PA UC hearing anxiety: Employer might lie about firing me with no written notice - need advice

Been exactly where you are back in January. Document EVERYTHING you can remember about the conversation - date, time, exactly what was said, etc. Do you have any emails or texts after the meeting that reference you being fired? What about coworkers who knew you were let go? The hearing officer will look at all circumstantial evidence too. Did you stop going to work immediately after? Did they hire a replacement? Did they give you your final paycheck? All these things point to the truth. Don't stress too much - the hearing officers are pretty good at detecting dishonesty.

ugh thats so stressful!! my boss tried pulling some bs like that too. they hate paying unemployment

I've represented clients at UC hearings for years. Here's what you need to know: PA UC hearings operate under what's called a "preponderance of evidence" standard, which simply means "more likely than not" (51%). The referee is trained to assess credibility when testimonies conflict. That text to your coworker on the same day is actually quite valuable - contemporaneous evidence carries significant weight. Also, employers bear the burden of proof in discharge cases. They must establish misconduct, not just any reason for termination. During the hearing: 1. Speak clearly and directly 2. Answer only what is asked 3. Never interrupt 4. Have a timeline written in front of you 5. If asked why you were terminated, simply state what you were told You're better positioned than you think.

PA UC system is rigged to favor employers! I had three witnesses at my hearing and they still sided with my employer who straight-up LIED about everything! Don't get your hopes up!!! 😠

Do you have proof they paid you after you stopped showing up? Like a paystub showing dates? That's going to be one of your stronger pieces of evidence since they wouldn't pay someone who quit or abandoned their job. Also, save any badge, email access, parking pass deactivation info - all that proves they considered you terminated. And remember to call in early for your phone hearing! I missed mine because I thought they'd call exactly at the scheduled time, but they actually called 10 mins early and I missed my chance. Had to request a whole new hearing which took another 6 weeks.

I tried calling PA UC for weeks about a similar situation and could never get through. Totally fed up, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual UC rep in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The rep was able to tell me exactly what documentation I needed for my hearing and what to expect. Seriously reduced my stress level before my hearing. Might be worth checking out if you want to talk to someone directly about your specific situation.

I went through something similar in 2025 with my hearing. What you need to bring: - A written timeline of events (dates are super important) - Any emails or texts that mention you being fired, even if just to friends/family from that day - Your last paystub - Any performance reviews (if they were good, this helps counter misconduct claims) - Names of any coworkers who knew you were fired (the judge can subpoena them if needed) During my hearing, my employer tried claiming I was fired for excessive tardiness but couldn't produce any written warnings. The judge called them out on this lack of documentation and ruled in my favor. PA requires employers to show they gave you warnings and chances to improve before firing for most misconduct reasons. Stay calm, stick to facts, and you'll be ok. The judges really do try to be fair.

One more thing - be prepared for your employer to have an HR person or even a lawyer representing them. Don't let this intimidate you. The referee runs the hearing and will make sure you get your chance to speak. Just answer questions simply and truthfully. Don't get emotional or start arguing directly with your former employer. That always looks bad.

make sure u dress nice for the video hearing! my friend wore a hoodie and felt like the judge was judging him lol

After your hearing, regardless of the outcome, make sure you continue filing your weekly claims. Many claimants stop filing during the appeal process, which is a mistake. If you win, you'll only be paid for weeks you actually filed claims.