Employer appealing my PA UC wage records - can they do this after I already left for another job?

Yes, employers can appeal wage records if they believe there's an error in what was reported. They might be claiming some of your earnings shouldn't count toward UC (like bonuses or severance) or they might be disputing the quarters when you earned them. The good news is that since you quit that job and worked somewhere else afterward, that employer shouldn't affect your eligibility - they're just disputing the amount your benefit is based on. The employer who laid you off is the one that matters for qualifying. Make sure you have all your paystubs ready for the wage investigation. You might need to upload them or bring them to a hearing if one gets scheduled.

omg the same thing happened to my cousin last year!!!! her boss was such a jerk and tried to say she was a contractor not an employee even tho she had W2s and everything. took like 2 months to get her money but she got all the backpay eventually

My old employer tried this too. They claimed I had "unauthorized overtime" that shouldn't count for UC calculations. What a joke! The PA UC rep told me as long as I could prove I was paid those wages (bank deposits, paystubs), they would count toward my benefit calculation regardless of what my employer claimed after the fact.

This is actually a common situation with PA UC claims. Here's what's happening: 1. Your employer is likely disputing wage amounts or quarters to try lowering their contribution rate 2. Since you quit that job and worked somewhere else before filing for UC, they shouldn't be able to affect your eligibility - just potentially your benefit amount 3. The "pending - wage investigation" status means the UC office is reviewing your wage records against what the employer reported 4. You should receive a Notice of Financial Determination that shows all wages they're using to calculate your benefits You need to gather ALL documentation: paystubs, direct deposit records, W-2s, and employment dates. If there's a discrepancy, you'll need to appeal the wage determination within 15 days of receiving it.

I tried calling the PA UC number for THREE WEEKS when I had a wage dispute last year. Couldn't get through no matter what time I called. Finally found out about Claimyr.com and got connected to a UC rep in under an hour! They have this service where they connect you directly to unemployment - you can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The rep was able to look at my disputed wages while I was on the phone and tell me exactly what documents to upload. Saved me weeks of waiting for letters back and forth.

You need to watch out because if your previous employer is claiming you were overpaid or improperly paid, this could get complicated. I remember when I filed for UC last year, my employer from 2 jobs ago tried claiming some of my commission payments weren't eligible for UC calculations. Here's what I'd do immediately: 1. Call the PA UC office (keep trying until you get through) 2. Submit all your wage documentation through the UC portal 3. Request a hearing specifically about the wage dispute 4. File your weekly claims regardless of this pending issue Don't let this delay your claim even further! Fight the wage dispute while continuing with your weekly certifications.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!! My employer did this exact same thing and the UC office took THEIR SIDE without even looking at my evidence!!! Had to appeal THREE TIMES before someone actually looked at my paystubs! Meanwhile I was living on credit cards for 2 months while they "investigated" what was clearly right there in black and white on my W-2!!! DON'T trust the UC office to do the right thing automatically. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Send CERTIFIED letters. RECORD phone calls (PA is two-party consent so tell them you're recording). The system is designed to wear you down so you'll give up!!!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at UC this morning! The rep explained that my former employer is claiming $4,200 of my earnings were actually "expense reimbursements" not wages (they weren't - it was a performance bonus they're now trying to reclassify). I uploaded all my paystubs showing the money was paid as regular wages with taxes withheld. The rep said this should be resolved within 7-10 business days and that I should receive all back payments once it's cleared up. Thanks everyone for your help! This forum has been so much more useful than the official UC website.