In my case, it was just my supervisor and the HR person. They didn't bring separate witnesses. But every case is different - depends on what the issue is and who has relevant information. The hearing notice should say who's expected to participate. One thing that really helped me was taking notes during my employer's testimony so I could address specific points when it was my turn to respond. Good luck with everything!

I've been through the PA UC appeal process twice and wanted to add a few things that might help: The Hermitage office specifically tends to be pretty organized and professional. Both times I dealt with them, they were on time and well-prepared. Regarding your warehouse job situation - if you were there 14 months and this was about "rule violations," make sure you understand exactly what rule they claim you violated and when. Sometimes employers will try to bring up general performance issues during the hearing that weren't part of the original termination reason. The Referee should keep them focused on the specific misconduct claim. Also, if you haven't already, request a copy of your complete UC file before the hearing. You can do this online or by calling. Sometimes there are documents in there from your employer that you haven't seen yet, and it's better to know what they submitted ahead of time. The warehouse environment can be tricky because safety rules are taken seriously, but often these places have inconsistent enforcement. If you can show that the rule wasn't consistently enforced or that you weren't properly trained on it, that can help your case significantly. Don't let the anxiety get to you too much - most people who prepare well and have a legitimate case do fine in these hearings.

Oh wow, that's good to know! I wasn't sure if I needed to do those while it was still under review. Going to start my job search activities today then. Thanks for the heads up!

I went through this exact same situation in December when my retail seasonal job ended. The "under review" status for reopened claims is honestly the worst part because you have no idea what's happening behind the scenes. A few things that helped me: 1) I called right at 8 AM when lines opened and got through after about 2.5 hours on hold, 2) The agent told me they were just verifying my employer's separation information which took about 12 days total, and 3) I kept filing my weekly certs the whole time even though it felt pointless. When it finally got approved, I received all the back pay in one lump sum. Also definitely keep up with your work search requirements like others mentioned - they're super strict about that now even during the review period. Hang in there, it's frustrating but it will get resolved!

Wow, this thread is super helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where I filed too early and got denied for insufficient base period wages. It's so frustrating that in 2025 we still have to deal with mailing forms and impossible phone lines. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service to get through - seems like multiple people here had success with it. Also good to know about the CareerLink option as backup. The PA UC system really needs to catch up with modern technology!

I went through this exact same nightmare situation in December 2024! Filed too early, got denied for insufficient wages, and then discovered the archaic withdrawal process. Here's what actually worked for me: I tried the Claimyr service that others mentioned and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to process my withdrawal over the phone immediately - no mailing forms or waiting weeks! She explained that phone withdrawals are definitely possible for denied claims, it's just not well-publicized on their website. Cost me like $20 for the Claimyr service but saved me literally weeks of waiting. After the withdrawal was processed (took about 3 business days), I was able to file a new claim with my updated wages and got approved. The whole PA UC system is stuck in the stone age but at least there are ways to work around it now!

UPDATE: I finally got through to PA UC this morning after trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. It actually worked! The rep told me my employer DID respond last week but there's another issue with my claim about my base year earnings that's holding things up. They're sending me a letter about it. At least now I know what's happening instead of being completely in the dark. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you finally got some clarity on your situation! The waiting game with PA UC is absolutely brutal, especially when you're stressed about finances. I went through something similar last year and the not knowing was honestly worse than the actual delay. At least now you can focus on getting the base year earnings issue resolved instead of wondering if your employer even bothered to respond. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience might help someone else in the same boat!

I'm in the same boat - payment date shows 3/6 but no check yet. This is really stressful because I have rent due Monday and was counting on that money. At least seeing everyone else having similar issues makes me feel like it's not just my claim that got messed up. Going to try calling first thing Monday morning but sounds like I should maybe wait until Tuesday based on what NebulaNinja found about the Treasury notice. Has anyone had luck getting through to UC on the phone lately or is it still taking forever?

This is exactly why I switched to direct deposit last year after dealing with similar check delays multiple times. Even though @Sofia Morales mentioned direct deposit was also delayed this week, it's usually much more reliable than waiting for paper checks in the mail. You can set up direct deposit through your UC portal - it takes about 2 weeks to go into effect but saves so much stress long-term. For now though, sounds like you should follow @NebulaNinja's advice and wait until Tuesday since there's an official Treasury notice about the processing delays.