Disqualified from PA UC and filed appeal - how to prepare and win my case?

I won my appeal last year. The most important thing is to gather documentation that proves you were laid off rather than quitting. Do you have any paperwork from your employer about the layoff? An email? Text messages? Anything written that shows it wasn't voluntary would be extremely helpful. Also, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during the appeal process - that's crucial if you win.

same thing happnd to me last month!!!! they said i quit BUT I DIDNT. the employer just reported wrong info to unemployment. make sure u bring all ur pay stubs and the contact info for ur old supervisor who can back u up. my hearing was over the phone and only took like 20 mins

The PA UC appeal system actually has a fairly high success rate when the claimant has proper documentation. Here's what you'll need to prepare: 1. Written documentation of the layoff (sounds like you have this) 2. Names and contact information of supervisors who can verify 3. Any performance reviews showing you were in good standing 4. A timeline of events written out clearly 5. Copies of any communication about the layoff Make sure to submit any evidence to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review at least 5 days before your hearing. Be concise and factual during the hearing - just stick to demonstrating that you did not voluntarily quit. The burden of proof is actually on the employer to prove you quit voluntarily, not on you to prove you didn't.

I've been through the whole PA unemployment nightmare THREE TIMES in the last few years and the system is DESIGNED to frustrate you! They automatically side with employers and hope you'll just give up instead of appealing. DON'T GIVE UP! My last appeal took almost 6 weeks before I got a hearing date and then another 2 weeks for a decision, but I won and got ALL my back pay. The system is horrible but you can beat it if you're persistent!!!

When I had my appeal hearing last year, I was so nervous I could barely speak clearly. One thing that really helped was writing down exactly what happened in chronological order so I wouldn't get flustered. The referee will ask you specific questions about your separation from employment. Make sure you clearly state you were laid off as part of a group layoff and have that documentation ready. Also, did you try calling UC to ask why they marked it as a voluntary quit? Sometimes it's just a coding error that can be fixed without a hearing.

If you're struggling to get through to PA unemployment on the phone, I finally had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically hold your place in line and call you when they get an agent. Saved me days of frustration when I was dealing with a similar disqualification issue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Might be worth it to find out exactly why they're claiming you quit before your hearing.

To answer your question from earlier - my appeal process took about 4 weeks from filing to hearing, and then I got the decision 10 days later. They're usually faster with appeals than with initial claim issues because there are legal timeframes they have to follow. One more tip: during the hearing, answer only exactly what the referee asks - don't volunteer additional information or try to vent about how frustrating the process has been. The referee is only looking for facts related to your separation from employment.

Just wondering - what was the exact wording of your disqualification? Was it under Section 402(b) of the PA UC law? That's the voluntary quit section. My sister got disqualified under that even though she was actually laid off too!

She totally won! The employer didn't even show up to the hearing lol. But she had her termination letter showing it was a position elimination. Bring copies of EVERYTHING to your hearing!

One more important thing about PA UC appeals: You have the right to request a continuance if you need more time to gather evidence or if the hearing date conflicts with something important. However, only do this if absolutely necessary as it will delay your potential benefits. Also, make sure to check your mail and email frequently - the hearing notice might come with short notice, and missing the hearing automatically means losing the appeal. If you're successful, they'll pay all the back benefits you're owed from the weeks you were disqualified (as long as you kept filing those weekly claims).

Just wanted to update you that I got through to PA UC yesterday after trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. The agent confirmed that my employer had miscoded my separation reason, but wouldn't fix it without the hearing process. However, she did give me information about exactly what they had on file, which helped me prepare better. Thought that might help you too.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got disqualified last week after being laid off from my retail job. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope that I can actually win this appeal! @Kelsey Chin - have you received your hearing date yet? I'm curious how long it's taking them to schedule these days. Also wanted to mention that when I called (took forever to get through), the agent told me to make sure I have witness contact info ready in case the referee wants to call my former supervisor during the hearing. Might be worth having that prepared just in case!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago - also got hit with a "voluntary quit" disqualification when I was clearly laid off due to company downsizing. It's infuriating but totally winnable if you have the right documentation! A few things that helped me beyond what others have mentioned: 1) If you have any coworkers who were laid off at the same time, get their contact info as potential witnesses, 2) Check if your company issued any press releases or public statements about layoffs that you can print out, and 3) Look through your employee handbook for the section on layoffs vs terminations - it can help establish that your employer knew the difference. My hearing was scheduled about 3 weeks after filing the appeal, and the whole thing lasted maybe 30 minutes over the phone. The key is staying calm and sticking to the facts. You've got this! The system is frustrating but it does work when you have solid evidence like that layoff notice you mentioned.