PA UC appeals vs hearings - how long is the wait in 2025?

Yes, when you file an appeal with PA UC, you'll get scheduled for a hearing with a referee. It's part of the same process. The appeal is your formal request to challenge the determination, and the hearing is where you present your case. Timelines right now are actually better than they were a couple years ago. Most hearings are getting scheduled within 4-6 weeks of filing the appeal. Make sure you have documentation ready showing you completed your work search activities - examples of job applications, confirmation emails, etc. The referee will want to see those.

i went thru this in january!!! def keep filing your weeklys even while your appealing. they WILL backpay u if u win but only for weeks u actually filed for!!

Technically the appeal is the process and the hearing is the event. All appeals include a hearing unless you withdraw your appeal. They're scheduling them pretty quickly now - mine was only 3 weeks from when I filed my appeal in February 2025. Make sure you watch your mail/email VERY carefully for the hearing notice. They send it through both regular mail and to your dashboard. If you miss the hearing, you automatically lose your appeal. You can participate by phone or video call. I'd recommend calling PA UC directly to check on the status of your appeal after about 2 weeks if you haven't heard anything. Though good luck getting through...

I had the same confusion about appeals vs hearings a few months ago! I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual PA UC agent who explained everything to me. They have this video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Basically, appeals ALWAYS include a hearing - that's where you get to present your evidence about the work search requirements you completed. The agent I spoke with was able to check my appeal status and gave me an estimated date for my hearing. Saved me weeks of anxiety!

My sister had her hearing last month for an issue with her work search requirements too and she won! Her hearing was exactly 5 weeks after filing the appeal. She said the referee was actually pretty nice about the whole thing. Just make sure you have screenshots or some kind of proof of your work searches.

i got denied for the EXACT SAME REASON in december!! such BS!! i did all the required searches but they said i "didn't provide enough detail" whatever that means lol. my hearing took 7 weeks to get scheduled. i showed up with all my evidence and the referee dismissed the case in my favor in like 10 mins. the money showed up 3 days later. btw the job search thing is such a joke. they know nobody's hiring right now but they still make us jump through hoops.

Just to clarify a few things about the PA UC appeal process for everyone: 1. Yes, an appeal includes a hearing with a referee 2. Current timeline is typically 3-6 weeks for scheduling 3. You MUST continue filing weekly claims during the appeal process 4. If you win, you'll get backpaid for all eligible weeks you filed 5. You can participate by phone, video, or in person 6. You don't need a lawyer but can have one if you want 7. Documentation is crucial - bring everything related to your work searches The most important thing is to not miss the hearing date. If you can't make it, you must request a postponement BEFORE the hearing date.

I waited FOUR MONTHS for my hearing last year!! The whole system is rigged against us!! They deny people on purpose hoping they'll just give up and not appeal. And then they make you wait forever for a hearing so you'll be desperate and take any job! It's all a SCAM to keep unemployment numbers low!!

UPDATE: Just got my hearing notice! It's scheduled for May 8th, which is exactly 3 weeks from when I filed my appeal. That's way faster than I expected based on everyone's comments. Now I need to gather all my work search evidence. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting your hearing scheduled so quickly! That's actually encouraging to hear. Just wanted to add - when you're organizing your work search documentation, make sure to include the dates you applied, company names, job titles, and method of application (online, email, in-person, etc.). The referees really like to see that level of detail. Also, if you have any confirmation emails or screenshots from job sites showing your applications were submitted, those are gold. I've seen people win their cases just by being super organized with their paperwork. You've got this!

Just wanted to share my recent experience to add to the timeline data here. I filed my appeal in mid-February 2025 for a work search denial and got my hearing scheduled for exactly 4 weeks later. The hearing itself was pretty straightforward - lasted about 15 minutes and the referee was fair. I brought printed copies of all my job applications with dates, company names, and confirmation emails. Won my case and got backpay within a week. The key is really having organized documentation. Don't stress too much about the process - it's way more manageable than it seems when you're first dealing with it!

Just want to echo what others have said about keeping detailed records - I went through this exact same situation in January 2025 and it made all the difference! I got denied for "insufficient work search documentation" even though I was doing way more than the minimum required searches. My hearing was scheduled 5 weeks out, which wasn't too bad. What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet with columns for: Date Applied, Company Name, Job Title, How I Applied (Indeed, company website, etc.), and Notes (like if I got a confirmation email or auto-response). I also kept a separate folder with screenshots and printed copies of everything. The referee was actually really understanding during my hearing - I think they see these work search denials all the time and know most people are genuinely trying. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes and I had my backpay deposited within 5 days of winning. Don't let the stress get to you too much - you've got this! Just stay organized and keep filing your weekly claims like others mentioned. The system isn't perfect but it does work when you have your documentation together.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed my appeal for a work search denial about 2 weeks ago and still waiting to hear back on my hearing date. Reading everyone's experiences here is really helpful - it sounds like the timelines have definitely improved from what they used to be. I've been keeping decent records but after reading through all these comments I'm realizing I need to get way more organized with my documentation. Going to create that spreadsheet that Isabella mentioned with all the detailed columns. It's such a relief to hear from people who actually won their cases and got backpay quickly. This whole process has been so stressful but you're all giving me hope that it'll work out if I just stay organized and keep filing my weekly claims. Thanks for sharing all your real experiences - it means a lot to those of us going through this for the first time!