PA UC appeal to Commonwealth Court - worth the effort after they mixed up my claim with others?

I won my Commonwealth Court appeal last year! It was definitely worth it in my case, but it took about 4 months from filing to decision. The key was having ALL my documentation perfectly organized, especially since you mentioned they mixed up your files with other people. That's actually a procedural error you can use in your favor. Make sure to specifically cite that in your appeal - it shows they failed to properly review your case. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to a UC rep to get copies of everything in my file before submitting my appeal. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Cost me a bit but saved weeks of busy signals and was worth it to get all the evidence of their mistakes.

dont bother with court, complete waste of time. system is RIGGED against us regular people. i went all the way to commonwealth and they just rubber stamped what UC said. spent 5 months waiting just to get a form letter denial!!!!!

Yes, people do win at Commonwealth Court, but your case needs to be based on either a clear error of law or a procedural mistake. The mixing of your file with other claimants' information is actually a significant procedural error that could work in your favor. In my experience as someone who's gone through multiple appeals (and helped family members with theirs), the Commonwealth Court tends to be more fair than the lower-level appeals because they're looking at whether proper procedures were followed rather than just reviewing facts. You'll need to very specifically outline: 1. The timeline of events 2. The exact procedural errors (mixing your file with others) 3. How this affected your case 4. What remedy you're seeking Make copies of EVERYTHING and refer to specific exhibits in your written appeal. The good news is that Commonwealth Court doesn't always require in-person hearings - many cases are decided on the briefs.

I won my Commonwealth Court appeal, but it was because I had clear evidence that the Referee ignored during my hearing. The file mix-up is definitely something to focus on. Make sure everything you submit is super organized with a clear timeline. Also, you're allowed to request a copy of your complete file from UC before you submit to Commonwealth Court - that helped me tremendously. I was able to find contradictions in their own documentation.

i had same thing happen!!!! they put someone elses W-2 in my file and then denied me bc they said i didnt report all income. took 3 appeals to get it fixed. dont give up!!! make sure u specifically write "procedural error" and "administrative mistake" in ur paperwork - those r keywords that make them pay attention

Question about the Commonwealth Court process - do I need to use a specific form or can I just write a letter explaining everything? The instructions I received were really vague.

everyone saying keep fighting but honestly ask yourself if the stress is worth it. i spent 8 months fighting and won but the backpay was less than i expected cuz of taxes and by then id already had to borrow money from family and damage my credit. sometimes its better to just move on with your life

One thing I forgot to mention - if you're showing that they mixed up your file with others, be very careful about privacy concerns in your appeal. You should mention that it happened but DON'T include the other people's personal info in your filing. The court will look very unfavorably on that. Just describe what happened and offer to provide the evidence under seal if requested.

Based on what you've shared, I think you have a legitimate case worth pursuing. The mixing of files is a serious procedural error that goes to the heart of fair administration. However, it's important to be strategic about this. Focus your appeal narrowly on the procedural errors rather than trying to re-argue the entire merits of your original claim. The Commonwealth Court is primarily looking at whether the law was correctly applied and procedures were properly followed.

watch out for the deadline!!! u only have 30 days from the date on ur board of review decision to file with commonwealth court. if ur a day late they will throw it out no matter how good ur case is

this is EXACTLY why i tell everyone to record every conversation with UC!! they make "mistakes" all the time and then we have to jump through hoops to fix THEIR errors. the whole system is designed to wear us down until we give up

One final piece of advice: if the Commonwealth Court rules in your favor, it's often a remand back to the UC authorities with instructions to correct the procedural errors. This doesn't automatically mean you'll receive benefits - it usually means you get a new, properly conducted hearing. So be prepared for that possibility and don't assume a win at this level means immediate payment.