This happened to my sister too!!! her boss said she was fired for attendance but it was actully because the company was moving to a different state!!! some employers are such LIARS when it comes to unemployment!!

Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you have the documentation needed to counter their false claims. Having that separation letter that specifically mentions "position elimination due to departmental restructuring" is extremely valuable evidence. Make sure to have it ready during your fact-finding interview. One important thing to remember during your interview: stick to the facts and avoid expressing anger about your former employer's false claims, even though it's justifiable. UC examiners respond better to calm, factual responses. When they ask about the childcare allegation, simply state that it was never mentioned during your employment, you had no attendance issues related to childcare, and point to your separation letter as evidence of the true reason for termination.

BTW did u get ur pin in the mail yet? U need that to file ur biweekly claims! If it doesnt come in 7-10 days call them to get a new one

One more thing - make sure you're checking your dashboard regularly for any notices about "open issues" that could delay payment. Sometimes they need additional information even if your financial determination looks good. The UC system isn't great about notifying you when there's a problem.

one more thing i just remembered for when u file - my friend who got sick had to explain the separation reason in detail in that little box they give u. make sure u write clearly that u had a MEDICAL EMERGENCY, were HOSPITALIZED, ATTEMPTED to return to work, and were TERMINATED by the agency. use those exact words so its super clear what happened

Update us on how it goes! And if your claim gets denied initially, DEFINITELY appeal. About 60% of denied claims get approved on appeal when the claimant presents their evidence properly. Don't give up if you get denied at first.

This is why I always tell people to have at least some emergency savings even when on unemployment. PA UC system is consistently unreliable with these random maintenance delays. Last year they did it right before Thanksgiving which was a complete disaster for people trying to buy food. The state workers don't care because THEY still get paid on time!

For anyone who might face this in the future: system maintenance that affects payments is typically scheduled for the third week of January, April, July, and October. They never announce it prominently, but it's pretty consistent. I mark it on my calendar now so I'm not caught off guard.

My brother-in-law works at the unemployment office, and he says whether the waiting week gets paid depends on what type of claim you have. Regular UC claims don't get the waiting week paid, but certain special programs do. What type of claim did you file?

everyone saying different things here but all i know is i filed in january and i NEVER got paid for my waiting week and i already used up all my benefits. so if its supposed to happen it definitely doesnt always happen!!!

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!! I went through this EXACT thing and they denied me because they said I "didn't try hard enough to resolve the issues with my employer" before quitting. WHAT A JOKE! I showed them emails where I tried to discuss the problems for WEEKS and they still denied me. Then they wanted the money back that they'd already paid me!!! FIGHT THEM ON EVERYTHING and APPEAL if they deny you.

Since your benefit year is still active (it lasts 52 weeks from the initial filing date), you don't need to file a new application. You'll just restart weekly certifications. But everyone is correct that you'll need to address the job separation issue. Based on PA UC regulations, if the employer significantly changed the terms of employment (hours, pay, duties, location) from what was agreed upon at hiring, this can qualify as "necessitous and compelling" reason to quit. Documentation is key - emails, offer letter, texts about the job duties versus what was actually assigned. When you certify, be ready for there to be a delay while they investigate the separation. And you will likely need to complete the work search requirements again (applying to at least two jobs and completing one work search activity each week).

hey just wondering did they send u anything showing how they determined u were "unprofessional"?? like did they have specific dates or incidents? or was it just a general claim? that makes a BIG difference in how u should approach ur appeal!!

I was a PA UC claims examiner for 5 years (not anymore). Here's what you need to know: The vast majority of employers contest ALL unemployment claims automatically, even when they know they don't have a case. They hope claimants won't appeal or won't show up to the hearing. Your case sounds very winnable. The fact that your termination letter has no reason listed is extremely helpful for you. In PA, vague allegations of "unprofessionalism" without specific documented incidents almost always get overturned on appeal. Just make sure you file that appeal within the 15-day window, keep filing weekly claims, and be prepared to explain your side calmly and factually during the hearing. Good luck!

Side note but i think you'll LOVE this. I got the option this year to get my UC payments on a DEBIT CARD instead of direct deposit and its WAYYYY FASTER!!! My payments show up 2 days earlier than when i used direct deposit. The Money Network card was super easy to activate too. just saying it might be worth switching for those weeks in August if u want the $ faster.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much better about the situation now. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims and report my earnings for the summer program weeks. It's such a relief knowing I won't have to go through the hassle of reopening my claim for those last few weeks of summer before school starts again. This community is amazing!

i had the audit for new hire thing too and what actually happened was my previous employer told them i quit when i was actually laid off!!! make sure u check with ur previous employer what they told UC cuz sometimes they lie to avoid their UI tax going up. it took me going to a hearing to finally get my money (like 3 months later).

Just to add one more important point - make sure you're checking both your dashboard AND your physical mail. PA UC often sends determination letters via regular mail that don't show up in the online system. And sometimes they'll send requests for additional information this way too. If you miss responding to one of these, it can further delay your claim.

Update: I checked the detailed payment view like @helpful_guidance suggested and found that the withholding is actually $22 not $20! It shows Federal tax: $20 and State tax: $2. Mystery solved! Thank you everyone for your help.

this happens to everyone lol... the system is confusing AF... glad u figured it out!