Fired from Walmart for attendance points - Can I qualify for PA UC while job hunting?

You should definitely apply for UC benefits. The key question will be whether your absences were for 'good cause' - being legitimately sick often qualifies, especially if you have medical documentation. Pennsylvania considers whether you had control over the situation that led to termination. Being sick isn't misconduct - it's something beyond your control. Make sure to clearly explain in your application that you were terminated due to absences caused by illness, and that you provided doctor's notes. Did you inform your supervisor each time you were going to be absent?

walmart is NOTORIOUS for fighting UC claims so be prepared!!!! I got fired for points last year and they tried sayin I committed willful misconduct but I won my case eventually. they will probably deny u at first but APPEAL IT!!! the hearing officer will look at the whole situation not just "company policy

apply today and make sure u do ur weekly claims even while waiting 4 a decision. i got fired from target for somethin similar and got benefits but it took 6 weeks cause of 'open issues' on my claim

PA's unemployment system considers attendance-based terminations case-by-case. The key factors will be: 1. Were you really sick (provable with medical documentation) 2. Did you properly notify your employer 3. Did you follow reasonable call-out procedures Being fired for attendance points isn't automatic willful misconduct if the absences were for legitimate health reasons. You should apply immediately and be very detailed in explaining why each absence occurred. Expect Walmart to contest your claim - they almost always do - but don't let that discourage you. If you're initially denied, you have 15 days to file an appeal and request a hearing.

When I got fired from my retail job for attendance, I couldn't get through to anyone at UC to check on my claim status. I was stuck on hold for HOURS and kept getting disconnected. Finally I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to a UC rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 It was worth it because the UC agent was able to tell me exactly what documentation I needed to overcome my employer's contest of my claim. Saved me weeks of waiting.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I just filed my initial claim and tried to be super detailed about the situation. I uploaded my doctor's notes too. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly, but I'll be ready to appeal if needed. Should I also be doing the work search activities now or do I wait until they approve my claim?

My friend worked at Walmart for 3 years and the same thing happened to him but he got unemployment without any issues. But I think it depends on who reviews your case and if you get a nice person. The whole system is kinda random lol. Good luck!

One more important thing: when you file your weekly claims, if they ask if you were able and available for work during that week, and you were sick for part of it, you need to answer honestly. However, being sick for a few days in a week doesn't necessarily disqualify you if you were able and available to work for the majority of the week. Read each question carefully and answer accurately to avoid potential overpayment issues later.

I went through something similar and got so stressed waiting for a decision that I took a really crappy job just to have something. Wish I'd been more patient. The unemployment eventually came through and I could have held out for something better. Just saying - don't panic and take the first thing that comes along if it's terrible.

Don't let the stress get to you too much - you're doing everything right by applying immediately and gathering your documentation. I had a similar situation at my last job where I was terminated for attendance due to a family emergency. Pennsylvania UC really does look at the circumstances behind attendance issues, not just the fact that you were fired. The fact that you have doctor's notes, followed proper call-out procedures, and can show you were legitimately ill works strongly in your favor. Even if Walmart contests it (which they probably will), you have a solid case for appeal. Keep applying for jobs and documenting your work search activities, but don't feel like you have to take just anything out of desperation. You've got this!

I went through almost the exact same situation with a different retailer about 8 months ago - got sick with COVID, burned through all my sick time, and then got terminated for attendance points even though I had medical documentation. I was terrified about applying for UC because I thought being "fired" automatically disqualified me, but it doesn't work that way in PA. The key is that you were terminated due to circumstances beyond your control (illness), not misconduct. My advice: apply immediately if you haven't already, be completely honest about everything, and don't give up if they initially deny you. I got denied first, appealed, and won at the hearing because I could prove my absences were legitimate medical reasons. The hearing officer said that Pennsylvania doesn't consider illness-related absences as willful misconduct, especially when you follow proper notification procedures like you did. Also, start keeping a detailed log of every job you apply to - date, company, position, how you applied. PA requires 3 work search activities per week and you'll need to report these when filing your weekly claims. The whole process took about 5 weeks for me from initial application to first payment, but the back pay covered everything from when I first applied. You're going to be okay - hang in there!

I'm new here but going through something really similar right now! I got terminated from my job at a grocery store chain last month for attendance points after I had to miss work due to a medical procedure and recovery time. Even with doctor's notes, their point system doesn't care about the reason - just that you were absent. I was terrified to apply for UC because I thought being fired meant automatic denial, but after reading everyone's experiences here I realized that's not how it works. I applied about 3 weeks ago and just got approved! The key really is having that medical documentation and showing you followed proper procedures. One thing I learned during my research - PA considers whether the absences were "compelling and necessitous" (basically unavoidable due to circumstances beyond your control). Being legitimately sick definitely falls into that category. Don't let the "fired for cause" language scare you - illness isn't misconduct. Also wanted to add that when I spoke to a UC representative, they told me that many people don't realize you can still qualify even if you were terminated, as long as it wasn't for actual willful misconduct. Sounds like you have a strong case with your doctor's notes and proper notification procedures. Good luck!

I just wanted to jump in and say that everyone's advice here is spot on! I went through a very similar situation about a year ago - got terminated from a big box retailer for hitting their attendance point limit after getting really sick with the flu. Like you, I had doctor's notes but their policy doesn't recognize medical documentation, just the points. I was so worried about applying for UC because I thought being "fired" would automatically disqualify me, but Pennsylvania really does look at the whole situation. The fact that you were legitimately ill, followed proper call-out procedures, have medical documentation, and kept records of your communications puts you in a strong position. A few things that helped me during the process: - I made copies of EVERYTHING - doctor's notes, text messages, call-out confirmations, everything - When filling out the UC application, I was very detailed about each absence and why it occurred - I started my work search activities immediately and kept detailed records My employer (similar to Walmart) contested my claim automatically, but I won on appeal. The hearing officer said that being sick isn't willful misconduct and that I had acted reasonably given the circumstances. The whole process took about 6 weeks from start to finish, but I got back pay for the entire period. Don't let the stress get to you - you're doing everything right and you have a legitimate claim. Just be patient with the process and don't hesitate to appeal if they initially deny you. You've got this!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got terminated from my retail job three weeks ago due to attendance points after missing work for a kidney stone episode. Even though I had medical documentation from the ER, their point system doesn't make exceptions for medical reasons. What really helped me was reading that Pennsylvania looks at whether absences were due to "compelling and necessitous" circumstances beyond your control. Being genuinely ill definitely qualifies! I applied for UC immediately and made sure to include all my medical records and documentation showing I followed proper call-out procedures. One tip I learned from calling the UC office directly - they said to be very specific in your application about each absence and the medical reason behind it. Don't just say "I was sick" - explain exactly what was wrong, that you had medical care, and that you couldn't control the situation. I'm still waiting on my determination but feeling much more confident after reading everyone's experiences here. The fact that so many people with similar situations have been approved, even after initial denials, is really encouraging. It sounds like you have all the right documentation and did everything properly - that puts you in a strong position even if your employer contests it. Hang in there and don't let the stress overwhelm you. You're taking all the right steps!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Got let go from my job at a big chain store last month because I hit their attendance limit after getting really sick with bronchitis. Even though I had multiple doctor visits and followed all their call-out procedures, their point system doesn't care about the medical reasons - you're just absent, period. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief because I was convinced that being "fired" meant I'd automatically be denied UC benefits. But it sounds like Pennsylvania really does consider the circumstances behind attendance-related terminations, especially when you have medical documentation like we do. I applied for UC about two weeks ago and made sure to upload all my medical records, doctor's notes, and screenshots of my proper call-out notifications. Still waiting to hear back, but I'm feeling much more confident after seeing how many people in similar situations have been approved, even after having to appeal. The advice about keeping detailed work search logs and being prepared for your employer to contest the claim has been super helpful too. It's frustrating that these big retailers seem to automatically fight every claim, but at least we know what to expect and that we can appeal if needed. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these unfair attendance policies that don't account for legitimate illness!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress right now! I went through something very similar about 6 months ago when I got terminated from my retail job for attendance points after dealing with a really bad case of pneumonia. Like you, I had proper medical documentation and followed all the call-out procedures, but their point system doesn't differentiate between legitimate illness and just not showing up. I was terrified to apply for UC because I thought being "fired" would automatically disqualify me, but Pennsylvania really does look at the whole picture. The fact that you were genuinely sick, have doctor's notes, and followed proper notification procedures puts you in a much stronger position than you might think. Being ill isn't willful misconduct - it's something completely beyond your control. I ended up getting approved after about 4 weeks, even though my employer contested the claim (which seems to be standard practice for these big retailers). The key was being very detailed in my application about each absence, the medical reasons, and all the steps I took to handle the situation properly. Don't panic about the 3-week rent deadline - even if there are delays in processing, you'll get back pay from when you first applied. Keep documenting your job search activities and hang in there. You're doing everything right and you have legitimate grounds for benefits. The system isn't perfect but it does work when you have a valid case like yours!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since it sounds so similar to what you're going through! I got terminated from Target about 4 months ago for hitting their attendance point limit after missing work due to a severe migraine episode that lasted several days. Even though I had medical documentation from my doctor and followed all their call-out procedures perfectly, their point system treats every absence the same regardless of the reason. I was absolutely terrified to apply for UC benefits because I thought being "fired" would automatically disqualify me, but after doing some research I learned that Pennsylvania really does examine the specific circumstances behind attendance-related terminations. The key is proving that your absences were due to circumstances beyond your control - which legitimate illness definitely is! I made sure to be extremely detailed in my UC application, explaining each absence, the medical reasons, and including all my documentation. Target contested my claim automatically (seems like all these big retailers do that), but I won on appeal after about 5 weeks total. The hearing officer specifically said that being genuinely ill isn't considered willful misconduct under Pennsylvania law. The most important advice I can give you is don't let the stress paralyze you - apply immediately if you haven't already, keep detailed records of your work search activities, and be prepared to appeal if they initially deny you. You have medical documentation and followed proper procedures, which puts you in a really strong position. The back pay will cover you from when you first applied, so try not to panic about the immediate timeline. You've got this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! I went through something almost identical last year when I got terminated from my job at a warehouse for attendance points after coming down with a really bad case of the flu. Just like your situation with Walmart, I had proper medical documentation and followed all the call-out procedures, but their point system doesn't care about the reasons - you're just marked absent regardless. I was initially terrified to apply for UC because I thought being "fired" automatically meant denial, but Pennsylvania actually looks at the specific circumstances behind attendance terminations. The fact that you were legitimately sick with medical documentation and followed proper notification procedures is exactly what they consider when determining if the termination was due to "willful misconduct" or circumstances beyond your control. I ended up getting approved after about 5 weeks, even though my employer contested it (which seems to be standard for most big companies). The appeals hearing was actually really straightforward - I just had to explain the situation and show my medical records. The hearing officer made it clear that genuine illness with proper documentation isn't considered misconduct. My advice: apply immediately if you haven't already, upload ALL your medical documentation, and start keeping detailed logs of your work search activities right away. Even if there's an initial denial, don't give up - the appeal process is where you can really tell your story to an actual person instead of just a computer system. And remember, any benefits you're approved for will include back pay from when you first applied, so that should help with your rent situation. You're doing everything right and you have a strong case. Hang in there!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress! I had a very similar experience with a major retailer about 8 months ago - got terminated for attendance points after missing work due to a serious bout of food poisoning. Even with medical documentation from urgent care and following all their call-out procedures, their point system doesn't differentiate between legitimate illness and just skipping work. I was initially panicked about applying for UC because I thought being "fired" automatically disqualified me, but Pennsylvania really does evaluate the specific circumstances. The key factors they consider are whether your absences were due to circumstances beyond your control (illness definitely qualifies) and whether you acted reasonably (which you did by getting medical care and following proper notification). I ended up getting approved after about 6 weeks total, including an appeal process since my employer contested automatically. The hearing was straightforward - I just explained each absence was due to documented illness and showed my medical records. The hearing officer emphasized that genuine medical issues aren't considered willful misconduct under PA law. My advice: apply immediately, be very detailed about each absence and the medical reasons, upload all your documentation, and start logging your work search activities right away (PA requires 3 per week). Don't let an initial denial discourage you - most people I know with legitimate medical reasons won on appeal. The back pay will cover you from your application date, which should help with your rent situation. You have strong documentation and followed proper procedures - that puts you in a really good position. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! I went through something very similar about a year ago when I got terminated from my retail job for hitting their attendance limit after getting really sick with strep throat. Just like with Walmart, I had doctor's notes and followed all proper call-out procedures, but their point system treats every absence the same regardless of medical reasons. I was initially terrified to apply for UC because I thought being "fired" meant automatic denial, but Pennsylvania really does look at the whole picture. The fact that you were legitimately ill with medical documentation and followed proper procedures puts you in a strong position. Being sick isn't willful misconduct - it's completely beyond your control. I ended up getting approved after about 5 weeks, even though my employer contested it (which seems standard for big retailers). The key was being very detailed in my application about each absence and the medical reasons behind them. The appeals hearing was actually pretty straightforward - I just had to show my documentation and explain the circumstances. Don't panic about your rent deadline - remember that if you're approved, you'll get back pay from when you first applied. Keep documenting your job search activities (PA requires 3 per week) and don't give up if there's an initial denial. You have legitimate medical reasons and proper documentation, which is exactly what they're looking for. You've got this!