Thanks everyone for the advice! I called off work for the whole morning just to be safe. One more question - will I find out the decision right after the hearing ends or do I have to wait?

Just wanted to add - if you're feeling anxious about representing yourself, remember that the referee is neutral and actually wants to help get to the truth. They're not there to intimidate you. I was super nervous before my hearing but the referee was patient and explained things clearly. They'll make sure you understand the questions and give you chances to clarify your answers. The most important thing is to be honest and stick to the facts about what happened when you were separated from your job. Having those texts from your supervisor about your position being eliminated should definitely work in your favor!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Got hit with a $3,200 overpayment notice and panicked just like you are now. The good news is that if you have documentation proving you were laid off due to downsizing, you have a really strong case to get this overturned completely. Here's what worked for me: 1. Filed the UC-46 appeal form immediately (don't wait!) 2. Requested my complete claim file through a Right to Know request 3. Gathered EVERY piece of documentation about my layoff - termination letter, emails, even LinkedIn posts from my company about the restructuring 4. Called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (it actually does work - got through in 45 minutes vs weeks of trying) The hearing took about 3 months to get scheduled, but once I presented my evidence that it was a legitimate layoff, they reversed the entire overpayment determination. No payment plan needed, no garnishment, everything wiped clean. The key is proving your employer gave UC different information than what actually happened. Companies do this ALL the time to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes. Don't let them get away with it! You've got this - just act fast on that appeal deadline!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I had a very similar situation last year - got three overpayment letters totaling $5,400 after being back at work for just a month. The panic is real, I totally get it. Based on what you described about the "separation reason being disqualifying," it sounds like your employer may have told UC something different than what they told you about the layoff. This happened to me too - I was told it was a layoff due to budget cuts, but my employer reported to UC that I was terminated for performance issues. Here's what I wish I had known from day one: 1. File that UC-46 appeal form IMMEDIATELY - you're running out of time on the 15-day deadline 2. Request a copy of your employer's response to UC through a Right to Know request - this will show you exactly what they reported 3. Don't just keep submitting waivers without appealing the underlying overpayment determination first The silver lining is that if you can prove the separation issue was incorrectly determined, the entire overpayment disappears. You won't need to worry about waivers, payment plans, or any of it. I ended up winning my appeal because I had my termination letter clearly stating "position eliminated due to organizational restructuring" which contradicted what my employer told UC. The whole process took about 4 months but was worth it to clear the debt entirely. You mentioned you have documentation showing it was downsizing - that's golden! Get that appeal filed today and don't let them intimidate you. The system can be beaten when you have the right documentation and follow the proper procedures.

I just went through this same process about 6 months ago. My hearing took place on a Wednesday and I received the decision letter the following Tuesday - so exactly 6 calendar days. It showed up in my online dashboard the same day the letter arrived. The referee ruled in my favor since my employer couldn't substantiate their misconduct claims with actual documentation. One thing that helped me during the waiting period was calling the PA CareerLink office in my area - they have staff who can sometimes provide general guidance about the appeals process and what to expect. They can't tell you the outcome, but they were helpful in explaining next steps. Hang in there - I know the waiting is brutal but most decisions do come within that 10-14 day window others mentioned.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago after being laid off and having my employer suddenly claim misconduct during the appeal. The waiting period was absolutely nerve-wracking - I completely understand checking your dashboard constantly! In my case, the decision came 11 business days after the hearing. What really helped me manage the anxiety was setting up a daily routine instead of checking multiple times per day. I'd check my mail when it arrived and my dashboard once in the evening, then tried to focus on job searching and other productive activities during the day. Also, make sure you have your appeal strategy ready just in case - even though it sounds like you presented your case well, having a backup plan gave me peace of mind. The backpay once the decision came through covered all the weeks I'd been filing, which was a huge relief financially.

Congrats Vincent on finally getting through! Your success story gives me hope. I've been stuck at 11 weeks now with the same "processing" message. Filed in late January with UC income of about $8,200. Going to try the 8:30am calling strategy tomorrow morning. Did the agent give you any sense of how backed up they are right now? Also wondering if anyone knows - once they approve the refund, how long does it typically take for the direct deposit to hit your account?

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed in mid-January with UC income of about $5,800 and still stuck at "processing" after 12 weeks. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the UC income was causing these delays. I've been calling randomly throughout the day but now I'll try the 8:30am strategy. It's so frustrating that they don't just tell you upfront that returns with unemployment benefits take longer to process. The lack of transparency is worse than the actual wait time! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare.

I've been using Varo for my PA UC direct deposits for about 5 months now and it's been great! My payments typically arrive around 12:15pm on Mondays after I file on Sunday, which is so much better than waiting until Tuesday morning with the ReliaCard. The transition took about 10-12 days for me. I updated my direct deposit info on a Wednesday, kept filing as normal, and got one more ReliaCard payment before it switched over to Varo automatically. No missed payments or weird issues during the switch. Just make sure you have your Varo routing number (124303120) and account number ready when you update your payment info. I took screenshots of both from my Varo app to make sure I didn't make any typos. Also definitely keep your ReliaCard active until you see at least one successful deposit in your Varo account - better safe than sorry! The instant notifications through the Varo app are amazing. You'll get pinged the second your money hits instead of constantly refreshing the ReliaCard site. Totally worth making the switch if you're already using Varo for your other banking!

I switched from ReliaCard to Varo about 2 months ago and it's been fantastic! My deposits hit around 11:45am on Mondays consistently after filing Sunday - such a relief compared to those stressful Tuesday morning waits with ReliaCard. The transition was smoother than I expected - took about 2 weeks total. I got one final ReliaCard payment, then the next one showed up in my Varo account right on schedule. No missed payments or confusion. My advice: Update your direct deposit info mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday) so you have time to double-check everything before your next filing. Copy your routing number (124303120) and account number directly from your Varo app - don't type them manually. And definitely keep some money in your ReliaCard account during the switch just as a safety net. The Varo app notifications are incredible - you get that instant ping when your money arrives instead of obsessively checking the ReliaCard balance. Plus Varo's customer service is way better than trying to get through to PA UC if you ever need help. Highly recommend making the switch if you're already using Varo for everything else!