PA UC denied my claim because I'm on leave of absence - thought I was eligible?

Unfortunately, in Pennsylvania, you generally can't collect UC benefits if you're on a voluntary leave of absence. The key question is whether your leave was voluntary or involuntary. If the employer forced you to take this leave, you might have a case for appeal. If you agreed to the leave (even reluctantly), it's considered voluntary and you probably won't qualify.

same thing happened to my cousin last yr... PA UC system is a MESS!!! they tell u one thing then do another

The key distinction PA UC makes is whether you are unemployed through no fault of your own. A mandated/forced leave of absence where you had no choice can potentially qualify you for benefits, but you need to prove it wasn't voluntary. For your appeal, gather any documentation showing the leave was required by your employer - emails, the restructuring announcement, anything showing you didn't request this leave. The specific wording on forms matters a lot in these cases.

Have you tried calling PA UC to get clarification? Sometimes the online system makes automatic denials that an actual person can override once they understand your specific circumstances.

I was in a similar situation in 2023! My employer called it a "temporary layoff" instead of a leave of absence and that made all the difference. Ask your HR if they can reclassify it - the wording matters SO MUCH with PA unemployment!

If you're struggling to get through to PA UC on the phone, I recently used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual rep within 20 minutes after I'd been trying for days. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 that shows how it works. It really helped me resolve my open issue when I was in a similar situation with confusing determination letters.

Did yur determination letter give u appeal instructions? Theres usually a form and a deadline (15 days I think) so dont wait too long to file it!

One more thing to consider: check if your leave of absence qualifies for any other type of assistance. While regular UC might deny you, there could be other programs through your employer or state that can help. Also, make sure your appeal clearly explains that this was not voluntary - that's the critical factor in these cases.

my friend just went thru this!! make sure u keep filing your weekly claims even while appealing!! if u win the appeal they'll pay u for those weeks but only if u filed!

I went through something very similar last year! The key thing that helped me was getting a letter from my employer explicitly stating that the leave was "involuntary" and "mandatory due to business restructuring." Even though my initial paperwork said "approved leave," I had HR write a new letter clarifying that I had no choice in the matter. I also included the original restructuring announcement and any emails showing I was selected for leave rather than requesting it. My appeal was successful after about 6 weeks. Don't give up - the documentation you mentioned about being "selected" for leave sounds promising for your case!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now too! My employer put me on "administrative leave" for budget reasons and PA UC initially approved me, then reversed it saying I'm still technically employed. It's so confusing because I'm not getting paid either! I've been reading through all these comments and it seems like the appeal process is really important. @Elijah Jackson - definitely keep filing those weekly claims like Mason mentioned, and gather all that documentation about the leave being mandatory. The fact that they said you were "selected" for leave instead of requesting it should really help your case. Good luck with your appeal!

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The Pennsylvania UC system is so confusing with how they handle leaves of absence. What really helped me was getting my employer to provide a detailed letter explaining that the leave was "employer-initiated" rather than "employee-requested." I also made sure to include any documentation showing I had no input in the decision - like meeting notes or emails where they informed me (not asked me) about the leave. The appeal process took about 8 weeks but I eventually got approved and received backpay for all the weeks I had been filing. Don't let the confusing paperwork discourage you - if your employer truly forced this leave due to restructuring, you have a strong case. Make sure to emphasize in your appeal that you were available and willing to work but your employer made you unavailable through no fault of your own.