Congratulations on finally getting your hearing date! I'm going through a similar situation - been waiting 6 weeks for my appeal hearing after being denied for "voluntary quit" even though I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. My former employer apparently told UC that I quit, which is completely false. I've been calling the referee office every morning at 8am sharp like you suggested, but still haven't gotten through. Did you have to call multiple days in a row, or did you get lucky on your first attempt? Also, when you finally got through, were they able to schedule your hearing right away during that call? Thanks for sharing your experience - it gives me hope that persistence will pay off!

I'm dealing with a similar appeal situation right now - been waiting 7 weeks for my hearing date after being denied for "misconduct" when I was actually let go for refusing to work in unsafe conditions. Reading through all these experiences is really helpful! @Chloe Boulanger - your situation with the safety violations sounds very similar to mine. I also have documentation of the safety issues I reported and my employer's retaliation afterward. Did you end up submitting your documents before the hearing or just having them ready during the call? And how specific did the referee get about the timeline of events? I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy with two phones - that's brilliant! It's crazy that we have to resort to these tactics but it sounds like persistence really pays off. Thanks for sharing your experience and giving the rest of us hope that we can get through this process.

I totally get the anxiety of waiting for that first payment! I went through the exact same thing with PA UC about 6 months ago. My experience was similar to what others have shared - payment showed as processed on a Wednesday and hit my account Friday morning around 6 AM. One thing that helped me was setting up account alerts through my bank app so I got a notification the moment the deposit came through instead of constantly checking. Also, since you mentioned bills piling up, you might want to call any creditors and let them know payment is coming in the next few days - most are understanding about UC delays if you communicate proactively. The wait is brutal but you're so close to relief now!

I know exactly how you're feeling! I was in the same boat about 8 months ago - constantly refreshing my bank app every few minutes after my UC payment showed up in the portal. For Wells Fargo specifically, I've found they usually process UC direct deposits pretty early in the morning (around 5-6 AM) so if it doesn't show up tomorrow morning, definitely check Friday. One thing that helped my sanity was remembering that even though the UC system can be painfully slow with approvals, they're actually pretty reliable once payments are processed. You've made it through the hardest part - getting approved! The money is definitely coming, probably within 48 hours. Hang in there!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement as someone who recently went through a similar UC appeals process in PA. Your situation sounds like it has all the right elements for approval - the documented accommodation requests, safety concerns for your children, and the rural childcare desert you're dealing with. One thing that really helped my case was creating a simple one-page timeline that I could reference during my phone interview. It showed: when my childcare situation changed, each date I requested help from my employer, when they denied me, and finally when I had no choice but to quit. Having that visual really helped me stay focused and not get flustered during the interview. Also, since you mentioned you're finishing college courses - that actually might work in your favor too. It shows you're actively working toward improving your employment prospects and weren't just looking for an excuse to quit. Make sure to mention that you're a student when you speak with UC representatives. The fact that your employer used the union negotiations as a blanket excuse to deny ALL schedule changes seems particularly unfair, especially for such a minor 15-minute adjustment after you'd been there 4+ years. That kind of inflexibility from management often doesn't look good to UC reviewers. Stay strong - you clearly did everything possible before making this difficult decision!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your story really touched me. As a single parent myself, I know how impossible these situations can feel when you're trying to balance work and your children's safety. What really stands out to me about your case is how proactive you were in trying to solve the problem before quitting - 20+ internal job applications plus multiple accommodation requests shows incredible effort on your part. The fact that your employer wouldn't budge even 15 minutes after 4+ years of employment seems unreasonable, especially when you were dealing with a genuine emergency. I'm curious - when you fill out that questionnaire they sent, are you planning to include information about the specific daycare situation in your rural area? It might be worth documenting not just that there's only one facility that could work for your needs, but also the broader lack of childcare infrastructure in your county. Sometimes UC reviewers who live in urban areas don't fully understand how limited rural options can be. Also, the safety aspect with your mom becoming abusive toward your children is really important. That wasn't a gradual inconvenience - it was an immediate threat that required you to act quickly to protect your kids. No reasonable person would expect you to continue exposing your children to harm just to maintain employment. Keep us posted on how your case develops. From everything I've read here, it sounds like you have a strong foundation for approval, even if it takes an appeal to get there. You're clearly a dedicated parent and employee who was put in an impossible situation.

One thing that really helped me when I was going through this process last year was keeping a detailed log of everything - every phone call attempt, every document I submitted, every email or letter I received. It sounds tedious but it saved me when I had to explain my situation during a phone interview. Also, if you do get an "open issue," don't assume the worst right away. Sometimes it's something simple like they need to verify your wages with a previous employer. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but most people do eventually get their benefits sorted out. Hang in there!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this recently - while there are definitely challenges with the PA UC system, try not to let the anxiety consume you too much in these early stages. I filed my claim in December and yes, I did hit an "open issue" around week 3, but it turned out to be something minor - they just needed to confirm my start date with my previous employer. The whole thing resolved in about 10 days once I got through to someone. My advice: stay proactive but don't panic. Keep doing your weekly certifications, document everything like others have suggested, and remember that even if there are delays, you'll get backpay for those weeks once everything is sorted. The horror stories online are real but they're not everyone's experience. You've got this!

One more important thing to know: after you file, you may see an "open issue" on your claim while they verify your employment separation. This is normal and doesn't mean there's a problem. Since you're being laid off (not fired or quitting), you should be eligible without issues, but the verification can still take 2-3 weeks. If it takes longer, that's when you might want to try calling or using a service to reach them.

Just wanted to add from my experience - when you do file your initial claim, make sure you have your last employer's information ready including their federal tax ID number if possible. This speeds up the process. Also, even though you mentioned you've never filed before, don't let that stress you out - the online system walks you through everything step by step. I was also laid off after many years with the same company and was terrified about the whole process, but it's really not as complicated as it seems. The hardest part is just getting started. You've got this!