PA UC appeal timeline - how long from appeal letter to hearing date?
I'm completely stressed out. Just when I thought my UC benefits were secure, my former employer decided to file an appeal! The mail carrier delivered the appeal notification letter yesterday, and I'm already panicking about how long this will drag on. I need these benefits to keep the lights on until I find something stable. Has anyone else gone through this? How long does it usually take between receiving the appeal notification and actually getting scheduled for a hearing with PA unemployment? Also - do I keep filing my weekly claims during this limbo period or do I have to wait until after the hearing?
15 comments
Abby Marshall
Yep got one of those too last month sucks doesn't it
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Vanessa Figueroa
•Did yours get resolved yet? How long did you wait?
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Sadie Benitez
In my experience with PA UC appeals, you should expect to wait between 4-6 weeks from the date on your appeal notification letter until you receive a hearing notice with your scheduled date. The actual hearing will typically be scheduled 2-3 weeks after you receive that notice, so about 6-9 weeks total from appeal notification to hearing date. And yes, absolutely continue filing your weekly claims during this entire process! This is extremely important. If you win the appeal, you'll only get paid for weeks you properly certified for.
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Vanessa Figueroa
•Thank you! So basically I'm looking at possibly 2 months before this gets resolved? That's going to put me in a really tight spot financially. Do you know if there's any way to expedite the process?
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Drew Hathaway
my sister had this happen and they scheduled her hearing like 3 months after the appeal letter came. something about a backlog. but then my neighbor got his in like 3 weeks so who knows lol. unemployment is weird like that.
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Laila Prince
•The UC system is COMPLETELY BROKEN in PA!!! I waited FOUR MONTHS for my hearing back in March, and then they rescheduled it TWICE!!! By the time they finally heard my case, I had already found a new job and was just fighting for back pay. The whole system is designed to make people give up!!!
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Isabel Vega
I went through this last year. The UC referee scheduled my hearing about 5 weeks after I got the appeal letter. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. Keep filing your weekly claims without fail! 2. Gather all documentation that supports your claim (emails, performance reviews, separation notice, etc.) 3. Start preparing your testimony - write down key dates and events 4. Monitor your mail carefully for the hearing notice (it's easy to miss) The hearing notice will include instructions for submitting evidence beforehand. Don't miss these deadlines! And yes, the timeframe varies depending on your service center's backlog, but 4-8 weeks is typical right now.
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Vanessa Figueroa
•Thank you! This is really helpful. I think I have most of the documentation, but I'm worried because the company might say I was fired for misconduct when actually they eliminated my position. Should I get a lawyer?
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Dominique Adams
I tried calling the appeals office to ask about my hearing date after getting my letter and literally could not get through for TWO WEEKS. Busy signal constantly or it would just disconnect me. So frustrating! I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to a real person at UC in about 20 minutes. There's a video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The UC rep told me my hearing was scheduled for 7 weeks after the appeal letter date. At least knowing the date helped me plan better financially.
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Abby Marshall
•does this actually work? i need to talk to someone about my claim too
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Marilyn Dixon
make sure u keep submiting ur weekly claims!!!! my cousin didnt and they denied all his back pay even tho he won his appeal. big mistake!!
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Vanessa Figueroa
•I definitely will! I can't afford to miss any payments if I win this thing.
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Sadie Benitez
One more thing to consider - the hearing will be scheduled as either telephone or in-person. If it's by phone, make absolutely sure your contact information is correct in the system. I've seen people miss their hearings because the UC office had an old phone number. And regarding your question about representation - for a simple job elimination case, you probably don't need a lawyer, but if there are complex misconduct allegations, it might be worth consulting with Legal Aid. They often provide free assistance for UC appeals to qualified individuals.
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Vanessa Figueroa
•Thank you so much for this advice. I'll double check my phone number in the system right away. I really appreciate everyone's help - at least now I know what to expect!
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Isabel Vega
Just wanted to add - when you finally get your hearing notice, it will contain very specific instructions about how to participate and submit evidence. Follow these EXACTLY. The UC referee will strictly enforce the rules. If you miss a deadline for submitting evidence, they may not allow it during the hearing. Also, during the hearing itself, be concise and stick to facts. The referee doesn't want a long, emotional story - they want clear answers to their questions. Have your documents organized and ready to reference.
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