PA UC Appeal Hearing in 3 days - Terrified I'll lose my benefits

I had my appeal hearing last month and it wasn't as scary as I thought. First, you DON'T need a lawyer, though you can bring one. The hearing is mostly formal but not like a real court. Here's what to do: 1. GATHER EVIDENCE - emails, performance reviews, anything showing you were laid off for budget reasons not misconduct 2. BRING WITNESSES - anyone who can confirm your version (coworkers, supervisor who liked you) 3. BE HONEST - don't exaggerate or make up things 4. PRACTICE YOUR STATEMENT - be clear about what happened without rambling The referee will ask questions about your employment and why it ended. Your employer will tell their side, then you tell yours. You can ask questions of your employer too. It usually takes 30-45 minutes. Most important: Stay calm and stick to facts. I was super nervous but won my appeal because I had documentation proving my side.

Just went thru this!! referee was actually nice didnt feel like court at all just bring ALL your paperwork dont leave anything at home. i won mine and got all my back benefits took like 2 weeks after hearing to see decision online

Make sure you understand exactly why your employer is claiming misconduct. The notice should have specific details about what they're alleging. Your defense needs to directly address those specific claims. Bring three copies of any evidence (one for you, one for the referee, one for your employer). I recommend organizing your documents chronologically and making a simple outline of your main points. The hearing will likely be conducted by phone, but some are in person. Be sure you know which type yours is and be ready 15 minutes early. If your employer doesn't show up, you still need to present your case completely. Don't assume you'll automatically win if they're absent. And one thing many people don't realize - you can request a continuance if you need more time to prepare or gather documents, but you need to do this ASAP.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!! I had an appeal hearing last year and the referee barely let me talk while my employer just made up all kinds of lies. Then I got denied even though I had proof!!! It's all about who they believe more and employers ALWAYS have the advantage. These hearings are DESIGNED to deny benefits. Good luck but don't get your hopes up.

Has anyone here used Claimyr to get through to PA UC before their appeal? I couldn't get any answers about my hearing and kept getting busy signals for days. I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an actual UC rep in about 20 minutes who explained exactly what documentation I needed for my hearing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - definitely worth it to get my questions answered before my appeal date.

i was freaking out b4 my appeal 2. the main thing is be redy to explain WHY ur not guilty of misconduct. like if they say u broke a rule or somthing u need to either prove u didnt break it OR that it wasnt serious enough 2 be misconduct. misconduct has to be something pretty bad not just like being late once or making a small mistake. also the hearing ref will ask u stuff like dates u worked there your job duties how much u got paid etc so have all that info ready.

One more important tip - if your hearing is by phone, make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception. I've heard stories of people losing appeals because they kept cutting out or had background noise and the referee couldn't hear their testimony clearly. If it's in person, dress professionally like you would for a job interview. First impressions really do matter in these hearings.

ohhh and dont interrupt the ref when their talking!! my friend got yelled at for that and it made the ref all mad lol. just wait ur turn even if the employer is saying stuff thats not true you get chance to respond after

Remember to follow up after the hearing. If you win, make sure to file any backdated weekly claims for the weeks you were waiting for the appeal. If you lose, you have 15 days to appeal to the UC Board of Review (the next level up). Good luck with your hearing! Come back and let us know how it went - your experience could help others in the same situation.