PA UC denied my claim after ex-employer falsely claimed I was on paid PTO instead of medical leave - need advice!

This EXACT thing happened to me in 2023!!! It's like these companies have a playbook for denying valid claims. They know exactly what to say to UC to get your benefits denied. Did you get anything in writing when they denied your leave request? You'll need that documentation for your appeal.

u need to appeal this right away you only have 15 days from the determination letter date. make sure u check the little appeal box and explain exactly what happened. uc usually sides with employers but medical stuff is different

You're dealing with what's called a "facts in dispute" case. This is very common with UC claims. Here's what you need to do: 1. File your appeal within the 15-day window (absolutely critical) 2. Gather ALL documentation: denial of leave request, medical records showing necessity of surgery, resignation letter, any communications about PTO 3. Write a clear statement explaining that you had no choice but to resign due to denial of necessary medical accommodation 4. Request a copy of your employer's statement to UC for review In cases like this, the hearing examiner will look at whose version of events is better supported by evidence. PA law recognizes medically necessary resignations as potentially eligible for benefits under certain circumstances. This isn't considered a voluntary quit if you had no reasonable alternative.

Yes, during the hearing (which is often conducted by phone), you'll have the opportunity to present your evidence and directly address their claims. The referee will allow both sides to make statements and ask questions. The timeline varies, but appeals are currently taking about 6-8 weeks to schedule in PA. You won't receive benefits during this time unless you win the appeal, at which point you'll get back payments for eligible weeks. Make sure to continue filing your weekly claims during the appeal process! This is extremely important - if you win your appeal but haven't been filing weekly claims, you won't receive those back payments.

I went through something similar last year when my employer claimed I quit for a different reason than I actually did. After weeks of trying to call the UC service center and getting busy signals, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with a PA UC representative. They have a service that basically waits on hold for you and calls when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration and I was able to explain my situation directly to someone who could help. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 For your situation specifically, I'd recommend getting through to an agent ASAP to request a copy of exactly what your employer told them about the PTO. That way you can address those specific claims in your appeal hearing with counter-evidence.

ur gonna need to fax all ur medical proof and evrything to the service center too. My sister works at uc and she says they need everything in writing before the hearing or they just go with whatever the employer says. also keep trying to call them cuz sometimes they can just fix it right away if u get the right person

make sure you write down exactly what happened with dates and everything for the hearing. i messed up my dates when the referee asked questions and it made me look like i was lying even tho i wasn't. they're super picky about details. i lost my appeal bcuz of it

One more important point: PA unemployment law recognizes something called "necessitous and compelling" reasons for quitting that still allow you to qualify for benefits. Medical necessity is one of those reasons, BUT you typically need to show you tried to preserve your employment first (like requesting leave, accommodations, etc.) before resigning. Your case sounds strong because: 1. You had a documented medical need (the surgery) 2. You attempted to preserve employment by requesting leave 3. The employer denied the medically necessary leave 4. You had no reasonable alternative but to resign Make sure your appeal emphasizes these points specifically. The PTO misrepresentation is definitely concerning, but the core of your case is that you had a necessitous and compelling reason to leave employment.

Yes! A doctor's statement would be extremely valuable evidence. Ideally, it should confirm: 1. The medical necessity of the surgery 2. Why it couldn't be postponed 3. The required recovery time 4. Any work restrictions during recovery This documentation directly supports your claim that you had a necessitous and compelling reason to leave employment. Have your doctor address it "To Whom It May Concern" and make it as specific as possible about your particular situation. General notes are less helpful than statements that directly address the circumstances of your unemployment claim.

wait i'm confused abt something... if you had a surgery and your employer denied time off, couldn't you have filed for FMLA instead of quitting? doesn't that protect your job? not criticizing just wondering if that was an option