PA UC hearing nightmare - showed up 9 minutes late and got locked out! What happens next?

Unfortunately, UC referees are really strict about timeliness. When you miss a hearing, they'll usually make a decision based on whatever evidence they have. Since you weren't there to present your side, and your employer probably was, that's not good. You need to file what's called a request to reopen immediately - like TODAY. There should be instructions in your hearing notice about how to do this. You'll need to explain that you had an unavoidable transportation issue and made reasonable efforts to arrive on time.

same thing happened to me last year!! showed up 7 min late and they wouldnt let me in. i got a decision in the mail 2 weeks later saying i was denied benefits becuz i didnt attend. had to appeal it all over again took like 2 months to get a new hearing date. such bs

You need to act quickly. Here's what to do: 1. File a Request for Reopening of Hearing ASAP (within 15 days of receiving the decision notice). This form is available on the PA UC website under Appeals. 2. Include documentation of why you were late if possible (traffic alerts from that day, etc.) 3. Call the UC Service Center to explain what happened and ask about expediting the new hearing. 4. Continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for the new hearing - this is CRITICAL. Being 9 minutes late is unfortunate, but you may have a good case for reopening if you can demonstrate you made reasonable efforts to arrive on time and the delay was beyond your control.

I was in a similar situation back in January and found this service called Claimyr that helped me actually get through to a UC rep within 20 minutes instead of calling for days. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 If you need to talk to someone quickly about your hearing reschedule, it might be worth trying. I was able to get my hearing rescheduled after explaining my situation to an actual human at UC instead of just submitting a form and hoping for the best. Just mentioning it because time is definitely a factor in your situation.

this whole system is designed to screw people over i swear. 9 minutes late and they cant let you in?? but when THEY are late or have technical problems its fine we just have to wait. UC office once kept me waiting 45 minutes past my scheduled call time but if i had been 5 minutes late theyd have marked me as a no-show. the double standards are ridiculous

I was 20 minutes late to my hearing but I called ahead when I knew I was running late and they actually rescheduled me on the spot! Did you try calling when you knew you were going to be late? Sometimes they're more understanding if you give them a heads up. The important thing is to file that reopening request right away and keep filing your weekly claims.

One more important thing to remember: If they deny your request to reopen, you can still appeal that denial to the Board of Review. So you have multiple chances to get this corrected. Document everything - write down exactly what time you arrived, who you spoke with, what was said, etc. Take photos of traffic conditions if this ever happens again. The more documentation you have, the better your chances.

anyone else think its weird that they make these hearings at such specific times but dont have any flexibility for real life? like some of us have kids and jobs and traffic exists lol. 9 minutes is nothing, they should have still let you in. the whole system feels like its designed to deny as many people as possible.

UPDATE: I filed the Request for Reopening form today and also used Claimyr to get through to an actual UC rep! The rep confirmed they received my written statement from yesterday and said they would attach it to my file. She said the referee will likely issue a decision on my original case within 7-10 days, but I should still be prepared to appeal if it goes against me. Thanks everyone for the help - will post another update when I hear something!