PA UC appeal from employer 5 weeks before benefits end - will I lose what I've already received?

I went thru something similar last year. If u have documentation that the case is closed then ur in a good position. Make sure u have COPIES of everything (keep originals safe) and submit them with ur appeal response. What ur employer is doing sounds like retaliation which isnt allowed. They cant just decide to appeal after 21 weeks for no reason without new information.

Your chances of winning are quite good based on what you've shared. In PA, the employer typically needs to file an appeal within 15 days of receiving notice that you were approved for benefits. The fact that they've waited 21 weeks makes their appeal highly questionable unless they can prove they just discovered new information. Regarding repayment - if you lose the appeal, you could potentially face an overpayment determination, but there are important factors that would work in your favor: 1. If you provided all truthful information on your initial application 2. If you've been completing your weekly work search activities properly 3. If the overpayment would be classified as "non-fault" rather than "fault" Non-fault overpayments can often be waived if repayment would cause financial hardship. Make sure you attend the appeal hearing and present that county letter as evidence. Document everything from this point forward.

they cant just appeal whenever they want!!!! the system is rigged but not THAT rigged. i bet they never even filed a proper appeal and are just trying to scare u. check ur dashboard to see if theres actually an appeal scheduled.

I'd suggest trying to reach a PA UC representative directly to discuss this situation. It's unusual for an employer to file such a late appeal, and a representative might be able to give you specific information about how this affects your case. I was in a similar situation but couldn't get through on the phones for weeks. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a UC rep within about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The rep I spoke with explained exactly what documentation I needed for my hearing and what to expect. Made a huge difference in my case outcome. With only 5 weeks left in your benefit year, getting accurate information quickly is crucial.

Actually, this happened to my brother-in-law!!! His previous job tried to appeal after he'd been collecting for like 4 months. They claimed he had stolen company property but had ZERO evidence. The hearing referee basically laughed them out because they couldn't explain why they waited so long to appeal. If your case with the county is closed AND you have documentation proving it, you're in really good shape. Also - VERY IMPORTANT - even if you somehow lost, they would classify it as a non-fault overpayment since you didn't do anything wrong or lie. Non-fault overpayments can often get waived if you can show financial hardship.

the whole system is such garbage. employers can lie all they want but we have to document EVERY LITTLE THING just to get what we're entitled to. i've been fighting with PA UC for 2 months because my employer claimed I voluntarily quit when they actually reduced my hours to basically nothing to force me out. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and don't back down.

One thing nobody mentioned - make sure you get a return receipt if you mail anything to UC or bring a witness if you deliver documents in person. I lost a case because they claimed they never received my evidence even though I sent it certified mail. But I couldn't PROVE I sent the specific documents. Keep copies of EVERYTHING.

You may want to prepare a simple timeline document for your hearing: 1. Date you were separated from employment 2. Date you filed for benefits 3. Date benefits were approved 4. Dates you received payments 5. Date the county case was closed (with reference to your letter) 6. Date employer filed their appeal This will clearly show the referee the significant delay in the employer's appeal, which strengthens your case considerably. In my experience, referees appreciate organized presentations of facts.

my cousin works for the unemployment office and she says your almost definitely gonna win this. employers pull this crap all the time at the end of claims to scare people. they know theyre gonna lose but they hope u miss the hearing or something so they win by default. DONT MISS THE HEARING WHATEVER U DO!!!

This sounds like a last-ditch effort by your employer to avoid paying their share of UC taxes. The timing is super suspicious - waiting 21 weeks when they had 15 days to appeal initially. I've seen this before where employers suddenly "remember" to challenge benefits right before they end, hoping people will just give up or not show up to the hearing. Since you have written proof from the county that their case is closed, you're in a really strong position. The burden of proof is on THEM to show why they waited so long and to provide evidence for their claims. Your documentation directly contradicts their appeal, so unless they have something new (which it sounds like they don't), this should be pretty straightforward. Even if the worst happened and you lost, the overpayment would likely be classified as non-fault since you were truthful in your application. But honestly, with that county letter in hand, I'd be shocked if you didn't win this. Stay calm, bring your evidence, and let them try to explain their 5-month delay to the referee.