PA UC Appeals Process - Do They Verify Your Evidence with Employers?

Yes, they absolutely will verify your statements if they're relevant to your claim. PA UC takes appeals very seriously and will conduct fact-finding to verify key elements. You mentioned you received a verbal offer - did you have any follow-up communication like texts about the start date, or emails mentioning the position? Even if you don't have the formal offer in writing, any communication discussing the job could help substantiate your claim. They may contact the employer, but the burden of proof during appeals is on both parties to provide evidence supporting their positions.

they didnt check mine lol. i had an appeal last month and just brought a few paystubs and some emails. referee barely looked at them just asked me questions and made decision on the spot

The level of verification really depends on the referee assigned to your case and the specific details being disputed. If your verbal job offer is central to your eligibility determination, they're more likely to verify it. If it's just peripheral information, they might not. Your best approach is to bring whatever evidence you do have (those text messages about your schedule are perfect) and also ask if the restaurant manager would be willing to provide a simple statement confirming they had offered you a position. Even a brief email that you can print out would strengthen your case. During the hearing itself, be straightforward about what you can and cannot prove. The referee will appreciate honesty about the verbal nature of the offer more than if you try to overstate your evidence.

When I had my appeal they didnt check anything I said but my sister had one where they called her employer right during the hearing!!! I think it just depends on if they doubt what your saying or if the employer is contesting your version of events

I went through the appeal process back in January and want to share my experience. The PA UC referees DO investigate claims, but they focus on the most relevant disputed facts. In my case, they were primarily concerned with whether I had been laid off or quit. If you're struggling to connect with anyone at the unemployment office ahead of your appeal to get more information, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was getting nowhere trying to reach UC myself - constant busy signals and disconnections. Claimyr got me connected to a PA UC agent who explained exactly what documentation I needed for my hearing. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 For your specific situation, make sure you're prepared to explain: 1. Who made you the job offer (name and position) 2. When and how it was made (date and method) 3. What specific terms were discussed (start date, hours, pay) 4. How and when you were notified it was rescinded This level of detail will help establish credibility even without written documentation.

wait do u have ANY proof at all? like literally anything? my cousin just took screenshots of his indeed application history to show he was looking for work and that was enough for them

Just to follow up - those text messages discussing your schedule and start date ARE evidence and can be very valuable. Print them out (with the date/time stamps visible) and bring multiple copies to your hearing. Also, prepare a simple timeline document showing: 1. When you applied for the job 2. When you received the verbal offer 3. When you received the texts about scheduling 4. When the offer was rescinded 5. When you filed for unemployment This type of organized presentation will help the referee follow your case more easily. And yes, be completely honest about what you can and cannot document. Referees handle cases every day and can usually tell when someone is being straightforward versus embellishing.

I went through HELL with my appeal last year! They literally called EVERY reference and checked EVERYTHING! My advice - DON'T LIE about ANYTHING because they will find out! My appeal took forever because they kept 'investigating' every little detail I mentioned. The system is BROKEN but they will absolutely verify things randomly and inconsistently!

One more important thing to remember: PA UC is required to consider all available evidence, but they also understand that not everything can be documented. The referee's job is to determine the facts based on credibility and preponderance of evidence. Since your hearing is next week, you should prepare a brief statement explaining the situation in clear terms. Practice saying it out loud a few times so you don't ramble during the hearing. Be specific about dates, names, and details even if you don't have documentation for everything. If the restaurant manager is unwilling to provide a statement, you might also consider if there's anyone else who knew about your job offer - perhaps a friend or family member you told about it at the time? While not as strong as employer confirmation, it can help establish that you were consistent about the job offer at the time it happened.

I had a similar situation with a verbal job offer during my appeal last year. Here's what I learned: PA UC referees vary widely in how thoroughly they investigate, but having ANY supporting evidence helps tremendously. Your text messages about scheduling are actually really strong evidence - they show the employer was treating you as a hired employee by discussing your work schedule. One thing that helped me was creating a simple one-page summary with bullet points of what happened, including exact dates and the manager's name. Even though my offer was also verbal, having those specific details written out clearly made me seem more credible during the hearing. Also, don't stress too much about them calling the restaurant. Even if they do, employers usually just confirm basic facts like "yes, we made an offer" and "yes, we had to rescind it due to circumstances." Most restaurants right now are dealing with staffing issues from the recent outbreak, so they're likely to be straightforward about having to cancel new hires. Good luck with your hearing - sounds like you're preparing well!