PA UC Appeal Process - Phone vs In-Person Hearing? Need Help Understanding What To Expect

Don't worry! Phone appeals are actually pretty common with PA UC, especially for people who live far from hearing locations. Here's what to expect: 1. You'll get a hearing notice in the mail with the exact date/time and referee's name 2. The notice will list what documents they'll consider 3. Your employer will also be on the call 4. Have any evidence ready (emails about layoff, final paycheck stub, termination letter) 5. Be ready about 15 minutes early - they usually call within 5 minutes of scheduled time 6. The referee will swear everyone in and explain the process 7. Both sides present their case 8. Decision comes by mail usually within 2 weeks Make sure you have good phone reception wherever you take the call. Write down your main points in advance so you don't forget important details when nervous.

theyll mail u a packet with ALL the info b4 ur hearing date!!! mine came like 2 weeks b4 my phone hearing. THe referee was actually realy nice but my old boss was SUPER RUDE and kept interupting me!!! make sure u have all ur proof ready and write down DATES of everything cuz they will ask u about specific dates and if u mess up they use it against u!!!! my hearing took 45 mins but my friend's took almost 2 hours so IDK

I completed a phone appeal in March 2025 for my PA UC claim. Here's what you should know: You need to submit all evidence at least 3 business days before your hearing date. The notice will include instructions for how to submit documents - you can mail, fax, or upload them through your dashboard. I recommend uploading for proof of receipt. You'll need to explain exactly why you believe you were laid off rather than quit. Be specific about: - Who told you about the layoff - Exact wording they used - Any documentation of budget cuts - Witnesses to the conversation Typical hearings last 30-60 minutes. The referee controls the conversation and will give each side time to speak. Stay calm and answer only what's asked - don't ramble or get emotional. If you win, expect your payments to begin about 7-10 days after the decision letter arrives.

i had my appeal over the phone last year and it wasnt that bad honestly. the hearing ppl were actualy pretty fair. but my old boss lied about so much stuff i couldnt believe it!! make sure u have like actual proof of everything dont just say stuff happened. also my hearing was supposed to be at 10:15 but they didnt call until almost 11 so dont panic if theyre a little late

When I had my hearing back in January, I couldn't get through to anyone at PA UC to ask questions before my appeal date. My hearing notice came only a week before the actual hearing and I had so many questions about the process. I finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a UC rep in about 10 minutes instead of spending days calling that impossible UC number. They have a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The UC rep was able to clarify exactly what documents I needed and how to submit them properly. Definitely worth it since I was able to get all my questions answered before my hearing. I ended up winning my appeal and got all my back payments.

To answer your follow-up question: you don't typically need a lawyer for a UC appeal hearing. The process is designed for claimants to represent themselves. However, if your case involves complex legal issues or if a lot of money is at stake (like if you're facing a large overpayment), you might consider legal help. Legal Aid organizations sometimes offer free assistance with UC appeals. Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network or your county's bar association might be able to connect you with low-cost or free legal help if you feel you need it. Regarding your evidence - yes, you must submit it in advance. Don't wait until the actual hearing to mention documents the referee hasn't seen yet. As someone mentioned earlier, all evidence should be submitted at least 3 business days before the hearing date.

omg i just realized something!! make sure ur phone is CHARGED!!!! my hearing was almost an hour and a half and my phone was at like 20% when it started lol i was freaking out the whole time

One important thing nobody's mentioned: If you can't make the scheduled hearing date, you need to request a postponement ASAP. Don't wait until the last minute. They're not automatically granted, you need a valid reason. Also, the PA Service Centers are all backed up right now, so if you call with questions about your appeal, expect long wait times. If your hearing is coming up soon and you need to speak with someone about it, you might want to try calling right when they open at 8am. Good luck with your appeal! The fact that you have documentation about the budget cuts puts you in a much better position than many appellants.

My hearing was supposed to be a phone hearing but then they changed it to video at the last minute! Does anyone know if they can do that? I didn't have a computer so I had to borrow my sister's laptop and it was this whole stressful thing. Make sure you clarify exactly what kind of hearing it's going to be!

yah also dont be late!!! my friend missed his call and they just marked him as a no-show and he lost automatically!!! he had to file a whole new appeal just because he missed the call!!!

For what it's worth, I found my notes from my appeal hearing. Here's what the referee asked me: 1. My last day of work 2. My job title and main duties 3. My rate of pay 4. The specific reason given for my separation 5. Who informed me of the separation 6. Whether I received any written documentation 7. If I had any advance warning 8. If I was offered any alternatives to separation 9. If I had any performance issues or warnings I recommend preparing brief, factual answers to these questions ahead of time. Stick to facts rather than emotions or opinions. The referee wants to hear what happened, not how you felt about what happened. After my hearing, the decision came in 10 days. I was approved and received my backdated payments about a week after that.

One more tip that really helped me during my PA UC appeal: create a timeline document with exact dates of everything related to your layoff. Include the date you were told about budget cuts, your last day of work, when you received your final paycheck, etc. During my hearing, the referee asked for very specific dates multiple times, and having everything written down in chronological order made me sound much more credible than just trying to remember off the top of my head. Also, if your employer tries to claim you quit, be prepared to explain exactly what happened in your own words first, then refer to your documentation. The referee will likely ask follow-up questions about inconsistencies between your story and what your employer claims. One last thing - if you get nervous during the hearing (totally normal!), it's okay to ask the referee to repeat a question or to take a moment to check your notes before answering. They'd rather have accurate information than a rushed response. You've got this! Having those budget cut emails puts you in a really strong position.

Just wanted to add something about the actual phone logistics since I went through this recently - make sure you're in a quiet space with good cell reception or use a landline if possible. I made the mistake of taking my hearing while I was at my new part-time job during my break, and there was so much background noise that the referee had to ask me to repeat myself multiple times. Also, if you have call waiting or any other phone features that might interrupt the call, disable them beforehand. The last thing you want is to accidentally hang up on the referee because another call came through! One thing that really helped me was having a glass of water nearby. Talking for 45+ minutes straight when you're nervous can really dry out your throat. And don't stress too much about sounding "professional" - just be honest and straightforward. The referees deal with regular people all day long, not lawyers. They want to understand what actually happened, not hear fancy legal language. Your situation sounds very similar to mine - I also had documentation of budget cuts and was told my position was eliminated. Having those emails should definitely work in your favor. Good luck!

I went through a PA UC phone appeal about 6 months ago and want to share a few things that really made a difference for me. First, when you upload your documents to the UC system, take screenshots showing they were successfully submitted - I had a panic moment wondering if my evidence actually went through, but having those screenshots gave me peace of mind. During the actual hearing, speak slowly and clearly. I was so nervous that I started talking really fast and the referee had to ask me to slow down. Also, don't be afraid to say "I don't recall the exact date" if you're not 100% sure - it's better to be honest than to guess wrong and hurt your credibility. One thing that caught me off guard was that my employer's HR person had a whole folder of documents I'd never seen before. Don't let this intimidate you - the referee will ask about anything that seems questionable or inconsistent. The waiting for the decision was honestly the worst part, but it sounds like you have solid documentation which is the most important thing. Keep checking your mail daily after the hearing because the decision letter is how you'll know if you need to take any follow-up action. Best of luck with your appeal! The process is stressful but having those budget cut emails should really help your case.

I went through a PA UC phone appeal about 8 months ago and won, so I wanted to share a few additional tips that helped me prepare. First, practice explaining your situation out loud before the hearing - I actually recorded myself on my phone telling my story and listened back to catch places where I rambled or wasn't clear. It really helped me stay focused during the actual call. Second, if you have any witnesses who can verify what happened (coworkers who were also laid off, supervisors who knew about the budget cuts), ask them if they'd be willing to participate in the hearing. You can request that witnesses be included when you submit your evidence. Third, keep a notepad handy during the hearing to jot down anything your employer says that contradicts what you know to be true. You'll have a chance to respond, and having notes will help you address their claims systematically. The fact that you have written documentation about budget cuts and your position being eliminated puts you in a really strong position. Most employers who falsely claim someone quit don't have documentation to back up their version of events. One last thing - after your hearing, you can still submit additional evidence if you discover something relevant before the decision is made, but it has to be truly new information that wasn't available before. You've got this! The preparation you're doing now will make all the difference.