PA UC open issue for 'Unsatisfactory Work Performance' - stuck in limbo for weeks

same thing hapend to me last month!! my boss said i wasnt fast enough at data entry but they never trained me right. the system flagged it and i had to wait for them to schedule a phone interview. took like 4 weeks before they even called me!!

When you get a work performance issue, PA UC has to investigate whether you were fired for deliberate misconduct or just not being a good fit. Big difference! If it's just performance issues (not meeting standards/targets) but you were trying your best, you should still qualify. But if they determine you were deliberately breaking rules or ignoring instructions, they'll likely deny benefits. They need to hear both sides - yours and the employer's. That's why there's usually a phone interview scheduled. Keep filing your weekly claims while you wait! That's super important.

I had almost the same issue! CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY! They denied my claim after 5 weeks because the employer claimed I "knowingly violated attendance policy" when really I was just late twice because of bus schedules!!! The SYSTEM IS RIGGED to make us wait and give up!!!

I worked for PA UC for 8 years, so I can explain what's happening. With an "Unsatisfactory Work Performance" issue, they need to determine if this was: 1. Just poor performance despite your best efforts (usually eligible for benefits) 2. Deliberate negligence or rule-breaking (usually not eligible) What's happening now is your employer has 7 days to respond to the state's inquiry. Some employers don't bother responding, which usually means you'll get approved after the deadline. Other employers fight claims aggressively. Try calling exactly at 7:59 AM when they open. That's your best chance of getting through.

If u need to talk to a real person at PA UC try this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). My sister-in-law had a similar situation and couldnt get thru for weeks. They got her a callback from UC the same day. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Worth it when ur stuck in limbo like this and cant get answers.

To directly answer your question about resolving this issue: 1. Continue calling PA UC (early morning is best) 2. Be prepared to explain why your performance issues weren't willful misconduct 3. Keep filing weekly claims and doing your work search activities 4. If they schedule a phone interview, have ready: dates of warnings/discussions about performance, any documentation of training you received, and a clear explanation of how you tried to meet expectations 5. If denied, you can appeal within 15 days - many performance-based denials get overturned on appeal Also, check your dashboard and messages daily. Sometimes they schedule interviews without much notice.

did u make sure to do ur work search requiremnts? u need 2 apply to jobs each week or they will deny u regardless of the other issue. lots of people forget this part

UPDATE on my situation - I finally got my phone interview and they approved me!! took forever but eventually got all the back payments. just hang in there. they asked me lots of details about what happened and if I had been warned before. just be honest.

One more important thing: if you do get a phone interview scheduled, make absolutely sure you're available to answer that call. If you miss it, it can delay your claim by several more weeks. They typically give you a date range rather than a specific appointment time, which is frustrating but necessary for their workflow. Keep your phone with you and answer any calls from unknown or blocked numbers during that period.

I'm in almost the exact same situation right now! Filed 2 weeks ago after being let go from my retail job for "not meeting sales targets" and have the same "Unsatisfactory Work Performance" issue just sitting there. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful - I didn't realize I should keep filing weekly claims even while it's pending. I've been so frustrated trying to get through on the phone but I'm going to try calling right at 8am tomorrow like someone suggested. It's reassuring to hear that Luis got approved eventually - gives me hope that this will work out if I just stay patient and keep trying.

I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! Had the "Unsatisfactory Work Performance" flag for almost a month before they finally called me for the phone interview. Here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: 1. The waiting is the worst part, but keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - you WILL get backpay if approved 2. When they do call for the interview, they mainly want to know if you were trying your best vs. deliberately not following rules 3. My employer never even responded to their inquiry, so I got approved automatically after their 10-day deadline passed 4. The whole process took about 5 weeks total but I got paid for every week I had filed Keep your chin up and don't stop applying for jobs in the meantime. The system is slow but it does work eventually. Also, if you have any documentation from your job (employee handbook, training materials, performance reviews) keep those handy in case they ask about them during the interview.

I just wanted to add something that might help - if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling on different days of the week. I noticed that Tuesdays and Wednesdays seemed to have slightly shorter wait times than Mondays and Fridays. Also, don't hang up if you get the busy signal - sometimes if you stay on the line for a few minutes, it will connect you to the hold queue. One thing that really helped me prepare for my phone interview was writing down a timeline of everything that happened at my job - when I started, what training I got, when any performance discussions happened, and exactly what my manager said when they let me go. Having it all written out made me feel more confident and organized when they called. The financial stress is real, but try to remember that this is temporary. Most people with performance-related issues do get approved eventually, especially if you were genuinely trying to do your job well. Keep pushing through those phone calls and don't give up!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed my claim 6 weeks ago after getting let go from my warehouse job for "productivity issues" and I've had that same "Unsatisfactory Work Performance" flag haunting my dashboard ever since. The stress is unreal - I've probably called 50+ times and either get a busy signal or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. What's really frustrating is that I was genuinely trying my best at that job, but they had unrealistic quotas that even veteran employees struggled to meet. I was still in my first 90 days and learning the system, but apparently that didn't matter to them. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly the most helpful information I've gotten in weeks. I had no idea about calling right at 7:59 AM or that I should keep filing weekly claims even while it's pending. I've been so defeated that I stopped filing after week 3, but I'm going to restart immediately after reading this. @e91049671091 your insider knowledge is incredibly valuable - thank you for sharing that! And @b939b4582196aa832c9a412f04029b99 your update gives me hope that there's actually light at the end of this tunnel. Going to keep grinding on those morning phone calls and hopefully get some movement on this soon.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Got flagged for "Unsatisfactory Work Performance" after being let go from my office job 3 weeks ago. They said I wasn't processing invoices fast enough, but their training was only 2 days and the previous person had been there for 5 years! Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope - I had no idea that most performance-related issues eventually get approved. I've been panicking thinking I'd automatically get denied. @e91049671091 your explanation about the difference between poor performance vs deliberate misconduct really cleared things up for me. I was definitely trying my best, just couldn't master their complicated system in the short time they gave me. Going to start calling at 7:59 AM sharp tomorrow and keep filing those weekly claims. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so reassuring to know I'm not alone in this frustrating process!