PA UC Fact Finding for Quit vs Layoff - How Long Until Resolution?

Fact findings can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to resolve, unfortunately. The examiner has to contact your employer to get their side of the story, review all your evidence, and make a determination. Since you have documentation showing you were laid off, you're in a good position. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during this time! Even though you won't get paid until the issue is resolved, you'll receive all back payments once approved.

same thing happened 2 me last month. employer tried sayin i quit when they cut my hours to like nothing. took almost 3 weeks b4 i got approved. keep filing every week!!

The PA UC system is DESIGNED to be slow and frustrating. They hope you'll just give up. I had a similar issue last year and it took them 5 weeks to process my fact finding. Then they initially ruled AGAINST me even with clear evidence! Had to appeal and wait ANOTHER month. The whole system is rigged against workers!!

Try calling them. I know it's nearly impossible to get through on the regular UC number, but I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a PA UC agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days hitting redial. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 When I got through, I explained my situation (also had a fact finding for a similar issue) and asked if there was any way to expedite it. The agent was able to look at my file, see that I had submitted all the necessary documentation, and actually completed the review right then. Worth a try if you're in a tough spot financially.

Just to clarify some misinformation here - fact findings for separation issues (quit vs. layoff) typically take 3-4 weeks on average in PA right now. The 5-6 week timeframes some people experienced were during peak pandemic times. Make sure you've uploaded clear documentation showing you were laid off. Text messages can help but an official termination letter or email is strongest. Also, fact findings can sometimes be expedited if you're facing eviction or utility shutoffs - make sure to mention that if you do get through to someone.

I'm dealing with a similar situation too! My employer reported that I quit but I was actually let go because they eliminated my position. Been waiting for 3 weeks for my fact finding to resolve. It's so stressful and I hate how they make us wait so long. Have you tried messaging them through the portal? I sent like 5 messages and finally got a response saying they "escalated" my claim but not sure if that actually did anything.

call ur state rep!!! they can help speed things up. worked for me when i had a fact finding that was taking forever. look up who ur state representative is and call their office

UPDATE: I used that Claimyr service and actually got through to someone! The agent said my fact finding is scheduled for review later this week. She couldn't guarantee anything but said with my documentation it looks pretty straightforward. She also put a note in my file about financial hardship to try to expedite it. Fingers crossed I'll have an answer by next week!

Great to hear you got through! One more tip - after the fact finding is complete and if you're approved, it can still take a few days for payments to process. If you're using the Money Network card, funds usually appear 2-3 business days after approval. If you set up direct deposit, it's typically 1-2 business days. Just so you're prepared for the timeline.

anyone know if you have to do the work search activities while waiting for a fact finding to be resolved? ive been doing them just in case but its really annoying if its just gonna get denied anyway

FINAL UPDATE: My claim was APPROVED! Just got the determination letter today - they agreed I was laid off and not at fault. The agent said payments should start processing in the next 1-2 business days. Such a relief! Thank you to everyone who gave advice. For anyone else going through this: 1) Keep filing weekly claims while waiting 2) Submit ALL documentation you have 3) Try to actually speak with someone (the Claimyr service really helped) 4) Be persistent and don't give up!

Congratulations on getting approved! This gives me hope for my own situation. I'm currently on week 3 of a fact finding for the exact same issue - employer says I quit but I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. I have my termination paperwork and emails about the layoffs, so hopefully I'll have a similar outcome. Thanks for documenting your whole journey here, it's really helpful to see the timeline and know that persistence pays off. Going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow if I still haven't heard anything.

This thread has been so helpful to follow! I'm currently dealing with a fact finding too - my employer is claiming I was fired for misconduct when I was actually let go during a company restructure. It's been 10 days since they opened the investigation and I'm getting really anxious. I uploaded my performance reviews (all good), the company memo about the restructure, and even a reference letter from my supervisor. But seeing everyone's different timelines here is making me realize I might be in for a longer wait than I hoped. Has anyone had experience with misconduct vs. layoff disputes specifically? Is the process any different than quit vs. layoff cases?

I went through a misconduct vs layoff dispute about 8 months ago and it took about 4 weeks total. The process is pretty much the same as quit vs layoff - they have to contact your employer, review all the evidence, and make a determination. The misconduct cases can sometimes take a little longer because they need to be extra thorough, but honestly your documentation sounds rock solid. Performance reviews + company restructuring memo is exactly what they need to see. My employer tried claiming I was fired for "poor performance" when I was actually part of a department elimination, and I got approved once they saw my performance evaluations and the internal emails about budget cuts. Keep doing those weekly certifications and stay patient - you've got this!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare last year! My employer also tried to claim I quit when I was clearly laid off during downsizing. The whole process took about 3.5 weeks, but I got approved once they reviewed all my documentation. A few things that helped me: 1) I kept a detailed log of every interaction with my employer leading up to the layoff, 2) I saved screenshots of any company communications about restructuring, and 3) I contacted my former coworkers who were also laid off to see if they'd be willing to provide statements if needed (I didn't end up needing them but it was good to have as backup). The waiting is absolutely brutal especially when bills are due, but hang in there! Your documentation sounds solid and the fact that you have multiple pieces of evidence (termination letter, supervisor texts, company email) puts you in a really strong position. Also definitely keep filing those weekly claims - I almost forgot one week and it would have been a huge hassle to fix later. Rooting for you!

Just went through this exact situation 2 months ago! My employer also incorrectly reported that I quit when I was actually laid off during a company restructuring. The whole process was incredibly stressful, but I eventually got approved after about 3 weeks. A few things that really helped me: 1) I made sure to upload EVERY piece of documentation I could find - not just the obvious stuff like termination letters, but also any emails about the restructuring, calendar invites for layoff meetings, even photos of any paperwork they gave me during the exit process. 2) I wrote a detailed statement explaining exactly what happened, with dates and names of people involved. 3) Most importantly, I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though it felt pointless at the time. When I finally got approved, I received all the back pay for those weeks. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about money, but your documentation sounds really strong - termination letter + supervisor texts + company email should definitely work in your favor. Stay persistent and keep advocating for yourself!