PA UC denied for 'unprofessionalism' after termination letter showed no reason - 13 weeks of waiting for nothing?

You absolutely need to appeal this decision ASAP. You only have 15 calendar days from the date on your determination letter to file your appeal. With no documented disciplinary actions and a termination letter showing no cause, you have a good case. For your appeal, gather the following: 1. The termination letter showing no cause 2. Any performance reviews (especially positive ones) 3. Any emails/texts that might show the real reason was the nephew 4. Names of coworkers who can testify about your work conduct In PA, the employer has the burden of proof to show misconduct. If they can't prove unprofessionalism with documentation, you should win your appeal hearing.

omg this is my EXACT situation!!! my boss fired me with NO WARNING and then told UC i was always late!!! never had a single writeup for tardiness!! the system is riged to help employers not us. good luck with ur appeal but dont hold ur breath

First, take a deep breath. This is very common with PA UC claims - initial denials that get reversed on appeal. The key is acting quickly and being prepared. You'll need to file the appeal online through your dashboard or by mail using the form that came with your determination. The hearing will likely be by phone in about 4-6 weeks. Make sure to continue filing your weekly claims during the appeal process! Many people miss this step and lose weeks of potential benefits. If you win the appeal, you'll get backpay for all properly filed weeks. For the hearing, be professional and stick to facts. Focus on the lack of documented issues and the termination letter with no cause. The referee will ask both you and your employer questions. If the employer can't provide documentation of unprofessional behavior, you have a strong chance.

Try Claimyr to get through to a PA UC agent! I was in a similar situation with my denial and couldn't get anyone on the phone for days. I found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to an agent in under an hour. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Talking directly to an agent helped me understand exactly why I was denied and what specific evidence I needed for my appeal. Totally worth it since I was able to prepare properly and won my appeal. Sometimes you just need to speak to a human to get the real story behind a denial.

u need to ask ur old coworkers 2 write letters saying u were professional!! my friend did this and won her appeal. the more people u can get to say u were good at ur job the better! and if u can somehow prove they hired the nephew right after firing u thats HUGE bcuz it shows the real reason wasnt about ur work

I don't mean to be negative, but PA UC is seriously broken right now. I waited 9 weeks for my determination, got denied for "misconduct" (total lie), appealed, waited ANOTHER 7 weeks for a hearing, and then the employer didn't even show up! Even though I won, I still haven't received payment 3 weeks later. The whole system is designed to wear you down so you give up. KEEP FIGHTING and document EVERYTHING.

One more important thing - in your appeal, focus specifically on the fact that your termination letter listed no cause. This creates a presumption that the termination wasn't for cause. Also, PA UC law puts the burden of proof on the employer to show willful misconduct, not on you to prove your innocence. During your hearing, if the employer suddenly presents evidence of "unprofessionalism" that they never documented or discussed with you before, object and point out to the referee that this is the first time you're hearing these allegations. Ask why these concerns weren't documented or addressed during your employment. You can actually call the PA UC Appeals Office directly at (717) 787-5122 for information about your appeal status. Sometimes that line is easier to get through on than the regular claims number.

Based on what you've shared, here's what likely happened: When UC contacted your employer about your claim, they probably said you were fired for unprofessional behavior, contrary to what your termination letter states. This is unfortunately common - employers sometimes change their story to contest unemployment claims. Make sure to explain in your appeal: "My termination letter, which I've attached, shows no reason for termination. At no point during my employment was I given any warnings about unprofessional behavior. This allegation only appeared after I filed for unemployment benefits." Also, remember to print out or save screenshots of ANY communications with your former employer that might help your case. Text messages, emails, even social media posts can sometimes be relevant.

hey just wondering did they send u anything showing how they determined u were "unprofessional"?? like did they have specific dates or incidents? or was it just a general claim? that makes a BIG difference in how u should approach ur appeal!!

I was a PA UC claims examiner for 5 years (not anymore). Here's what you need to know: The vast majority of employers contest ALL unemployment claims automatically, even when they know they don't have a case. They hope claimants won't appeal or won't show up to the hearing. Your case sounds very winnable. The fact that your termination letter has no reason listed is extremely helpful for you. In PA, vague allegations of "unprofessionalism" without specific documented incidents almost always get overturned on appeal. Just make sure you file that appeal within the 15-day window, keep filing weekly claims, and be prepared to explain your side calmly and factually during the hearing. Good luck!