PA UC appeal hearing transferred from Reading to Wilkes-Barre - why the sudden change?

The same thing happened to me back in November! My hearing got moved from Allentown to Scranton with zero explanation. I had to wait another 3 weeks for the new hearing date. When I called to ask why, they just said something about "balancing the caseload between offices." So annoying especially when you're planning your whole financial situation around these dates.

ugh pennsylvania unemployment is the WORST system ever i swear they do this stuff on purpose to make people give up

This happens fairly regularly with PA UC appeals. They transfer cases between offices to balance workloads or sometimes because they need a referee with expertise in a particular issue. You should receive your new hearing notice within 7-10 business days. The good news is that when they reschedule due to their own administrative reasons, they often try to expedite the new hearing date. Make sure you check both your email and physical mail daily, as sometimes the notices only come one way or the other depending on your communication preferences. Also, the new hearing might be offered as a phone hearing or video hearing instead of in-person, so read all the details carefully when you get the notice.

If you need to contact the UC Appeals office directly to check on your new hearing date, good luck getting through on the phone. I was in the same boat last year and spent days trying to reach someone. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to a PA UC representative within 15 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The rep I spoke with was able to give me an estimated date for my rescheduled hearing and even noted my urgent financial situation in the system.

My hearing got moved from Harrisburg to Philadelphia last year, and I think it was becuz I lived closer to Philly than Harrisburg? Maybe they realized ur address is closer to Wilkes-Barre? Just guessing tho, they never really explain these things properly.

When a referee requests a continuance to transfer offices, it could be for many reasons. Sometimes it's because they're overbooked, sometimes it's because they need a referee with specific expertise on your type of case, and sometimes it's because of staffing issues. What's important is that you immediately call the Appeals office (the number should be on your original notice) and express your financial hardship. Ask them to note in your file that you request expedited scheduling due to financial hardship. Follow up with an email too if possible. In my experience working with PA UC appeals, transfers between offices usually add 2-3 weeks to the timeline, but can be faster if you make them aware of your situation. Also, check if they're offering phone or video hearings as an alternative - these can sometimes be scheduled sooner.

did they even tell u if the new hearing will be in person or over the phone? last time they changed mine i assumed it was still in person n showed up at the office but turns out it was changed to phone hearing 🤦‍♀️

I wonder if you can check your PA UC dashboard online to see if there's any updated information there? Sometimes they update the system before they actually notify you by email or mail. Worth a shot!

One important thing to remember - even though the hearing is postponed, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims without interruption. If you win your appeal, they'll only pay you for weeks you properly filed claims, even if you weren't receiving benefits during that time. A lot of people don't realize this and stop filing during the appeals process, which can cost them a lot of money if they win.

this happened to my cousin and she got her new hearing date in like 10 days so maybe it wont be that bad good luck!

To update everyone on this thread - I just checked with a colleague who works with the appeals office, and there's currently a situation at the Reading office where they had a referee go on extended medical leave, causing them to redistribute cases to other offices. This is likely why your case is being moved to Wilkes-Barre. The good news is that they are prioritizing these transferred cases, so you might get a new date faster than normal. The bad news is that Wilkes-Barre is also handling their regular caseload plus these transfers, so there could still be some delay. Definitely follow the advice to call and emphasize your financial hardship situation. Also, ask specifically if they can offer you a phone hearing as those can sometimes be scheduled more quickly.