I'm new to this community but this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - got laid off from my carpentry job in March 2025, found work with a different crew that lasted until January when the project wrapped up, and now I'm back on my original claim that expires in March. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me so much more confidence about what happens next. I had called PA UC a few weeks ago and the rep made it sound like I was basically out of luck once my current benefits end, but clearly that's not the case based on all the success stories shared here. The advice about starting the new claim application 2-3 weeks early is something I'm definitely going to follow. And the tip about calling at 7:45 AM when they open is brilliant - I've been avoiding calling back because I didn't want to deal with hours on hold again. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had experience with filing a new claim when your second job was significantly shorter than your first? My carpentry work from last year was about 7 months, but this recent project was only about 5 months. Will that affect my ability to qualify for a new claim, or is it more about total wages earned rather than length of employment? Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community is providing way better guidance than anything I could get from the UC website or phone reps!

I'm new to this community but this thread has been a lifesaver! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation as the original poster - laid off from my electrical work in January 2025, collected UC for about 8 weeks, found another job that lasted until November when the company went under, and now I'm back on my original claim that expires in February. Reading through everyone's experiences here has given me so much hope and practical guidance. I had no idea you could file a new claim after your benefit year expires - when I called UC last month, the rep just told me to "keep looking for work" and didn't mention this option at all. Now I know to call back and specifically ask about filing a "new initial claim after benefit year expiration." A few things I wanted to add based on what I've learned from this thread: 1. I'm definitely going to start gathering all my documentation now (pay stubs from the second job, layoff paperwork, etc.) so I'm ready when the time comes 2. The tip about calling at 7:45 AM right when they open is gold - I've been dreading another round of sitting on hold for hours 3. Starting the application 2-3 weeks before my current benefit year ends seems crucial based on everyone's processing time experiences The electrical trade has been pretty slow around here too, so knowing I should be able to get another 26 weeks of benefits after February gives me a lot more breathing room to find something decent rather than jumping at the first low-paying job. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this community is providing way better guidance than anything I could get from official UC sources!

I just went through a very similar situation with my former employer contesting my UC claim after they cut my hours dramatically before letting me go. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - it's amazing how many people have dealt with almost identical circumstances! One thing I wanted to add that really helped during my determination interview was keeping track of any positive feedback or recognition I had received before the hour cuts started. Even informal comments from supervisors or coworkers about doing good work can help demonstrate that the "performance issues" only became a problem after business decisions were made to reduce staffing. @Nia Jackson - your case sounds extremely strong given the manager's admission about hiring too many people. That's essentially a confession that this was never about your work performance. During your interview, I'd suggest emphasizing the timeline clearly: good performance when you had full hours, then sudden "performance problems" only after they slashed your schedule. The adjudicator will see right through that pattern. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but based on everything shared in this thread, you're in a really good position. Keep documenting everything you can remember and stay confident - you've got solid evidence on your side!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - I can't thank everyone enough for all the detailed advice and encouragement! Reading through all these similar experiences has completely changed my perspective from panic to cautious optimism. I've spent the last few days following everyone's suggestions and creating a documentation folder with everything I can find - text messages about my hour cuts, notes from conversations with management, and most importantly, I wrote out a detailed timeline of events while everything is still fresh in my memory. The pattern is so clear when laid out chronologically: 30+ hours/week with no performance issues → gradual hour cuts over 6 weeks → down to 8-10 hours/week → sudden "performance problems" → termination. I also reached out to a couple former coworkers (who no longer work there) and one of them confirmed she witnessed the conversation where my manager said they "hired way too many people for the season." Having that corroboration feels huge. Still no call scheduled yet, but I'm checking my portal daily and have my phone on full volume at all times. Based on the timelines everyone shared, it could happen any day now. I'm feeling much more prepared and confident thanks to all the specific interview tips - especially about asking for specifics on what expectations I supposedly didn't meet and being ready with concrete examples of my good performance when I had full hours. Will definitely update everyone once I get through the determination interview. This community has been a lifesaver during such a stressful time! 🙏

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been lurking and reading all these amazing tips! I'm in a similar boat - recently laid off and desperately trying to get through to PA UC about some questions on my claim. The amount of knowledge this community has shared is incredible - from the technical phone system tricks to the specific timing strategies. I never realized there were so many variables that could affect your chances of getting through! Planning to try a combination approach starting with the 7:59am method tomorrow, then the Tuesday 11:30am window if needed, and keeping the Spanish line transfer option as backup. It's honestly both frustrating and impressive how much expertise we've all had to develop just to access basic unemployment services. Will definitely update everyone on what works for me - hopefully I can contribute some new insights to help the next person dealing with this nightmare system!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to add another method that's been working consistently for me in 2025. I discovered that calling exactly 17 minutes after the hour (so 8:17am, 9:17am, etc.) has been surprisingly effective. I think it might be related to how their phone system cycles through queues or something technical like that. Got through 3 times in the past two weeks using this timing! Also, if you're on hold and hear the music cut out for a few seconds, DON'T hang up - that's usually the system transferring you to an available agent, not dropping your call. I almost hung up twice thinking I got disconnected but stayed on the line and got connected both times. The whole PA UC phone system is definitely designed like some kind of puzzle we all have to solve together, but at least we're figuring out the patterns! Will keep testing this 17-minute timing and report back if I notice any changes in effectiveness.

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I was stuck in the lockout loop - disable any browser extensions you might have running, especially ad blockers or privacy extensions. I had uBlock Origin running and it was interfering with the PA UC site's login process. Once I disabled it and refreshed the page, I was able to stay logged in. Also, if you're using any password managers like LastPass or 1Password, try logging in manually without using the auto-fill feature. The PA UC system seems really sensitive to anything that might look like automated login attempts.

I went through this exact same nightmare last month! The PA UC system is so broken it's ridiculous. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1) Used Firefox browser in private/incognito mode, 2) Completely cleared all browser data (not just cache but cookies, stored passwords, everything), 3) Waited until mid-morning on a weekday to try logging in (seems like the system is less overloaded then), and 4) Made sure to type everything manually - no copy/paste, no autofill, nothing. It took me about 6 attempts over 3 days but I eventually got through. The key was being really patient and not trying to rush the process. Good luck!

Update us after you file the appeal on how long it takes to get a hearing date. In 2024 they've been scheduling them faster than last year - my friend just had her appeal hearing scheduled only 10 days after filing. Much better than the 4-6 week waits people were experiencing in 2023.

Don't panic - you have a strong case! A 70% reduction in hours (40 to 12) absolutely constitutes good cause for quitting in PA. I work as a paralegal and see these cases regularly. Here's what you need to know: File your appeal TODAY online through your UC dashboard. Don't wait! The 15-day deadline is firm and there's no extension. For the appeal form, keep it brief: "I disagree with the determination because the substantial reduction in my work hours from 40 to 12 per week created a necessitous and compelling reason to leave employment." Start organizing your evidence NOW: - Pay stubs showing your regular 40-hour weeks before the cut - The new schedule showing 12 hours - Your resignation email mentioning the hours as the reason - Any communications with your employer about the reduction - Documentation of your attempts to find alternatives (like that 90-mile position they offered) The hearing will likely be by phone within 2-3 weeks. During the hearing, emphasize that you tried to work with your employer before quitting and that the income reduction made the job financially unsustainable. You've got this! The key is being prepared and professional during the hearing.