PA UC fact finding taking 5+ months - fired while on injury, no income since October

omg same boat here!!! fired while on FMLA in November, UC said they have to "investigate" cuz employer said i was fired for attendance but i had approved leave!!! been waiting 4 months now. so many bills piling up i dont know what to do either?? every time i call they just say keep waiting. this system is GARBAGE

I went through a similar situation last year. When your employer contests your claim, it automatically triggers a fact-finding investigation where they have to determine if you were fired for willful misconduct (which would disqualify you) or if the termination wasn't your fault (which would qualify you). These investigations are seriously backlogged right now. Some things that might help: 1. Make sure you responded to ANY fact-finding questionnaires they sent (mail or email) 2. Check your dashboard for any "open issues" that might need documents 3. Contact your state representative's office - they can sometimes expedite UC issues 4. Look into PA LIHEAP for utility assistance while you wait 5. Apply for SNAP benefits if you haven't already Unfortunately, if approved, you WILL eventually get all backpay from when you first applied, but that doesn't help with immediate expenses.

waited 6 months last year for my determination. system is broken. they'll probably backpay you eventually but doesnt help now when bills due

The PA UC system is INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED to be this frustrating! They make it impossible to reach anyone and drag out these investigations hoping people will just give up or find another job before they have to pay. I waited 4 months for my determination after being laid off, and then they STILL found some BS reason to deny me initially and I had to appeal. If you're having trouble getting through on the phone (which EVERYONE does), I finally broke down and used this service called Claimyr that got me through to a PA UC agent within 20 minutes after spending WEEKS trying on my own. It costs money but honestly saved my sanity. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo video: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 When I finally got to talk to a real person, I asked for a supervisor and explained my financial hardship, and they were actually able to expedite my case. But you HAVE to get through to someone first, and that's the hardest part!

Based on what you're describing, your case is particularly complex because it involves both workers' compensation denial and termination while on injury leave. This creates multiple layers that need to be investigated. Here's what's likely happening behind the scenes: 1. Your employer is likely arguing that you were terminated for cause (which would disqualify you) 2. You're contending you were wrongfully terminated while on injury leave (which would qualify you) 3. The workers' comp denial adds another layer of complexity Unfortunately, the current average wait time for contested claim determinations in PA is 20-24 weeks (about 5-6 months). This is unacceptably long but relatively normal right now. While you wait: - Document EVERYTHING - all calls, who you spoke to, dates, times - Continue filing weekly claims without fail - Contact your state representative AND state senator (both offices can help) - Apply for emergency rental assistance through your county's assistance office - Look into local food banks and community action agencies If you do get through on the phone, you can request an "interim payment" due to financial hardship while your case is being decided. This is discretionary but sometimes granted in extreme situations.

my nephew got fired from his job when he got hurt too but they told him he couldnt get UC because he was suppose to file for workers comp. did u appeal the workers comp denial? maybe thats why UC is taking so long to decide?

A quick update on what you could try next: Pennsylvania does have an "Unemployment Compensation Service Center" specifically for addressing claims that have been pending for an excessive amount of time. You can email them at UCHelp@pa.gov with your claim details and specifically mention the 5+ month wait time. Put "URGENT - 5 MONTH DELAY" in your subject line. Also, the PA UC Appeal Board has a separate phone line: 717-787-5122. While they normally only handle appeals, they sometimes can check on extremely delayed initial determinations. Lastly, be sure to keep checking your mail/email/dashboard DAILY. Sometimes they send questionnaires with very tight deadlines (often just 7 days), and if you miss responding, it resets the whole investigation timeline.

this happened to me back in 2023! took 7 months to get decision but got ALL backpay at once. If u win dont spend it all at once cause TAXES!! they dont take out enough and i got killed at tax time lol

One additional thing to consider - in your weekly certifications, make sure you're consistently reporting your job search activities. Even though you haven't been paid yet, failing to report the required job search activities could lead to disqualification for those specific weeks. PA requires at least one application and one work search activity weekly. This is especially important for contested claims like yours, as they will scrutinize everything if they're looking for reasons to deny benefits. Also, if you haven't already, check to make sure your payment method is properly set up in the system. Once your claim is approved, payment will be directed to whatever payment method you have on file. Some people discover after approval that their banking information was incorrect or their Money Network debit card address was wrong, causing further delays.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - 5 months without income is absolutely devastating. I went through something similar in 2022 when I was fired while on medical leave, though mine only took about 3 months to resolve. A few things that helped me during the wait: 1. Document your financial hardship thoroughly - keep records of all bills, notices, etc. This can help if you get a chance to request expedited processing 2. Check with your local 211 service (dial 2-1-1) for emergency assistance programs in your area 3. If you have any union representation or know an employment attorney, sometimes they can make calls on your behalf that carry more weight 4. Consider reaching out to local news stations - they sometimes do stories on UC delays that can put pressure on the system The backpay situation is real though - when I finally got approved, I received about $8,000 all at once covering the months I waited. It was overwhelming but such a relief. Hang in there and keep fighting - you're doing everything right by continuing to file weekly and staying persistent.