Finally got my PA UC appeal hearing date after calling referee office - anyone else stuck waiting?

how do u even get thru to the ref office?? ive been trying for 3 days straight and just get the busy signal everytime

I kept calling right when they opened at 8:00am exactly. Used two phones simultaneously and just kept hitting redial. It's ridiculous we have to resort to these tactics but it worked eventually!

You absolutely did the right thing by calling the referee office. In my experience working with UC appeals, there are often communication gaps between the processing of your appeal paperwork and what shows in the online portal. Many claimants don't realize the referee offices operate somewhat independently from the main UC service centers.\n\nFor your upcoming hearing, make sure you have all your supporting documentation ready - especially anything related to your separation from employment. Be prepared to clearly explain your side regarding the separation issues. The referee will want specific dates, events, and communications that led to your separation. \n\nAlso important: make sure you're available at least 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing time and stay by your phone for at least an hour after the scheduled time, as hearings sometimes run early or late. Good luck!

Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I've been stressing about what to prepare. My former employer is claiming I was terminated for misconduct, but I had perfect performance reviews until I reported safety violations. I have copies of the reviews and emails documenting the safety issues. Should I have those ready to reference or actually submit them somehow before the hearing?

If anyone's struggling to get through to the PA UC referee office or any department by phone, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation with my appeal and couldn't get through for weeks. Claimyr connected me to a UC representative in about 15 minutes instead of spending days redialing. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Saved me a ton of frustration during my appeal process.

does that actually work? seems sketchy to use a third party service just to make a phone call

@profile8 It's legit - they basically navigate the phone system and wait in the queue for you, then call you when they have a representative on the line. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days on my own. It's not free but considering I was missing out on benefits while waiting, it was worth it to me.

I wish I'd known about this earlier! Might use it if I need to contact them again. The whole system seems designed to be as difficult as possible to navigate.

THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY MAKING IT HARD TO GET BENEFITS!! This is exactly what the system is designed to do - make you jump through hoops and wait forever hoping you'll just give up. I waited THREE MONTHS for my appeal hearing last year, and then they ruled against me anyway even though my employer didn't even show up! The whole system is rigged.

While it's frustrating, I don't think it's intentionally designed to be difficult. The referee offices are severely understaffed and processing thousands of appeals. My hearing got scheduled within 4 weeks, and the referee was actually very fair. Make sure you're fully prepared for your hearing - it makes a huge difference. I won my appeal because I had documented everything clearly.

When I had my appeal hearing in January, I was super nervous but it went better than expected. Here's what helped me:\n\n1. I wrote down a timeline of events so I wouldn't get flustered\n2. I practiced explaining my situation clearly and concisely\n3. I had all documentation ready and organized by date\n4. I made sure to answer only what was asked and not ramble\n\nThe referee was actually pretty understanding. They're just trying to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements. Stay calm, stick to facts, and don't get emotional even if your employer says things that aren't true. Good luck with your hearing!

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! Did you have to submit your documents beforehand or just have them ready to reference during the call? And did your employer participate in the hearing?

@profile5 You can submit documents before the hearing (there should be instructions with your hearing notice), but I also had everything ready during the call to reference. And yes, my former employer was on the call - it was awkward but the referee kept things moving professionally. Just focus on answering the referee's questions honestly and clearly.

my cousin had an appeal last month & his boss didn't even show up so he automatically won. hope ur boss doesn't show lol

@profile6 Honestly that would be the best case scenario! But I'm preparing as if they'll definitely be there. This whole process has been so stressful - I've been living on credit cards waiting for this to get resolved.

Just to clarify - if the employer doesn't appear, it doesn't automatically mean you win the appeal. The referee still reviews all evidence and makes a determination based on UC law. However, without the employer there to present contradicting testimony, your version of events often stands unopposed. Make sure you still present a clear case even if they don't show up.

i just got my appeal hearing scheduled too!!! waited like 10 weeks tho. my hearing is over zoom, is yours on the phone or video?

Mine's by phone. I think they're doing both depending on the type of case or maybe which referee office is handling it? Good luck with yours!

I won my appeal last month for a similar separation issue. My advice: be extremely specific about dates and events leading to separation. The referee asked me very detailed questions about when certain conversations happened and what exactly was said. I had a notebook with all these details which saved me. Also, if your employer says something inaccurate, wait for them to finish and then politely ask the referee if you can address that point. Stay professional even if you're upset. The referee is mainly looking at whether the separation qualifies you for benefits under PA UC law.

This is really helpful - thank you! I'm starting a timeline document right now with all the key dates and conversations. How long did it take to get your decision after the hearing?

@profile5 I got my decision in the mail about 10 days after the hearing. They also updated the portal a few days after that. Once I won the appeal, all my back payments came through within a week. Hoping for a quick resolution for you too!

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!