PA UC overpayment appeal catastrophe - can't feed my kids or pay rent while waiting

omg thats awful!! the same exact thing happened to my sister last year and she was about to be evicted too. its totally wrong how they can just cut you off when THEY made the mistake in the first place. did they tell u how long the appeal would take? for my sis it took like 9 weeks which is ridiculous

This situation sounds incredibly difficult, and I'm sorry you're going through it. Here's what you need to know about PA UC overpayment appeals: 1. File your appeal immediately if you haven't already. You have 15 days from the date on the determination letter. 2. You can request a waiver of the overpayment if it wasn't your fault (called "non-fault overpayment"). This is critical. 3. Most importantly, you can request that they continue your benefits during the appeal process. This is called a "Request for Relief from Benefit Suspension." Call and specifically ask for this form. It's not automatic - you must request it. 4. Document every conversation with UC - get names, ID numbers, and summaries of what was discussed. 5. Contact your state representative's office immediately. They can often intervene in emergency UC situations, especially when children are involved.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BREAK YOU!!!!! I went through this EXACT nightmare in 2023 and nearly ended up on the street. They DELIBERATELY don't tell you about the relief options because they WANT to keep your money!!!!! Make sure you DEMAND to speak to a supervisor because the regular reps will just give you the runaround all day. Record every call if you can (PA is a two-party consent state so tell them you're recording). They suddenly become MORE HELPFUL when they know you're documenting everything.

I work with a legal aid organization that helps with UC issues, and I can confirm what others have said. The Request for Relief from Benefit Suspension is your best immediate option. Additionally: 1. In your appeal, clearly state that this is creating a financial emergency and request expedited processing 2. If your child has documented medical needs, include that information as it can help prioritize your case 3. For immediate assistance while waiting, try calling 211 - some emergency funds may still be available even if the programs you contacted are depleted 4. Ask UC specifically about a "financial hardship waiver" for the overpayment - this is different from the fault/non-fault determination If your overpayment was from 4+ years ago, there may also be a statute of limitations issue worth exploring. PA generally has limitations on how far back they can collect certain types of overpayments.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to UC faster? When I was dealing with my overpayment mess last month, I kept getting busy signals for days. Someone on here recommended claimyr.com and it actually worked - they got me connected to a rep in about 25 minutes instead of spending days redialing. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The key is getting to an actual knowledgeable rep who can help with the Relief from Benefit Suspension form others mentioned. Regular reps often don't mention all your options, but if you can get through to someone in the appeals department directly, they're much more helpful.

im so sorry ur going thru this!! quick question tho - was ur original UC claim during covid? because if it was related to any of the pandemic programs like PUA they have different rules for overpayment and appeals. my friend had a similar situation but it turned out she qualified for an automatic waiver because of some federal guideline thing

Based on your latest response, I think there might be a misunderstanding about your claim period. Early 2021 was still during active COVID relief programs, and different rules applied then. This could be important for your appeal. Also, there's a 3-year limit on most non-fraud overpayment collections in PA. If it's been 4.5 years as you mentioned and there's no allegation of fraud, you should specifically mention this in your appeal and when speaking with representatives. Request a copy of your full claim file immediately - you have a right to see all documents related to your case. This will help you understand exactly why they're claiming an overpayment now after so much time has passed.

did u try calling community legal services? my cousin got free legal help from them when UC said she owed like $9000 from an overpayment. they got it reduced to like $2000 and she could still keep getting her current benefits while paying a little each week

One more thing - if you're facing eviction, make sure to apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) immediately. Even if some agencies are out of funds, the main ERAP program may still have resources. Your situation with a child involved and benefits being interrupted would likely qualify as a priority case. Also, when you speak with UC tomorrow, use these exact phrases: 1. "I'm requesting a fault overpayment determination review" 2. "I need a financial hardship waiver application" 3. "I'm requesting relief from benefit suspension during my appeal" These specific terms trigger certain processes that representatives are required to address.

this happened to me and my boyfriend last year!!! the trick is you HAVE to keep calling and calling until you get someone who knows what their doing. half the reps dont even know the proper procedures! eventually we got someone who knew about the emergency continuation of benefits during appeal and they fixed it in like 2 days. dont give up!!!

I want to check in - were you able to get through to UC and request the Relief from Benefit Suspension? If they're still giving you trouble, consider contacting the Pennsylvania Unemployment Project or Community Legal Services as others suggested. They offer free assistance specifically for these situations and know how to navigate the system. Also, if your child has medical needs, make sure to document how the benefit interruption is affecting their care. This can be critical information for both your appeal and any emergency assistance applications.