PA UC appeal hearing for non-fault overpayment - employer no-show! What happens next?

This is actually GOOD news for you. When the employer doesn't show up for an appeal hearing, they basically forfeit their side of the argument. The referee can only go by the evidence presented, which was yours. Without your employer there to contradict your story about being laid off due to 'lack of work,' the referee has to take your testimony as fact (assuming you brought some documentation). In my experience with PA UC appeals, you should get a decision in about 7-10 days by mail. I went through something similar and won my case. The no-show by your employer significantly strengthens your position.

my cousin had this happen last year. employer didnt show and he won automatically. took like 2 weeks to get the letter. your probably fine

@confusedclaimant7 The referee didn't mention any written statements, but now I'm worried! She did have a folder with her that had some papers in it. Would they have told me if there was a statement from my employer?

Having worked through several PA UC appeals, I can tell you that an employer no-show is usually positive for your case, but not a guarantee. The referee will make their decision based on: 1) Your testimony, 2) Any documentation you provided, 3) Your original claim information, and 4) Any written evidence submitted by either party before the hearing. In non-fault overpayment cases, the burden of proof is technically on the UC office to prove you were paid benefits you weren't eligible for. Without your employer there to support their version of events, and with your documentation showing a layoff, you're in a strong position. You should receive the referee's decision within 10-14 days. If you win, the overpayment will be removed from your account. If for some reason you don't win, you can request a further appeal to the UC Board of Review within 15 days of receiving the decision.

I HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME IN DECEMBER!!!! Employer didn't show, I thought I was good, then THREE WEEKS LATER I got a decision letter saying I still owed the money!!! The referee said even though my employer didn't attend, they had sent in some form beforehand that contradicted what I said. I ended up having to set up a payment plan for $6,500!!! The PA UC system is COMPLETELY BROKEN and they always side with employers. I'm still fighting my case with the Board of Review but it's been months with no resolution. Don't get your hopes up!

I struggled to get through to anyone at UC to discuss my appeal before my hearing. After trying for days with constant busy signals, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to a UC rep within 20 minutes. They were able to explain exactly what documentation I needed to bring to my hearing. Made a huge difference in my preparation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 that shows how it works. For your current situation, I'd recommend calling UC with any service that can get you through to check on your appeal status if you don't hear anything within two weeks.

Yes, I did win my appeal! In my case, the employer did show up but couldn't provide any evidence that I had violated company policy as they claimed. The referee ruled in my favor and the overpayment was removed about 3 weeks after the hearing.

My experience with PA UC is that decisions usually take 2-3 weeks to arrive after the hearing. For what it's worth, I've seen several cases where the employer not showing up led to the claimant winning. Referees tend to base decisions heavily on who provides the most convincing evidence. If you were the only one who showed up AND you had documentation backing your side of the story, that's typically very favorable.

wait did u sign anything when u left the job? my brothers gf had this same thing happen but she lost cuz she signed some paper without reading it and it said she was quitting lol

Check your MAIL CAREFULLY when it comes!!! The appeal decision doesn't come in a big obvious envelope - mine came in a regular white envelope that looked like junk mail and I almost threw it away!!! And you only have 15 DAYS from the MAIL DATE (not when you receive it) to file the next appeal if you need to!!!

One last piece of advice - make a copy of your decision letter when it arrives and keep it forever. If PA UC ever tries to bring this up again (even years later), having that documentation will immediately shut it down. Also, if the decision is in your favor, check your UC account online after about 2-3 weeks to confirm the overpayment has been removed from your balance. Sometimes they're slow to update the system even after a favorable decision.