PA UC appeal confusion - employer submitted wrong info but hearing not requested
I'm so confused about my unemployment appeal status right now. I filed for benefits in January 2025 and my former employer (a restaurant where I worked for 8 months) somehow messed up ALL my information on the claim. They got my hours wrong, listed my start date as 3 months later than when I actually started, and even reported my wage incorrectly (they said $14.25/hr when I was making $17.75/hr). This obviously affected my benefit calculation. I filed an appeal immediately and uploaded my paystubs as evidence. When I check my appeal status online, it says "Appeal Filed - Hearing Not Requested" under the status. Does this mean they're going to approve my appeal without a hearing? Or am I supposed to have requested a hearing somewhere? I'm worried I missed a step and will lose my appeal automatically. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Andre Rousseau
That status is actually normal and doesn't mean anything has been decided yet. "Hearing Not Requested" just means you didn't specifically ask for an in-person hearing (most people don't). The UC appeals examiner will review your documentation and your employer's information and make a determination. If either party disagrees with that determination, THEN a hearing would be scheduled. Make sure all your evidence (paystubs, offer letter, etc.) is uploaded to your dashboard. You should receive a determination within 2-3 weeks. If they need more information, they'll contact you.
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Carmen Vega
•Thank you so much! That makes me feel better. I did upload 6 months of paystubs plus my offer letter. Should I also upload my W-2 from last year or is that overkill?
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Zoe Stavros
i had almost the same thing happen with my old job they said I was seasonal but I worked there for 14 months straight lol. my status said the same thing and they ended up fixing it without a hearing took about 10 days
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Jamal Harris
•Not every case goes to hearing! PA UC is actually pretty good about resolving simple factual disputes through document review. The hearings are more for complex situations like misconduct allegations or voluntary quits.
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GalaxyGlider
I just went through this EXACT SITUATION and I'm telling you right now - you NEED to call them!! The system is completely broken and they'll just let your appeal sit there for weeks with no movement unless you call and get someone to look at it. I submitted all my documents and nothing happened for almost a month. The problem is getting through on the phones - I tried for TWO WEEKS straight and couldn't get anyone. Always busy signals or disconnects. So frustrating!!!
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Mei Wong
•I had the same issue with the phones and ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. They have this system that waits on hold for you and calls you back when an agent is on the line. Saved me hours of redial hell. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 that shows how it works. Was totally worth it because once I got through, the rep was able to flag my appeal for review and it was resolved within 48 hours.
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Liam Sullivan
Hearing Not" Requested is confusing terminology but it'doesn t mean your appeal'won t be considered. It simply means you filed a standard appeal rather than specifically requesting an in-person hearing. Most appeals are decided through document review first. What will likely happen: 1. An examiner reviews your documentation and'employer s information 2. They make a determination based on evidence 3. If either party disagrees with that determination, THEN a hearing would be scheduled If your evidence clearly shows your employer reported incorrect information, they may simply correct it without a hearing. Keep checking your dashboard for updates. Typical processing time is 14-21 days for straightforward appeals likeyours.
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Carmen Vega
•This is really helpful info, thank you! The 14-21 day timeline helps me know what to expect. I think I was panicking because my rent is due soon and I was hoping to have this resolved.
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Amara Okafor
Did you call the employer to fix the info first? Sometimes they just make honest mistakes with the reporting. Might save u time with the whole appeal process. Worth a try
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Carmen Vega
•I did try that actually! I called HR twice and they just kept saying they'd "look into it" but never did anything. That's why I finally filed the appeal - felt like I had no choice.
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GalaxyGlider
has anyone noticed how many employers are "accidentally" reporting wrong information lately??? my friend had the same thing happen at her job too. they reported her as a contractor even tho she was w-2. seems fishy that all these "mistakes" reduce our benefits 🙄
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Zoe Stavros
•ya i think they do it on purpose their unemployment insurance rates go up when more employees collect so they try 2 block claims any way they can
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Liam Sullivan
•While some employers may make honest mistakes, others might deliberately misreport information to reduce their UI contribution rates. PA UC is aware of this practice and takes it seriously. If you believe your employer intentionally misreported your information, mention this in your appeal documentation. Document-based appeals with clear evidence like paystubs usually get resolved correctly.
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Carmen Vega
Update: I just checked my portal again and now it says "Appeal Under Review" instead of "Hearing Not Requested" - progress! Thanks everyone for the help and explanations. I'll update again when I get a determination.
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Andre Rousseau
•That's great news! "Under Review" means they're actively working on it. You should see a determination soon. Make sure you continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for the appeal decision.
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GalaxyGlider
•Fingers crossed for you!! Let us know what happens!
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Nasira Ibanez
Great to see the progress with your status update! Just wanted to add that when you do get your determination, make sure to check if they also corrected your weekly benefit amount based on the correct wage information. Sometimes they'll approve the appeal for the factual errors but you might need to follow up separately to get your benefit calculation updated to reflect the higher hourly wage ($17.75 vs $14.25). That wage difference could mean significantly more money per week for you.
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