PA UC hearing scheduled - confused about document submission & attendance requirements

I went through an appeal hearing back in December. You definitely need to submit your evidence before the hearing - that 5-day rule is important! You should send your documents directly to the referee office that's handling your case (the address should be on your hearing notice). Don't just upload them to your regular UC portal because they might not get routed to the right place in time. For the hearing itself, yes, you just need to show up at the scheduled time. Be prepared to explain why you believe you qualify for benefits. Bring extra copies of any documentation you submitted. The referee will give both you and your employer a chance to speak and ask questions. Try to stick to the facts and be respectful even if your employer says things you disagree with.

i had a hearing last summer dont stress too much about it. just tell ur side of the story n be honest. they usually side w the worker unless u did something really bad lol. but definately send those papers in ahead of time!!!!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE YOU!!! They send these notices with half the information missing and expect you to figure it out. I had a hearing in 2024 and the referee was TOTALLY BIASED toward my employer. They didn't even let me finish explaining my side before cutting me off. Then they denied my benefits even though I had proof my employer was lying!!!! Now I'm stuck in appeals hell trying to get a Board review. Make sure you RECORD EVERYTHING and don't let them rush you during the hearing.

To specifically answer your questions: 1. Document submission: You MUST send your evidence to the Referee Office handling your case, not the regular UC service center. The address should be on your hearing notice, usually toward the top. If it's smudged, you can call the Referee Office directly (number should also be on the notice). 2. Evidence to submit: Any documentation that supports why you should be eligible for benefits. This depends on the reason for the appeal, which should be specified in your hearing notice. Common examples include: - If it's a quit case: Evidence showing you had a necessitous and compelling reason to quit - If it's a firing case: Evidence showing you didn't commit willful misconduct - If it's an availability issue: Evidence showing you're able and available for work 3. Attendance: Yes, you must attend, either in person or by phone/video depending on what type of hearing is scheduled. If you don't show up, the referee will likely rule against you. The hearing itself usually lasts 30-45 minutes. The referee will explain the process at the beginning, then both sides present testimony under oath. You'll each have a chance to question the other party. Focus your testimony on the specific issue being appealed, not general complaints about the employer.

i had a hearing last year and it was a whole other mess. my former boss made up all kinds of crazy stuff about me not showing up for shifts when i had proof i was there. anyway what nobody told me is that sometimes these hearings get postponed at the last minute cause the employer doesn't show up or the referee has an emergency. so don't be surprised if that happens. happened to me TWICE before we finally had the actual hearing.

When I went through this last month, I was super confused about the documents too. I tried to call the UC service center to ask questions but kept getting busy signals for days. Finally I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a UC rep within 20 minutes! The rep was able to confirm exactly where to send my documents and answered all my questions about the hearing process. They have a video demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 For my case, I had to send my evidence to the referee office, not upload it to the portal. The phone hearing went smoothly - they called me at the scheduled time, and I just had to enter a PIN from my notice.

To answer your follow-up question about the phone hearing - for most PA UC hearings by phone, they will call YOU at the number you provided. The notice should specify a timeframe (like "between 10:00-10:30 AM"). Make sure to be ready at the earliest time and have good phone reception. If you didn't provide a phone number or need to update it, call the referee office ASAP. Also, for a separation case where your employer claims you quit but you say the position was eliminated, those email chains are EXACTLY the type of evidence you need! Submit them ASAP, and also prepare a clear timeline of events to reference during your testimony.

I'm going through something similar right now!!! Did you request the hearing or did your employer? I'm confused because I've been getting payments for like 2 months and suddenly there's a hearing. Can they make me pay back everything if I lose?

I've been gathering my evidence and I'm going to call the referee office first thing tomorrow to confirm where to send everything. I really appreciate all the advice from everyone! Quick follow-up question - should I dress professionally for a phone hearing? Obviously they can't see me, but I wonder if it helps me feel more prepared?