PA UC hearing scheduled after ex-employer filed late appeal - what to expect?

I went through this exact situation last year. First, don't panic - the fact that they filed after the 21-day deadline actually works in your favor. The referee will likely question why they filed late, and they need a really good reason for the judge to even consider their appeal. As for the hearing itself: 1) It's usually by phone these days 2) Typically scheduled 3-4 weeks after the appeal 3) Lasts about 30-45 minutes 4) You'll need any documentation supporting your version of events. My hearing was pretty straightforward - the referee asked both sides questions and gave each time to respond. Be professional, stick to facts, and emphasize you were let go due to business conditions, not misconduct. The burden of proof is on the employer to prove misconduct, which is a high bar.

my old boss tried this with me to! they waited like 6 weeks to appeal and the judge asked them right away why they took so long LOL. make sure u have all ur termination papers ready and any emails or texts showing the real reason they let u go. i won bcuz my boss cudnt prove i did anything wrong.

ABSOLUTE GARBAGE that employers can do this! They know exactly what they're doing - dragging things out hoping you'll just give up. The PA UC system is DESIGNED to exhaust people. I've been through THREE hearings with my former employer and every time they bring some new bogus excuse. Make sure you get everything in writing and document EVERY interaction. The system is rigged against workers, but if you're persistent you can win. Just be prepared for them to lie through their teeth - they always do.

So "waiting for decision to be written" actually means different things depending on your situation. If you've already had a hearing, it means the referee is writing their decision. But in your case, since no hearing has happened yet, it likely means the system is processing the appeal request and determining if it meets requirements (including timeliness). Regarding your benefits: According to PA UC regulations, you should continue receiving benefits while the appeal is pending, assuming you keep filing your weekly claims. However, be aware that if the decision is eventually reversed, you might have to repay those benefits. For the hearing, bring: - Any documentation about your termination - Witness information if applicable - Records of any performance reviews or disciplinary actions - Timeline of events leading to termination The referee will give both sides opportunity to present their case and question each other. Be concise, honest, and polite even if the employer isn't.

I was in your exact shoes! had 2 wait almost 5 weeks for my hearing but then my old job didnt even show up lolll so i won by default. but seriously when ur preparing just focus on the FACTS not feelings. the refree doesnt care if ur boss was mean, just what actually happened with ur job ending. stick to dates, who said what exacty, and if u have any writeups or email from when u got fired.

1 more thing i forgot - u can have a witness if someone else saw what happened when u got fired. My coworker was willing to testify for me but then my boss didnt show up anyway lol

Have you tried calling UC to ask about your status? You'll probably need to talk to someone directly about this.

If you need to reach PA UC quickly about your claim status before your hearing, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with an employer appeal and couldn't get through on the phones for days. Their service connected me to a UC agent in about 30 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 agent was able to confirm my benefits would continue during the appeal and explained exactly what to expect next. Having that clarity made a huge difference with my stress levels while waiting for the hearing.

One more important thing - the hearing notice will be mailed to you with the date, time, and instructions. It usually arrives 7-10 days before the scheduled hearing. READ THIS CAREFULLY as it will contain specific instructions about submitting evidence beforehand. Any documentation you want considered must be submitted according to their guidelines, usually at least 5 days before the hearing. And don't miss the hearing! If you don't attend but your employer does, the referee will likely rule in their favor by default.

When the referee asks why you should receive benefits, focus on these key points: 1. You were separated from employment through no fault of your own (business reasons, not misconduct) 2. You were capable and available for work during all claiming weeks 3. You have been actively seeking employment as required 4. Your employer's late appeal should be dismissed due to untimeliness Keep emotions out of it and stick to these facts. The legal standard for misconduct is pretty high - they need to prove willful misconduct or deliberate violation of policies, not just that you made honest mistakes or weren't perfect at your job.

good luck!! let us know what happens with ur hearning! most ppl on here actually win there appeals so try not 2 stress 2 much

I'm going through something similar right now - my former employer also filed a late appeal claiming misconduct when I was clearly laid off due to budget cuts. What really helped me was creating a detailed timeline with dates of everything that happened leading up to my termination. I also gathered any text messages or emails that showed the real reason for the layoff. One thing I learned is that you should also prepare for them to ask about your job search efforts during the hearing. The referee might want to know that you've been actively looking for work while collecting benefits. Keep records of where you've applied and when. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but remember that the burden of proof is on them to show you committed misconduct, not on you to prove you didn't. Stay strong and stick to the facts!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago when my retail job let me go due to "restructuring" and then my manager tried to appeal claiming I had attendance issues (which was totally false - I had maybe called out sick twice in a year). A few things that really helped me: 1. Screenshot or print EVERYTHING from your termination - any emails, texts, or written notices that mention the real reason (business being slow) 2. If you had good performance reviews or any positive feedback before the layoff, gather that too 3. Write down names of any coworkers who witnessed conversations about the business struggling The fact that they filed late is honestly a huge advantage for you. In my case, the referee spent the first 10 minutes of the hearing just grilling my former employer about why they missed the deadline. They had no good answer and seemed really unprepared. Also, don't be intimidated if they bring their HR person or lawyer to the hearing. I was terrified about going up against "professionals" but the referee was totally fair and just wanted to hear the facts from both sides. You know what actually happened better than anyone! Keep us updated on how it goes - we're rooting for you! 💪