PA UC referee hearing costs and time length - do you have to pay fees?
Just got scheduled for my first referee hearing with PA unemployment next month. I'm freaking out about this because my employer is appealing my claim saying I wasn't laid off but quit (which is NOT true). I'm worried about costs - do I have to pay any court fees for this hearing? Also how long should I expect it to last? I need to arrange time off work at my new job but don't know how much time to request. Anyone who's been through this before that can tell me what to expect?
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Chloe Green
You don't have to pay ANY fees for a UC referee hearing - it's completely free for claimants. The hearings usually last between 30-45 minutes, but I'd block off at least an hour to be safe. Make sure you have all your documentation ready (final pay stubs, any communication about your separation, etc). The referee will ask questions to both you and your former employer, and you'll each get to present your side.
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Logan Scott
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief about the fees. I was worried it would be like regular court. Should I dress formally? And is it better to attend in person or can I do it by phone?
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Lucas Adams
I had my hearing last month and it took ALMOST TWO HOURS!! So definitely plan for more time than they tell you. My boss kept arguing with the referee and dragging everything out. It was so stressful waiting for them to make a decision but I won my case in the end. Good luck!
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Harper Hill
•Mine only took 20 mins lol. I think it depends on how complicated ur case is and if both sides show up
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Caden Nguyen
To add some important details: PA UC referee hearings are administrative proceedings, not court hearings, so there are absolutely no fees involved. The length varies dramatically based on the complexity of your case and how many witnesses each side presents. I'd recommend requesting a half-day off work to be safe. You should receive a Notice of Hearing that tells you what issues will be discussed. PREPARE FOR THIS SPECIFICALLY - don't go off on tangents about other workplace issues. If your case hinges on whether you quit or were laid off, bring any documentation that proves you were laid off (termination letter, emails, texts, etc). Dress professionally but business casual is fine. Most hearings are still being conducted by phone or video due to efficiency, but in-person is an option if you prefer.
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Logan Scott
•This is super helpful, thank you! The notice does say it's about whether I quit or was laid off. I have texts from my supervisor telling me my position was eliminated, so hopefully that helps my case.
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Avery Flores
be careful what u say in the hearing!!! my friend said the wrong thing and lost her benefits. whatever u do dont admit to ANYTHING that sounds like u quite voluntarily. even if they twist ur words just keep saying u were laid off no matter what!!
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Chloe Green
•While it's important to be consistent, it's not about 'saying the right thing' - it's about being truthful. The referee is trained to detect inconsistencies. Just stick to the facts of what happened with your separation.
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Zoe Gonzalez
Has anyone used Claimyr when dealing with their referee hearing questions? I had so many questions before my hearing and couldn't get through to anyone at UC for weeks. I found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to a UC agent in about 10 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. It really helped me understand exactly what documents I needed to prepare for my hearing.
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Harper Hill
•never heard of it but might try it. been calling unemployment for 3 days straight and cant get thru
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Ashley Adams
You need to decide if you want to hire an attorney. I didn't and I regretted it because my employer had their HR person who knew all the legal terms and I felt totally outmatched. If your case is simple maybe you don't need one but if there's a lot of money at stake it might be worth it.
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Caden Nguyen
•While you're allowed to have representation, most claimants successfully represent themselves in UC referee hearings. These are designed to be accessible without attorneys. The referee will guide the process and ask questions to get the information they need.
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Logan Scott
Thanks everyone for the advice! I called off work for the whole morning just to be safe. One more question - will I find out the decision right after the hearing ends or do I have to wait?
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Chloe Green
•You typically won't get the decision immediately. The referee will mail their written decision to both parties, usually within 1-2 weeks after the hearing. You can also check your PA UC dashboard online as it sometimes appears there first.
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