PA UC overpayment appeal hearing - any success stories? Worth fighting?

Yes! I won my overpayment appeal last month. They claimed I received $3,700 I wasn't entitled to because of a job separation issue. Bring EVERYTHING to your hearing - all your weekly certification printouts, any emails from employers, pay stubs that show your reported income, and any communications with UC. The referee actually listened to my side and reversed the decision. Don't give up before you try!

i had one of these last yr... total waste of time tbh. referee just rubber stamped whatever UC said. they said i owed 5200 and now its garnishing my tax returns

If you reported everything correctly and can prove it, ABSOLUTELY go to the hearing. I represented clients in these hearings before. The UC system often makes mistakes especially with part-time income reporting because their system is confusing. Bring all pay stubs, any screenshots of your weekly certifications, and a clear timeline of when you worked and what you reported. The burden of proof is technically on them to show you misreported, not on you to prove innocence.

Got hit with this same thing about 6 months ago... UC said I didn't report 2 weeks of income but I DID and they still forced me to pay back $1,900!!!! The whole system is rigged!!!

If you truly reported everything correctly, then it's definitely worth appealing. Try using Claimyr to reach a PA UC representative before your hearing (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through on the phone for days, but Claimyr connected me in about 20 minutes. I was able to talk to someone who explained exactly what documentation I needed for my hearing. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Knowing exactly what the issue was before my hearing made a huge difference.

Yes, definitely bring a written statement! I'm a former paralegal (not a lawyer) and have helped people with these hearings. Having notes keeps you on track when you're nervous. Also prepare a list of exactly which documents prove each point. UC overpayment appeals can absolutely be won if you have good documentation. The referee does NOT just rubber stamp decisions in my experience.

did u report ur gross or net income? i got hit with overpayment because i was reporting my take-home pay and not the gross amount. super confusing on the weekly claims form.

UC overpayment appeals can be won, but you need to understand exactly what they're claiming you did wrong. Common issues include: 1. Reporting net vs. gross income (you must report gross) 2. Misreporting when you actually received income vs. when you earned it 3. Not reporting all work hours even if unpaid 4. Issues with availability for work If this was an honest mistake like reporting net instead of gross, you might be able to get a fault overpayment (which can be paid back over time) instead of a fraud determination (which has penalties). Definitely attend your hearing!

lol my cousin works for pa uc and says dont even bother fighting they never reverse these decisions

@OP - regarding your question about using Claimyr - yes, I used it too when I couldn't get through to ask questions before my hearing. Worth it just to understand what documentation they needed me to bring. The UC rep I finally spoke with actually gave me some tips about how to organize my evidence for the referee.

If it is indeed a net vs. gross reporting issue, bring your pay stubs showing both numbers. Explain that you misunderstood the requirement but were not trying to defraud the system. The referee may find it was a non-fault overpayment, which means you'd still have to repay but without penalties and with the option of a reasonable payment plan. I've seen many cases like this work out okay for the claimant.