PA UC Appeal Process - Questions about employer role, hearings in Allentown & lawyer recommendations

My employer appealed for me when I got disqualified and it went NOWHERE. They promised they'd handle it and then dragged their feet for like 3 weeks just to tell me "sorry cant help." Total waste of time. I ended up having to do everything myself anyway. Just my 2 cents but I wouldn't count on employer helping.

I went through an appeal last year and can share some insights. The process is actually pretty straightforward: 1. YOU need to file the appeal, not your employer. The appeal form will be included with your determination letter, or you can file online through your PA UC dashboard. 2. You have 15 calendar days from the date on your determination letter to submit your appeal. DO NOT MISS THIS DEADLINE. 3. For documentation, gather anything that shows your position was eliminated rather than being fired for misconduct. This could include: - Termination letter mentioning reorganization - Company emails about restructuring - Witness statements from coworkers - Performance reviews showing good work history 4. Yes, most appeals do progress to a hearing. In Allentown, hearings are typically held at the Allentown UC Service Center. Since COVID, many hearings are still being conducted by phone, but they're starting to do more in-person again. 5. Keep filing your weekly claims during the entire appeal process! Hope this helps!

you dont HAVE to have a lawyer but honestly it helped me tons. the ref at my hearing said something like 70% of ppl without lawyers lose there appeals. if u can afford 1 get 1!!!

If you're struggling to reach the unemployment office to ask questions about your appeal (which I definitely was when I went through this), I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a PA UC agent in about 20 minutes after I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a demo of how it works at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Beats spending hours on hold only to get disconnected! The agent I spoke with gave me specific instructions for my appeal that really helped my case.

It's not free but I thought it was worth it after wasting days trying to get through. They connect you with actual UC agents who can look at your specific case details and give you accurate info. Much better than guessing or getting random advice.

I'm an employment attorney in eastern PA (though not Allentown specifically). Here's my perspective: 1. Always file your own appeal - never rely on employers. They don't represent your interests. 2. Regarding attorney representation: it depends on the complexity of your case. For a straightforward layoff vs. misconduct dispute with clear documentation, you can often handle it yourself. If there are complicating factors (performance warnings, conflicting evidence, etc.), legal representation may be beneficial. 3. The hearing will typically be scheduled within 4-8 weeks of filing the appeal. Unemployment Referee hearings in Allentown take place at the PA CareerLink Lehigh Valley office. 4. Most important thing: BE PREPARED. Before your hearing, clearly document the timeline of events, have all evidence organized, and prepare what you'll say. The hearing moves quickly. 5. If you decide to seek representation, most unemployment attorneys offer free consultations. I suggest contacting North Penn Legal Services or the Lehigh Valley Legal Aid office for low-cost options if needed.

Based on what you've described, you have strong documentary evidence. If your termination letter explicitly states "position elimination due to reorganization" and others were laid off simultaneously, that's compelling evidence against a misconduct claim. In straightforward cases like this, self-representation is often sufficient. Bring several copies of that termination letter to the hearing (one for the Referee, one for yourself, and one for employer's representative if they attend). Also helpful: names of others laid off in the same reorganization, any company-wide announcements about restructuring, and a clear timeline of events. You should be well-positioned to handle this without an attorney.

when i had my hearing the employer never even showed up lol automatic win for me. but dont count on that happening cause sometimes they do show up with like 3 ppl and a big folder of stuff. my hearing was over the phone last year btw

referee still asked me some questions but it was super quick like 10 mins total. just asked why i thought i should get benefits and i explained my side. got the decision like 5 days later in the mail saying i won.

I had the WORST experience with my appeal hearing!! My former boss showed up with HR and the company lawyer and they all had different stories about why I was fired. The referee was super rude and kept cutting me off when I tried to explain. Then I got denied AGAIN even though they were clearly lying. The whole system is rigged against workers!!! IMPORTANT: If you do the hearing by phone make sure your phone is charged and you're somewhere with good reception. I got disconnected twice during mine and the ref acted like I was doing it on purpose!!!

omg u guys r making me nervous lol i have a hearing next week for my claim i hope my boss doesnt show up!!

One last tip I forgot to mention: KEEP FILING YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS during the entire appeal process! If you win your appeal, they'll only pay you for weeks you properly certified. I've seen people win appeals but miss out on thousands because they stopped filing during the appeal process. Don't make that mistake!