC in case I need to escalate this later? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the official system is so hard to navigate!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding partial unemployment! I'm in a similar situation - my hours at a retail store got cut from 30 to about 18 per week due to reduced customer traffic. I was really worried about making ends meet, but seeing that the partial payment system can help bridge that income gap is such a relief. The 40% calculation formula everyone explained makes perfect sense now - I was so confused looking at my first partial payment amount. I had no idea I still needed to complete work search requirements during partial weeks either, so I really need to catch up on those applications! One thing I want to add for other newcomers - make sure you're crystal clear with your employer about WHY your hours were reduced. My manager initially described it as "flexible scheduling" when I mentioned UC, but I had to clarify that it's actually due to reduced business/lack of available work. That distinction seems really important based on what everyone's shared here. Thanks so much for all the practical advice - this community is way more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing PA UC website alone!

This thread is incredibly comprehensive and helpful! I'm a newcomer dealing with reduced hours at my restaurant job (down from 32 to about 20 hours) and was completely overwhelmed by the partial payment system until reading through everyone's experiences. The 40% deduction formula breakdown is so much clearer than anything I found on the official PA UC website. I especially appreciate the practical tips about keeping records, setting up text alerts for payment notifications, and the reminder about continuing work search activities during partial weeks - I almost missed that requirement! One question for the group: has anyone experienced issues with the UC system not recognizing your reduced hours initially? When I first applied, the system seemed to think I was fully unemployed rather than partially employed. I'm worried this might cause problems down the line with my claim. Also want to echo what others said about talking to your employer about how they'll describe the hour reduction to UC - definitely having that conversation with my manager tomorrow. Thanks everyone for making this so much less confusing to navigate!

Update: Filed my claim on Sunday as suggested, and it went through without any issues! They asked about the seasonal nature of the job during the application process. Thanks everyone for your help - especially the clarification about waiting until Sunday. Now I just need to make sure I keep up with those job search requirements...

This is really helpful info! I'm starting a seasonal job with the state next month and knowing I'll need to wait until the Sunday after my contract ends to file will save me a lot of headaches. One question - do seasonal workers typically qualify for the full benefit amount, or is there anything different about how benefits are calculated for short-term seasonal positions? I'm trying to plan ahead financially.