How often do PA UC denials get overturned on appeal? Success rates?

Appeals can definitely be successful in PA, especially in constructive discharge cases like yours where working conditions became intolerable. I went through this last year. Make sure you appeal within the 15-day window on your determination letter. Gather ALL documentation: emails showing unreasonable demands, any witnesses who can verify your claims, and timeline of events showing how your supervisor's behavior changed after you refused unpaid overtime. Focus on proving you had a "necessitous and compelling reason" to leave - that's the legal standard they use.

i got denied 2x before and won both on appeal lol. unemployment usually sides with employers first then actuly listens to u on appeal. took like 8 weeks for my hearing. bring all ur proof!!

THEY ALWAYS DENY FIRST!!! The system is designed to discourage people from claiming! I've appealed twice and won both times because I was prepared. My last employer tried claiming I was fired for misconduct when they actually eliminated my position. These companies lie all the time thinking people won't fight back. APPEAL IT!!!

Has anyone used a lawyer for their appeal? Is it worth it or can I handle this myself? I'm so stressed about this whole situation.

My appeal took forever to get scheduled because I kept calling the wrong number trying to check on it. I was getting so frustrated with busy signals and disconnects! Then I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual UC rep in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The rep told me my appeal hearing was already scheduled but the notice was sent to my old address. Saved me weeks of waiting! Definitely worth it when you're stressing about appeal timelines.

they denied me at first to. won on appeal. just make sure u show up to ur hearing! my friend missed his and lost automatically

Statistics from PA Labor & Industry show that about 43% of appeals are decided in the claimant's favor. Your specific situation (constructive discharge due to unreasonable working conditions) tends to have better success rates if properly documented. Make sure you understand the "necessitous and compelling" standard for voluntary quits - you need to show that a reasonable person would have had no choice but to quit. Document specific instances of unreasonable demands, focusing on the unpaid overtime issue. For appeals timelines: expect 30-45 days for hearing scheduling, then another 10-14 days for the decision after hearing.

i work at a place with high turnover and so many of my coworkers quit and got denied but then they appeal and half of them win. depends on if u have proof and if ur boss shows up to the hearing my old boss never bothers showing up and people usually win when that happens

One more tip - during your hearing, stay calm and factual. Don't get emotional or attack your former employer personally, even if you're justified. The referee is only interested in facts relevant to UC law. And while you're waiting, make sure you continue filing your weekly claims/certifications, even though you're not getting paid yet. If you win your appeal, they'll pay all those back weeks, but only if you've been filing consistently.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago - also got denied initially for "voluntary quit" when it was clearly constructive discharge. The appeal process was stressful but totally worth it. I won my case by focusing on three key things: 1) Timeline showing how conditions deteriorated after I refused unpaid work, 2) Documentation of unreasonable demands (save every text/email!), and 3) Proof that I tried to resolve issues before quitting. The whole process took about 10 weeks from appeal to decision. Don't let them intimidate you - employers often don't even show up to hearings because they know their case is weak. You've got this! Just stay organized and stick to the facts.

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - don't give up on the appeal! I was in a similar situation where my manager made my life hell after I complained about safety violations, then they claimed I "abandoned my job" when I finally couldn't take it anymore. The initial denial was devastating but I appealed anyway. What really helped me was writing out a chronological narrative of everything that happened, with dates and specific examples. I also requested my personnel file from HR which showed they had no documentation of any performance issues before I started pushing back on their demands. Won my appeal after about 12 weeks total. The waiting is brutal when you have bills to pay, but hang in there - the system does work when you have a legitimate case like yours. Make sure you appeal ASAP and don't miss any deadlines!

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My employer is claiming I quit when they actually forced me out by cutting my hours to almost nothing after I refused to work weekends without overtime pay. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that the appeal process isn't just a waste of time. I've been documenting everything but was worried I didn't have enough evidence. Now I see that even basic documentation like emails and a timeline can make a real difference. It's frustrating that they seem to deny almost everyone initially, but at least there's a real path forward through appeals. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories - it really helps to know other people have fought this and won!

The appeal success rate for constructive discharge cases in PA is actually quite good when you have proper documentation. From what I've seen working in employment law, cases involving unpaid overtime demands (which violates FLSA) tend to be even stronger. Your situation - where conditions became intolerable after refusing illegal unpaid work - fits the "necessitous and compelling reason" standard perfectly. Key things to focus on: 1) Timeline showing retaliation after you refused unpaid overtime, 2) Any written evidence of the 60+ hour demands, 3) Documentation that you tried to address the issue before leaving. The referee will be looking for proof that any reasonable person in your position would have felt compelled to quit. Don't let the initial denial discourage you - it's extremely common and doesn't reflect the merit of your case. With three kids depending on you, this is absolutely worth fighting for.

Just wanted to add another success story to give you hope! I was denied initially for "voluntary quit" when my manager created impossible working conditions after I reported safety violations. The appeal process felt overwhelming at first, but I followed advice similar to what everyone here is giving - documented everything chronologically, gathered all my emails and texts, and stayed focused on facts during the hearing. My employer didn't even show up to the hearing, which apparently happens a lot. Won my appeal after about 8 weeks and got all my back pay. The key is really in the documentation - sounds like you already have good evidence with those texts about unpaid overtime. That's actually wage theft, which strengthens your constructive discharge argument significantly. Don't let them intimidate you into giving up - with three kids counting on you, this fight is absolutely worth it. The system may be frustrating but it does work when you have a legitimate case like yours!

I went through a very similar appeal process about 8 months ago and want to give you some hope! I was also denied initially for "voluntary quit" when my employer made working conditions unbearable after I refused to violate company policy. The appeal took about 6 weeks total but I won and got all my back benefits. Here's what really helped me: keep a detailed log of every interaction, save screenshots of ALL texts/emails (even if they seem minor), and when you get to the hearing, stick to a simple timeline format. The referee appreciated that I could clearly show cause and effect - how my refusal to break policy led directly to impossible working conditions. Your situation with unpaid overtime demands is actually really strong evidence since that's wage theft. Don't let the initial denial scare you - I've learned that employers often bank on people not appealing because the process seems intimidating. With three kids depending on you, this is absolutely worth the fight. File that appeal ASAP and start organizing your evidence chronologically. You've got this!

I just went through this exact same situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me! I was initially denied for "voluntary quit" when my supervisor retaliated against me for refusing to work mandatory unpaid overtime. The appeal process was nerve-wracking but absolutely worth it - I won after about 9 weeks and got all my back pay. Here's what made the difference: 1) I created a detailed timeline showing how my supervisor's behavior changed immediately after I refused the unpaid work, 2) I gathered every single text message and email as evidence (sounds like you already have some great documentation!), and 3) I focused on proving that any reasonable person would have been forced to quit under those conditions. The wage theft angle is actually really strong for your case since demanding unpaid overtime violates federal labor laws. My employer didn't even show up to the hearing, which apparently happens often when they know their case is weak. Don't let that initial denial discourage you - it's just part of their process to weed out people who won't fight back. With three kids depending on you, this is absolutely a battle worth fighting. File that appeal immediately and stay organized with your evidence. You've got a solid case!

I'm in a very similar situation right now and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! My employer is trying to claim I "abandoned my job" when they actually made my position impossible after I refused to work unpaid overtime just like you. Reading all these success stories is giving me the courage to file my appeal - I was honestly scared it would be pointless. The wage theft angle that people keep mentioning is really eye-opening because I didn't realize that demanding unpaid overtime was actually illegal. I've been saving all the text messages from my manager getting more and more unreasonable, but now I see I need to organize everything chronologically to show the clear pattern of retaliation. It's frustrating that they seem to deny almost everyone initially just to discourage appeals, but knowing that so many people here have fought back and won makes me feel like I actually have a chance. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this thread is proof that we don't have to just accept these unfair denials!

I just wanted to add some practical advice for your appeal preparation since I went through this exact situation about 2 years ago. Beyond the documentation everyone's mentioned (which is absolutely crucial), make sure you understand the specific legal language they use. In PA, you need to prove you had a "necessitous and compelling reason" to quit - essentially that any reasonable person would have done the same. Your unpaid overtime situation is actually textbook constructive discharge, especially since it violates FLSA. Here's what really helped me organize my case: Create a simple spreadsheet with dates, what happened, and any evidence you have for each incident. This makes it super easy to reference during your hearing and shows a clear pattern. Also, when you're on the call with the referee, speak slowly and clearly - they're taking notes and you want to make sure they capture everything accurately. One thing that surprised me was how straightforward the hearing actually was. I was terrified it would be like a courtroom drama, but it was really just a conversation where I got to tell my side of the story with evidence to back it up. The referee asked good questions and seemed genuinely interested in understanding what happened. Don't let anxiety about the process stop you from fighting for what you deserve - with three kids depending on you, this is absolutely worth pursuing. You've got solid evidence and a strong case!

I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago - denied for "voluntary quit" when my boss made work impossible after I refused unpaid overtime. The appeal process was honestly scary at first, but I'm so glad I didn't give up! Won my case after about 10 weeks and got all my back benefits. The key things that helped me: 1) Document EVERYTHING chronologically - I made a timeline showing how my supervisor's attitude and demands changed immediately after I said no to working off the clock, 2) Save every single text/email as evidence (sounds like you're already doing this!), 3) Focus on proving that any reasonable person would have quit under those conditions. Your unpaid overtime situation is actually really strong because that's wage theft - completely illegal under federal law. The referee will see this as your employer creating intolerable conditions through illegal demands. My employer didn't even show up to the hearing, which happens more often than you'd think when they know their case is weak. File that appeal ASAP and don't let the initial denial discourage you - it's just their way of weeding out people who won't fight back. With three kids depending on you, this is absolutely worth fighting for. You've got solid evidence and a legitimate case. Stay organized, stick to the facts, and you've got this!