Has anyone successfully won a PA UC appeal against a referee's decision?

Yes, I won my appeal against a referee's decision last year! Don't give up. The Board of Review actually overturns quite a few referee decisions. In my case, I had documentation showing the referee misinterpreted PA UC law regarding suitable work. Make sure you clearly state the legal reasons why the referee's decision was wrong - not just that you disagree. Focus on any facts they got wrong or laws they misapplied. For reduced hours, you need to show it was a substantial change - typically more than 30% reduction is considered substantial. Submit your previous pay stubs showing 40 hours compared to the new 15 hour schedule. Also include any documentation about bill payments you couldn't make. Be super specific in your appeal!

i lost mine but my frend won his so it can go ether way. the thing is u gotta have PROOF. like actual paperwork not just ur word. if u have emails or sumthing from ur boss about the hours changing thats good. also tell them exactly what bills u cant pay with the lower hours. they like numbers and stuff

I won my appeal to the Board after losing with the referee. It took about 8 weeks for them to decide, and they completely reversed the referee's determination. The key things that helped me win: 1. I clearly identified the specific error in the referee's decision (they misapplied the law about voluntary quit) 2. I cited the specific PA UC regulations that supported my position 3. I submitted NEW evidence that I didn't have at the referee hearing 4. I was very organized and factual in my appeal letter Your case sounds winnable. A reduction from 40 to 15 hours is a 62.5% reduction which absolutely meets the standard for substantial change in working conditions. Make sure to emphasize that percentage in your appeal. Also, if you haven't already, check out the PA UC appeal template on the legal aid website - it's extremely helpful. Good luck!

DONT GET YOUR HOPES UP!! The system is RIGGED against workers!!! I had SOLID proof my employer lied at my hearing and the referee still sided with them. Then I appealed to the Board and WAITED THREE MONTHS just to get DENIED AGAIN!!! They protect employers because they pay into the system. Your best bet is to find another job ASAP and forget about UC entirely. Sorry to be negative but they just waste your time with these appeals!!!

I was trying to reach someone at PA UC about my appeal for WEEKS with no luck - busy signals, disconnects, and no callback. Then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual PA UC rep in under an hour! They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The rep was able to give me specific advice on what to include in my appeal and even told me what parts of the UC law to reference. Totally worth it for me since I was getting nowhere trying to call myself. If you're filing that appeal, it might help to talk to someone directly first.

My cousin just went through this whole appeal thing. She said the most important part was showing up to all the hearings and having her documentation organized. Also she said to make sure you request a transcript of the referee hearing to include with your Board appeal so they can see exactly what was said. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm definitely going to file the appeal. I'll make sure to emphasize that my hours were cut by 62.5% and include all my documentation showing the change. I'll also try to talk to a UC rep directly to get more guidance before submitting. Really appreciate all the help - I was feeling pretty hopeless yesterday.

I'm confused about something - I thought you couldn't get unemployment if your hours were just reduced? Don't you have to be completely laid off? Or is PA different from other states?

One more important thing - if you haven't already, request a copy of the "Record of Testimony" from your referee hearing ASAP. You'll need to review it to identify any factual errors or misstatements in your appeal. You can request it by calling the UC Service Center or the referee's office directly. If the referee misunderstood any facts or your employer said something inaccurate, this is your chance to point it out to the Board of Review.

I'm going through something similar right now - my hours got cut from 32 to 18 per week and I'm waiting on my referee decision. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that there might be options even if the referee denies me initially. The advice about calculating the exact percentage reduction and having documentation ready is really helpful. @Zara Shah - definitely sounds like you have a strong case with that 62.5% reduction! That's way more than the typical 30% threshold everyone's mentioning. I'm keeping track of this thread to see how your appeal goes. Good luck with everything!

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago and successfully won my Board of Review appeal! The referee initially denied my claim when my employer cut my hours from 38 to 20 per week, but the Board completely overturned that decision. Here's what made the difference in my case: 1. I calculated and clearly stated the percentage reduction (47% in my case, 62.5% in yours) 2. I included bank statements showing my monthly expenses vs. what I'd earn at reduced hours 3. I found the specific PA UC regulation (Section 402(b)) that defines "substantial change in working conditions" 4. Most importantly - I got a letter from my employer confirming the hour reduction was permanent, not temporary The whole Board review process took about 10 weeks, but they ruled in my favor and I got all my back benefits. Your case sounds even stronger than mine was since your reduction is higher. Don't let that one referee decision discourage you - the Board of Review looks at these cases with fresh eyes and often catches errors the referees made. You've definitely got a solid case here, especially with all that documentation you mentioned having!

I successfully appealed a referee decision to the PA Board of Review about 2 years ago and won! The key thing that helped me was being very specific about WHY the referee was wrong, not just that I disagreed with them. In your case, focus heavily on the legal definition of "substantial change in working conditions" - a 62.5% reduction is WAY above the threshold. Here's what I'd recommend for your appeal: - Lead with the math: 40 hours to 15 hours = 62.5% reduction - Reference PA UC Section 402(b) about substantial changes - Include your original job offer/agreement showing 40 hours - Show your monthly budget vs what you'd earn at 15 hours - Be clear that this wasn't your choice and you couldn't survive financially The Board took about 12 weeks to decide in my case, but they completely reversed the referee and I got all my back pay. Your case honestly sounds stronger than mine was. Don't give up - the referee clearly misapplied the law here and the Board will likely see that. The 15-day deadline is tight though, so get that appeal filed ASAP! You've got this!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My hours were cut from 40 to 12 per week (70% reduction) and the referee denied my claim last month. Reading all these success stories gives me hope that the Board of Review appeal might actually work. What really stands out to me is how many people here emphasize having the RIGHT documentation and citing the specific PA UC regulations. It sounds like the referees sometimes don't apply the law correctly, but the Board catches these errors. @Zara Shah - your 62.5% reduction case sounds very strong based on what everyone's saying about the 30% threshold. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about calculating percentages, referencing Section 402(b), and organizing all my financial documentation. Has anyone here had experience with how long it typically takes to get the actual back payments once the Board rules in your favor? I'm trying to figure out how long I need to stretch my savings while waiting for this process to play out.

I just wanted to add something that helped me when I won my Board of Review appeal last year - make sure you clearly explain HOW the hour reduction affected you financially, not just that it did. I created a simple budget breakdown showing my monthly expenses ($2,800) versus what I'd make at reduced hours ($1,200/month), which made it crystal clear why I couldn't continue working under those conditions. The Board really responded to seeing the actual dollar amounts rather than just percentages. Also, if you have any medical bills, childcare costs, or other fixed expenses that make the reduced income unworkable, definitely include those details. Your 62.5% reduction is absolutely substantial - I won mine with just a 38% cut - so you have a really strong foundation. The key is showing them you had no reasonable choice but to leave when faced with that dramatic income loss. Good luck with your appeal!