Denied PA UC for misconduct - appeal timeline & chances of winning?

PA UC appeals can take anywhere from 3-8 weeks right now depending on how backlogged the system is. I filed an appeal in February and waited almost 6 weeks before getting a hearing date. Then another 2 weeks after the hearing to get the referee's decision. Regarding misconduct appeals - it really depends on the details and how your employer presents their case. 'Misconduct' under UC law means a deliberate violation of employer rules. Being late because of childcare issues might not qualify as willful misconduct if you can prove you made efforts to notify your employer and find alternatives. Make sure you have documentation of your childcare issues and any communications with your employer about the situation.

i won my misconduct appeal!! i got fired for some BS about 'company policy violation' but during the hearing the supervisor couldnt point to the exact policy i broke in the handbook. the referee was super fair and actually asked good questions. bring ALL ur evidence and be super honest about everything!!!! tell them exactly what happened with ur childcare and bring those texts!!! PA UC is looking for if u DELIBERATELY broke rules not just if u had a problem following them bc of circumstances

The entire PA UC system is designed to deny you at every turn. I was denied initially too for "misconduct" that was really just a disagreement with my manager. The appeals process is intentionally slow to make people give up. They're hoping you'll find another job and drop the appeal because they don't want to pay you. My appeal took 9 WEEKS before I even got a hearing date, and by then I was almost homeless. The whole system is BROKEN. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process though - that's the one thing they don't tell you!

after i filed my appeal last yr i waited 5 wks for hearing notice but then kept getting busy signals when i called to check status. tried for 2 days straight couldnt get thru. my friend told me about claimyr.com and it got me connected to a real person at UC in like 20 mins. they actually told me my hearing was scheduled but notice got lost in mail! you can see how it works here https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - saved me from missing my hearing completely

To answer your specific questions: 1. Current PA UC appeal timeframes are averaging 4-6 weeks from filing to hearing date. This can vary based on your service center's workload. 2. For misconduct cases, attendance issues CAN be won on appeal, but you need to demonstrate that: - You had good cause for the lateness (childcare emergency qualifies) - You properly notified your employer each time - The situation was temporary/beyond your control - You made efforts to remedy the situation Make sure you gather evidence showing you communicated with your employer about the childcare issues. The key distinction in PA UC law is between willful misconduct (deliberate rule violation) versus inability to comply due to circumstances beyond your control. Continue filing your weekly claims during the appeal process. If you win, you'll be paid retroactively for all eligible weeks.

i got fired for policy violation too my company said i was on my phone too much but really i was just checking on my sick mom. anyways my hearing was like 7 weeks after i appealed but then the referee never showed up! had to reschedule for another 2 weeks later. whole thing took almost 3 months before i got approved. system is a joke honestly

One important thing to prepare for your misconduct appeal hearing: PA uses a two-part test for attendance-related misconduct: 1. Did you violate a known and reasonable employer policy? 2. Was the violation deliberate/willful or was it due to good cause? The burden of proof is initially on the employer to show there was a policy and you violated it. Then the burden shifts to you to show you had good cause. Childcare emergencies generally count as good cause, especially if you made efforts to find alternatives and communicated properly. Make sure you're prepared to clearly explain the circumstances of each absence, what you did to try to resolve it, and how you communicated with your employer. Bring any evidence showing you tried to find alternative childcare. This can make a big difference in how the referee views your case.

after my appeal got approved i got backpay for all the weeks i was waiting which was like $6200!!! make sure u keep filing every week during the wait even tho they'll all say 'appeal pending' or whatever. its a pain but worth it if u win