PA UC disqualified me for missing employment services registration - union member filing appeal - how long to wait?

same happened 2 me but with carpenters union. took like 5 weeks to get decision and they DENIED me anyway. said union members still gotta register w/ employment services no matter what. its BS but thats what they told me

5 WEEKS?? Are you serious? I can't go that long without pay. Did you keep filing your weekly claims during that time?

The PA UC law changed in 2023 regarding union members and work registration requirements. Union members are now required to register with the PA CareerLink system within 30 days of filing their initial claim, even if they get job referrals through their union hall. This catches a lot of union members by surprise. For your appeal timeline: currently appeals are taking approximately 3-4 weeks for a referee decision. Since you've already registered and provided documentation, that will help your case. Continue filing your weekly claims during the appeal process, and yes, if your appeal is successful, you'll receive back payments for any weeks you were eligible but initially denied. Make sure you attend your appeal hearing when scheduled (likely by phone). Have your union business agent available to testify if possible.

Thank you for this info! I had no idea the law changed - the rep at the union hall never mentioned it when I started my claim. I'll definitely keep filing weekly. Any idea if I should contact the appeals office directly or just wait for them to schedule something?

My brother went through this exact thing with the plumbers union last year. The whole system is rigged against workers if you ask me. They make these little technical rules just to deny benefits we PAID FOR with our taxes!!! He lost almost $2000 waiting for his appeal to go through and had to borrow money from family.

The system isn't rigged, it's just complicated and they don't communicate the requirements clearly. I work at a career center (not PA) and we see this all the time. Most people who follow the proper procedures get their benefits eventually, but the rules ARE confusing.

just wait for the letter in the mail it will have your hearing date dont miss it or youll lose automatically

I had a similar issue (not union-related, but a work registration problem) and was able to resolve it quickly by actually speaking with an unemployment representative. After days of busy signals, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to PA UC. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is ready. Watched their demo (https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2) and was skeptical but it actually worked. The agent was able to explain exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal and even noted in my file that I had corrected the registration issue. My appeal was approved in just under 2 weeks. Definitely keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process. And make sure you're completing your work search activities each week too (applying to 2 jobs + 1 work search activity).

I might try this. I've called like 15 times already and can't get through. Did they explain if there's any way to expedite the appeal or is it just a waiting game no matter what?

They said appeals follow a queue system based on filing date, so there's no official way to expedite. However, having your documentation already submitted and your registration completed can make the actual decision faster once they review your case. The representative did add detailed notes to my file, which I think helped speed things along once it reached the referee.

I'm going through a similar situation right now (week 2 of waiting). My appeal is for a different reason, but my referee hearing is scheduled for next Thursday. One thing I learned is that you need to be super prepared for the hearing. Have all your documents ready, be able to explain your situation clearly, and have any witnesses available. From what I understand, the actual hearing is only about 15-20 minutes long, so you don't get much time to make your case. The referee will ask you specific questions, and you need to answer directly without going off on tangents. Hopefully your union membership will help your case. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Thanks for the advice! Good luck with your hearing next week. I'll definitely update once I hear something.

my cousin works for the state he says appeals take forever right now cuz theyre short staffed just like everything else

One important note: since you've now registered with PA CareerLink, make sure you're completing your work search requirements EVERY week (even during the appeal). This means applying to 2 jobs and completing 1 work search activity weekly. Document everything carefully. Even if you're expecting work through your union, you must meet these requirements until your claim situation is fully resolved. Also, check your dashboard and email regularly for any requests for additional information. Sometimes they'll ask for more documentation before scheduling the hearing, and missing these requests can cause further delays.

This is getting so complicated. How do I document my union hall check-ins as part of my work search? We're required to check the job board daily, but there's no paperwork for that.

I'm a union member too (different trade), and I keep a simple log with dates, times, and the name of who I spoke with at the hall. For PA UC purposes, visiting or contacting your union hiring hall counts as a

This is why the system is BROKEN!!! Forcing union tradespeople to apply for random jobs we're never going to take just to check boxes. What a waste of everyone's time including the employers who get these applications. Pure bureaucratic nonsense.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got disqualified last week for the same registration issue. I'm a Local 26 member and nobody at the union office mentioned this requirement when I filed my initial claim back in February. Filed my appeal on Friday and just got confirmation they received it today. One thing I learned from calling the UC office (took me 3 hours of redial) is that they're processing appeals in the order they're received, and the average wait time is 21-28 business days right now. The rep told me to keep filing my weekly claims and make sure I'm doing my 2 job applications + 1 work search activity each week even during the appeal. She also mentioned that having your union documentation already submitted with the appeal (which sounds like you did) typically helps speed up the actual decision once they review your case. Fingers crossed we both get good news soon!