Missed my PA UC referee hearing by accident - how long before they decide my case?

same thing happened to me last year!!!! i thought they were gonna call me too but i had to go to the careerlink building. they ruled against me cuz i was a "no show" took about 10 days to get the letter. totally unfair system!!

You should receive a decision within 14-21 days. Unfortunately, since you didn't attend, the referee will likely make a decision based only on the evidence they have available. In my experience, you can file for what's called a re-opening of the hearing if you had "good cause" for missing it. You'd need to submit this request within 15 days of receiving the decision notice. The good news is that confusion about the hearing format might qualify as good cause if you can document that you genuinely misunderstood the instructions.

I know how stressful this is! I went through something similar in 2023 and was absolutely terrified. Don't lose hope yet - call the UC service center ASAP and explain what happened. They might be able to note your file before the referee makes a decision.

i missed my hearing 2 yrs ago and they ruled against me in like 2 weeks. but i filed that reopening thing the helpful person mentioned above and got a second chance. u need to say u were confused about the hearing instructions. they gave me another hearing & i won eventually. dont give up!

my brother in law said they decided his case in 8 days when he missed his hearing but thats cuz his employer showed up and gave their side of the story without him there to defend himself

I work with PA UC appeals regularly. Here's the exact process: 1. Decision timeframe: Typically 10-21 days after the scheduled hearing 2. Decision notification: Comes by mail ONLY (check your mailbox daily) 3. Reopening request: Must be filed within 15 days of decision letter date 4. Good cause factors: The referee will consider whether your confusion was reasonable based on how the hearing notice was worded 5. Documentation: Include any screenshots of hearing notices you received that could have caused the confusion Meanwhile, continue filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the decision. If you win on appeal, you'll get back payments for properly filed weeks.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!!! they make these hearing notices confusing ON PURPOSE so people miss them and get denied!!! happened to me, my cousin, and now you. they dont want to pay benefits that we DESERVE!!!

To answer your follow-up question: You cannot file a reopening request until after receiving the decision. The system doesn't allow for pre-emptive reopening requests. You must wait for the decision letter, then immediately file the reopening request through your dashboard or by mail. Make sure your address is current in the system, and check your portal daily as well. Some decisions are posted online before the physical letter arrives.

Quick update - I used the Claimyr service I mentioned and got through to an agent in about 30 minutes. Just wanted to let you know it worked great. The agent told me similar information to what the expert here shared, but they also noted on your account that you had a misunderstanding about the hearing format. Not sure if it'll help, but at least there's a record of you trying to fix the situation.

Did you check your spam folder for any emails about the hearing? Sometimes PA UC sends reminder emails with the details that get filtered out. Just a thought!

UPDATE: I got through to someone at UC using that Claimyr service. They were actually really helpful and explained that the referee will make a decision within 14 days typically. The agent noted my file with an explanation of why I missed the hearing. They also said I should immediately file for reopening once I get the decision if it's not in my favor. Just wanted to update everyone and say thanks for all the advice!

Hang in there Ruby! I went through almost the exact same situation in 2022. I also thought "phone hearing" meant they'd call me, but it turned out I needed to call THEM at a specific number during the hearing time. The confusion is totally understandable because the notices aren't super clear about this. When I missed mine, the referee took about 12 days to decide and unfortunately ruled against me since I was a no-show. BUT - and this is important - I filed the reopening request immediately after getting the decision letter and explained the confusion about the hearing format. They granted the reopening and I got a second hearing where I was able to present my case properly and won! The key is acting fast once you get that decision letter. Don't beat yourself up too much - this happens to more people than you'd think. Keep checking your mail and be ready to file that reopening request right away if needed.