Can PA UC take 6 penalty weeks for late reporting? What to expect

Unfortunately, yes. PA UC can and does impose penalty weeks for unreported or misreported income. The standard is generally 1 penalty week for each week you failed to properly report. Since you mentioned being 3 weeks late, they may have determined you improperly claimed for multiple weeks, hence the 6 penalty weeks. During penalty weeks, you still need to file your weekly claims, meet all eligibility requirements, and report any work/earnings, but you won't receive payment for those weeks. And yes, you'll need to serve all 6 penalty weeks.

OMG the same thing happened to me last year!!! I had 4 penalty weeks and it was HORRIBLE. they dont care if it was a mistake, they think were all trying 2 cheat the system. I tried calling to explain but u know how that goes - busy signals 4ever. Such BS.

You can appeal the penalty weeks decision. You have 15 days from the date on the determination notice to file your appeal. While honest mistakes can sometimes result in reduced penalties, be aware that unreported earnings are taken very seriously. When you appeal, you'll need to: - Explain why you failed to report the income on time - Provide any documentation that supports your case - Be prepared to attend a hearing (now usually done by phone) Even during the appeal process, continue filing your weekly claims. If your appeal is successful, you may receive backpay for those penalty weeks. The exact number of penalty weeks is typically determined based on: 1. The amount unreported 2. How many weeks were affected 3. Whether there's a history of similar issues 4. Whether the UC examiner believes it was intentional

Has anyone else noticed that they're getting way more aggressive with these penalties lately? I swear back in 2022 they gave warnings first. Now they jump straight to penalty weeks for everything.

After trying for WEEKS to get through to PA UC about my penalty weeks situation (also had 6 weeks for a similar issue), I finally used Claimyr to reach an agent and it worked! The service connects you to UC without having to deal with the constant busy signals. Saved me hours of frustration and the agent was able to explain exactly what I needed to do for my appeal. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

I'm gonna play devil's advocate here... You DID fail to report income while collecting unemployment. That's technically fraud. I know 6 weeks seems harsh but they could have pursued an overpayment plus interest instead. Make sure you're super accurate going forward because multiple instances can lead to disqualification.

Update: I filed my appeal explaining it was an honest mistake and that I've always reported accurately before this. Still serving the penalty weeks while I wait for a hearing date. I'm picking up extra shifts at my part-time job to cover bills in the meantime. This is such a stressful situation but I appreciate everyone's advice!

I went through something similar last year and want to share what helped me. When I had my appeal hearing, I brought documentation showing my history of accurate reporting (printouts from the UC portal) and a letter from my employer confirming when I actually worked. The hearing officer asked detailed questions about why I was late reporting and whether I understood the requirements. Being honest and showing it was truly a mistake (not intentional fraud) made a difference. My penalty was reduced from 4 weeks to 2 weeks. Also, definitely keep filing your weekly claims during the penalty period - if you win your appeal, you'll get backpay for those weeks. The process is frustrating but don't give up hope!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got hit with 4 penalty weeks for reporting income from a side gig 2 weeks late. The whole system feels designed to trip people up. I called the UC office about 30 times before finally getting through, and the agent basically said "you should have known better" even though I explained it was an honest mistake. Filed my appeal last week but still have to serve the penalty weeks while waiting. It's so frustrating because I was diligent about reporting everything else correctly. Hang in there @Yara - at least you're not alone in this mess!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! I just joined this community after getting slapped with 8 penalty weeks for a similar reporting issue. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both terrifying and reassuring - at least we're not alone in dealing with PA UC's harsh penalties. I made the mistake of reporting cash payments from odd jobs late and now I'm basically broke for the next 2 months. The stress is unreal. Has anyone had luck with legal aid organizations helping with appeals? I can't afford a lawyer but I'm wondering if there are free resources available. Also want to echo what others said about continuing to file weekly claims during penalty weeks - my caseworker confirmed you MUST keep filing or you'll lose your place in line entirely. This whole system feels like it's designed to punish people who are already struggling.