PA UC claim stuck on 'Unsatisfactory Work Performance' issue - how long until resolution?

same thing happened to me back in november except my issue was attendance related. took almost 6 weeks to get resolved and i had to call them like 20 times before someone finally looked at it!!

When they flag your claim for 'Unsatisfactory Work Performance,' they need to determine if your actions rose to the level of willful misconduct. This requires investigation and often an interview with both you and your former employer. The typical timeframe for resolving these types of issues is 4-6 weeks, but it can vary widely depending on current backlog and staffing at the PA UC offices. You should proactively gather any documentation that supports your side of the story - performance reviews, understaffing documentation, any emails about workload concerns, etc. If you haven't received an interview notice yet, you likely will soon. Be prepared to explain why your performance issues were not willful misconduct but rather related to workplace conditions beyond your control.

They contact u both ways usually. I got a letter AND a phone call for my interview when i had an issue with my claim last year. Make sure ur phone can accept calls from unknown numbers!!

I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE!! My employer said I wasn't meeting sales targets but they kept raising them every month! It was IMPOSSIBLE! The PA UC system is DESIGNED to side with employers and make us wait forever. I waited 7 weeks with no communication, then finally got a letter scheduling my interview for the following week. After the interview it took another 2 weeks to get a decision. That's 10 WEEKS TOTAL of no income while they "investigated" whether I deserved benefits that I PAID INTO with my taxes!!! The system is BROKEN!!!

I had a similar issue with my claim in January 2025. 'Unsatisfactory Work Performance' issues require adjudication because they need to determine if your performance issues were within your control or if there were mitigating circumstances (like the understaffing you mentioned). I was able to reach a PA UC representative using Claimyr (claimyr.com) after two weeks of trying to call myself with no luck. They connected me to a UC agent in about 20 minutes who reviewed my case and scheduled my interview right on the spot. They even have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 After my interview was scheduled, things moved much faster. The whole process still took about 5 weeks total, but at least I knew what was happening instead of being in limbo. Make sure you clearly explain how the understaffing affected your ability to meet performance standards during your interview. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm going to try calling them tomorrow morning. I didn't realize this process would take so long! I'll start gathering my documentation too - luckily I kept some emails about our staffing shortages and patient-to-staff ratios that were way above industry standards. If I can't get through on the phone, I might try that Claimyr service - at this point I just need to know what's happening with my claim.

My cousin works at the unemployment office and says they're super backed up right now because of all the healthcare layoffs happening across PA. She said they prioritize claims by filing date and then by the type of issue, and unfortunately performance issues take longer because they need statements from both sides. She suggested calling right when they open at 8am on Wednesdays - apparently that's when they have the most staff on the phones for some reason lol.

call the one for your region first, if that dont work then try the statewide number. thats what I did. took me 143 calls but finally got thru! lol

When I applied in 2023 I had a similar issue and it took almost 2 months to resolve. What ended up working was contacting my state representative's office. They have liasons who can reach out to UC directly and sometimes speed things up. Worth a try if you're really stuck!

Quick update for others who might be dealing with this issue: PA UC has streamlined some of their adjudication processes in 2025. For 'Unsatisfactory Work Performance' issues specifically, they now have a questionnaire they sometimes send through your dashboard before scheduling a full interview. If you receive this, complete it immediately as it can significantly speed up your claim. Another important note - if your employer doesn't respond to UC's inquiry within 10 business days, UC is supposed to make a determination based solely on your information. So sometimes the delay is simply waiting for employer response.

theres no way to check if they contacted ur employer yet, its all behind the scenes. the system is designed to be confusing on purpose i swear

UPDATE: You guys aren't going to believe this. I finally got through on the phone this morning after trying for 2 hours (started calling at 7:55am). The rep told me my claim was actually already approved LAST WEEK but there was a glitch in the system that didn't update the status online!! My payments are being processed now and should hit my account in 2-3 business days. I'm so relieved but also frustrated that I've been stressing for no reason. Make sure you keep calling even if your online status doesn't change!!

This is a great reminder that the online system doesn't always reflect the current status accurately. For anyone else dealing with long waits on 'Unsatisfactory Work Performance' issues (or any open issues), persistence is key. Keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for resolution, check your dashboard regularly, and try to speak with a representative when possible. Glad to hear your claim was approved! Remember to continue filing weekly claims and completing your work search activities to maintain your benefits.

Wow, what a rollercoaster! Congratulations on getting approved - that must be such a huge relief after all that stress and uncertainty. Your story is actually really helpful for others going through the same thing. It shows how important it is to keep pushing and calling even when the online system looks stuck. I'm dealing with a different issue type on my claim right now (monetary determination) and this gives me hope that things can get resolved even when it feels hopeless. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - posts like this really help the community!