How long for PA UC referee decision after employer appeal hearing?
Had my appeal hearing yesterday where my ex-employer contested my PA unemployment claim. The referee was pretty thorough and it lasted almost an hour. Both sides presented our cases (I was laid off, they're now claiming misconduct), and I felt like I made strong points with the documentation I brought. The referee said she'd make her decision 'in due time' but didn't give any specifics. Anyone know how long these decisions typically take to come out? I'm checking my dashboard constantly and getting anxious because I really need these benefits to cover my mortgage. It's been 6 weeks since I was let go and my savings are dwindling fast.
19 comments
Join the conversation
GalacticGuardian
PA UC referee decisions typically come within 10-14 business days after the hearing. Some arrive faster, but that's the general timeframe. They'll mail you the written decision, and it should also appear in your online dashboard. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims during this waiting period - even if you're not getting paid yet, you'll receive backpay for all eligible weeks once a favorable decision is made.
0 coins
Luca Bianchi
•Thank you! Do you know if there's any way to check the status while waiting? The anxiety is killing me. My rent is due next week.
0 coins
Nia Harris
mine took 8 days to get the decision last month. just showed up in the mail. my employer didnt show up to the hearing tho so maybe thats why it was quick?
0 coins
Mateo Gonzalez
•Consider yourself lucky! When I had my hearing in February, it took almost 3 WEEKS to get the decision letter. The whole time I was freaking out that I'd lose everything. The system is completely broken!!!
0 coins
Aisha Ali
When I had my appeal hearing last year after my employer contested my benefits, I received the decision exactly 13 calendar days later. The referee ruled in my favor because my employer couldn't prove willful misconduct (sounds similar to your situation). During those 13 days, I was obsessively checking my dashboard too, but there wasn't any status update until the actual decision came through. One thing I recommend is to prepare yourself for either outcome. If the referee decides against you, you have 15 calendar days to appeal to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review. Start gathering additional evidence now just in case.
0 coins
Luca Bianchi
•Thank you for sharing your experience. That's helpful to know I'm not the only one obsessively checking! I think my case is strong but I'll definitely prepare for either outcome.
0 coins
Ethan Moore
After my hearing, I waited 24 days for a decision! The stress was unbearable. I tried calling the UC service center every day but couldn't get through - constant busy signals and disconnections. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a PA UC agent within 20 minutes. The agent confirmed my decision was actually made but hadn't been mailed yet due to a backlog. Check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - saved me days of anxiety!
0 coins
Yuki Nakamura
•is this legit? sounds too good to be true. ive been trying to get thru to UC for 2 weeks now
0 coins
Ethan Moore
•It's definitely legit. They connect you to the actual PA UC phone line, but they navigate the phone tree and hold times for you. When an agent is ready to talk, they call you. I was skeptical too but desperate enough to try anything after days of busy signals.
0 coins
StarSurfer
i jus got a decision yester day for my hearing from 2 weeks ago. referee said i was right n my boss was wrong!!! they have to pay me now for ALL the weeks i filed even the ones during the appeal. keep filing every week dont stop or you wont get paid for them later!!!!
0 coins
Luca Bianchi
•Congrats! That's great to hear. I've definitely been filing each week. Did you see the decision in your account first or did it come in the mail?
0 coins
StarSurfer
•mail came first then i saw it in my dashboard the next day. check ur mailbox!
0 coins
Mateo Gonzalez
The whole appeal system is RIGGED I tell you! I waited 17 days for a decision that went against me even though I had PROOF my employer was lying. Now I'm appealing to the Board of Review and they said THAT could take 6-8 WEEKS!!! How are people supposed to survive?? The referee probably didn't even read half my evidence. They just side with employers because they pay taxes.
0 coins
GalacticGuardian
•I understand your frustration, but that's not an accurate assessment of how the system works. Referees don't automatically side with employers - in fact, statistics show that claimants win about 50% of appeals. The Board of Review does typically take longer, but they conduct a thorough review of all evidence presented at the hearing. Did you have an attorney or advocate helping with your case?
0 coins
Luca Bianchi
Thanks everyone for the info! Sounds like I should expect to wait 1-2 weeks but prepare for it potentially taking longer. I'll keep filing my weekly claims and checking both my mail and online account. I feel a bit better knowing this waiting period is normal.
0 coins
Aisha Ali
•That's the right approach. One more tip - when the decision does come, read it carefully. If it's in your favor, your payments should start processing within a few days. If it's not in your favor, don't panic - immediately start working on your appeal to the Board of Review. You have 15 days, but earlier is better. Good luck!
0 coins
James Maki
I just went through this same process about 6 months ago. My hearing took place on a Wednesday and I received the decision letter the following Tuesday - so exactly 6 calendar days. It showed up in my online dashboard the same day the letter arrived. The referee ruled in my favor since my employer couldn't substantiate their misconduct claims with actual documentation. One thing that helped me during the waiting period was calling the PA CareerLink office in my area - they have staff who can sometimes provide general guidance about the appeals process and what to expect. They can't tell you the outcome, but they were helpful in explaining next steps. Hang in there - I know the waiting is brutal but most decisions do come within that 10-14 day window others mentioned.
0 coins
Michael Green
•That's really encouraging to hear! 6 days is much faster than I was expecting. I hadn't thought about calling CareerLink - that's a great suggestion. Even just getting some general guidance about the process would help with my anxiety right now. Did they have any tips for what to do while waiting, or was it mainly just explaining the timeline?
0 coins
Nick Kravitz
I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago after being laid off and having my employer suddenly claim misconduct during the appeal. The waiting period was absolutely nerve-wracking - I completely understand checking your dashboard constantly! In my case, the decision came 11 business days after the hearing. What really helped me manage the anxiety was setting up a daily routine instead of checking multiple times per day. I'd check my mail when it arrived and my dashboard once in the evening, then tried to focus on job searching and other productive activities during the day. Also, make sure you have your appeal strategy ready just in case - even though it sounds like you presented your case well, having a backup plan gave me peace of mind. The backpay once the decision came through covered all the weeks I'd been filing, which was a huge relief financially.
0 coins