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PA UC appeal hearing wait times? 6+ weeks and no schedule date yet

I filed an appeal for my PA unemployment claim denial back in early January (about 6 weeks ago) and still haven't received any notice about when my hearing will be scheduled. The confirmation letter said I'd be notified of the hearing date, but it's been radio silence since then. The online portal just shows 'appeal pending' with no additional info. Is this normal? How long are people typically waiting for appeal hearings these days? I'm getting really anxious because my savings are almost gone and I need to know if I should give up hope on getting these benefits.

Benjamin Carter

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Unfortunately, PA UC appeal hearings are taking 8-12 weeks right now based on my experience. I filed an appeal in November and didn't get my hearing until early February (about 10 weeks later). The system is seriously backlogged. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during this waiting period though - if you win your appeal, they'll only pay for weeks you properly certified.

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Evelyn Martinez

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Thanks for the info! That's longer than I hoped but at least I have a better idea now. And yes, I've been faithfully filing my weekly claims just in case.

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Maya Lewis

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mine took FOREVER too!! like 11 weeks before i even got the letter with my hearing date. then another 3 weeks til the actual hearing. system is broken!!

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Isaac Wright

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This is why I tell everyone to have at least 6 months of living expenses saved up. The government is never efficient with anything.

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Evelyn Martinez

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11 weeks? Ugh, that's discouraging. Did you win your appeal at least?

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Maya Lewis

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yep! got approved and backpay came about 2 weeks after the hearing

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Lucy Taylor

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The current timeframe for PA unemployment appeal hearings is approximately 8-12 weeks from the date your appeal was filed. This varies depending on your region within PA and the current caseload of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review. Some important points to remember while waiting: 1. Continue filing your weekly certifications even while waiting for the appeal 2. Check your mail carefully - hearing notices come via USPS regular mail 3. Prepare your case by gathering documentation (pay stubs, termination notices, communications with employer) 4. You can call the UC Service Center to confirm your appeal was received, but they likely won't be able to give you a specific hearing date If you need to speak with someone at PA UC to confirm your appeal status, you might consider using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it helped me get through when I was in a similar situation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

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Evelyn Martinez

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Thank you for such detailed information! I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims. I've tried calling the UC Service Center a few times but always get disconnected. I'll check out that Claimyr service - anything that helps me get through to a human would be worth it at this point.

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Connor Murphy

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Has anyone had their hearing canceled and rescheduled? I'm worried about that happening to me after waiting so long.

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Lucy Taylor

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That can happen if either party (you or your former employer) requests a postponement, or if the Referee needs to reschedule for administrative reasons. If that happens, they'll send a new hearing notice with the rescheduled date and time.

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Connor Murphy

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Thanks for the info. This whole process is making my anxiety so much worse.

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Isaac Wright

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I went through this last summer. The wait is ridiculous but make sure you're preparing your case while waiting. Gather ALL documentation related to your separation from employment. If you were fired, get any written warnings. If you quit, documentation showing you had good cause. You only get one shot at the hearing so be prepared!

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That's great advice - I've been collecting emails and texts from my former manager that I think will help my case. Did you have an attorney for your hearing or did you represent yourself?

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Isaac Wright

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I represented myself and won. Just be organized, stick to facts, and answer the Referee's questions directly. Don't ramble or get emotional - that was the hardest part for me!

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KhalilStar

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This is why the PA unemployment system is a complete joke. They expect us to survive for MONTHS with no income while they take their sweet time. I had to wait 14 weeks for my hearing last year, and then another 3 weeks for payment after I won. Meanwhile bills don't stop, rent doesn't stop. Did anyone try contacting their state representative? I've heard that can sometimes speed things up.

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Evelyn Martinez

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14 weeks?! That's insane. I hadn't thought about contacting my state rep - that's a good idea. I'll look into that tomorrow.

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I contacted my state rep when my claim was stuck in verification limbo for 2 months. Their office actually helped get it moving again within a week! Definitely worth trying.

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Benjamin Carter

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Quick question - did you receive an acknowledgment letter confirming they received your appeal? If not, you should call to verify they actually have it in the system.

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Yes, I did get a letter about 10 days after filing the appeal. It just stated they received it and would notify me of the hearing date 'in the future' - no timeframe given.

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I just had my hearing last week after waiting about 9 weeks. One tip - my hearing was by phone and the call came from a random number (not the UC office number). Make sure you answer ALL calls during your scheduled time slot even if you don't recognize the number!

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That's really good to know! I would have assumed it would come from an official number. How did your hearing go?

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It was actually less intimidating than I expected! Lasted about 30 minutes. The referee was professional and gave me plenty of time to explain my side. Still waiting for the decision though.

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Maya Lewis

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did u try the online chat? sometimes they can tell u more info there than when u call

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I tried the chat once but was number 127 in line and gave up after an hour when I only moved up to number 98. Maybe I'll try again during non-peak hours.

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