PA UC Appeal Hearing Question - Can I make statements or only answer questions?

I had my appeal hearing back in February. You definitely get to make your own statement! The referee will usually start by explaining the process, then they'll ask if you have any questions about how it works. After that, they'll ask some specific questions about your case, but then they ALWAYS give you an opportunity to make your own statement about why you think you qualify for benefits. Make sure you prepare your statement ahead of time and keep it focused on the relevant facts of your case - they don't want to hear a 30-minute life story, but they do want to hear your side.

yes u def get to talk!! the judges r acually pretty nice most of the time. they let me tell my whole story when i had my hearing last month

I just went through an appeal hearing two weeks ago. Here's exactly how it worked for me: 1. Referee introduced themselves and explained the process 2. They swore me in (you have to testify under oath) 3. They asked my former employer questions first (they attended by phone) 4. Then they asked me specific questions about the separation 5. AFTER all that, they specifically asked if I had anything else I wanted to add 6. At the end, they asked if I had any final statement So yes, you absolutely get to make statements! But the most important part is answering their direct questions clearly and honestly. I'd recommend writing down all the key points you want to make sure you cover so you don't forget anything important when it's your turn to speak freely. Good luck with your hearing!

I HAD MY APPEAL LAST MONTH AND IT WAS A JOKE!! The referee barely let me speak and sided with my employer even though they were LYING about why they fired me!! The whole system is rigged against workers. They're just looking for any reason to deny benefits. I had all my evidence and they didn't even look at half of it!!

My sister had her hearing last week and she said the most important thing was being prepared for the referee's questions. They asked her way more detailed questions than she expected about her work situation. But yes, she did get to make statements too.

I was so nervous before my appeal hearing too! I found it really hard to get through to anyone at the unemployment office to ask questions like this. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with a PA UC agent before my hearing so I could ask all my questions and feel prepared. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 To answer your actual question - yes, you definitely get to make statements. The referee will usually give you at least two opportunities to speak freely - once after they ask their specific questions, and again at the end of the hearing when they ask if you have anything else to add.

Make sure you understand exactly why your claim was denied in the first place. The referee will focus their questions on that specific issue. If you were denied for misconduct, they'll ask about the incident. If it was about availability for work, they'll focus on that. Your statements should directly address the reason for denial. And yes, you absolutely get to make statements, but they need to be relevant to the legal issue at hand. The referee has heard every sob story in the book - stick to facts that relate to the specific unemployment law that applies to your case.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, my employer had their HR manager on the call. Don't let that intimidate you. The referee knows most claimants represent themselves. Just be honest, stick to the facts, and explain your side clearly. Referees are used to conducting these hearings with people who aren't lawyers. And yes, if your case is about voluntary quit, you need to focus on proving you had a "necessitous and compelling" reason to leave. In PA, that typically means either: 1. You had a health reason and provided medical documentation to your employer 2. You experienced harassment or unsafe conditions and reported it before quitting 3. Your employer substantially changed your job (pay cut, major schedule change, location change) 4. You had a transportation issue beyond your control Whichever applies to you, focus your statement on that and bring any evidence that supports it.

Based on your situation with the schedule change, you have a decent case. Make sure to emphasize: 1. How long you worked the previous schedule 2. The fact that you have childcare responsibilities 3. That you explained this to your employer 4. Any attempts you made to resolve the issue before quitting And yes, bring those emails! Documents are super important. Make several copies - one for yourself, one for the referee, and one for your employer's representative.

@commenter7 - Yes, Claimyr worked great for me! I was able to talk to an actual UC agent within about 25 minutes instead of calling for days and getting busy signals. It was worth it just to get my questions answered before my hearing. They just connect you directly to the PA UC phone queue without you having to redial a million times.

thanks i might try that. been trying to reach someone about my claim for weeks and just get busy signals or it hangs up on me!