PA UC telephone appeal hearing today - fired from daycare job, false accusation, what are my chances?

I went through a PA UC appeal hearing last year and won. Here's what to expect: The referee will swear everyone in and explain the process. Your employer speaks first, then you get to tell your side and question them. Since there's no actual evidence beyond someone's accusation, focus on your clean work record and lack of previous incidents. Make sure to clearly state that the child was spitting (which is documented) but you never touched her. Ask the coworker how far away she was, if anyone else saw it, and if there's any documentation beyond her word. Speak slowly and be respectful - don't interrupt even if they're lying. Good luck!

OMG the SAME THING happened to me but at a nursing home!!! False accusation with ZERO proof and they denied my benefits!!!! I was so upset I couldn't even think straight during my hearing and I LOST MY APPEAL because I got too emotional and couldn't explain myself clearly. DON'T DO WHAT I DID!!! Stay calm even when they lie!!!! Write down all your main points before the call so you don't forget anything important!!!!!

my sister had a appeal last month she said just answer yes/no when possible dont ramble on with long storys the judge gets annoyed. also dont talk over anyone even if there saying stuff that makes u mad. good luck!

I've been through three UC appeals in Pennsylvania (won 2, lost 1). In a case like yours where it's one person's word against another, the referee will be looking at a few key factors: 1) Your work history - any prior warnings or discipline? 2) Credibility of both parties during testimony 3) Whether the alleged behavior actually violates work policy 4) If the employer followed their own disciplinary procedures Make sure to ask if the daycare had a progressive discipline policy they should have followed. If they skipped steps in their own policy, point that out. Also, ask if your accuser documented the incident immediately or if there was a delay. Inconsistencies in their story will help your case. Stay calm, stick to facts, and don't get defensive. In my experience, when it's just one person's word with zero other evidence, the referee often rules in the claimant's favor.

just curious what time is your hearing? they scheduled mine for 7:30am and i was half asleep lol. also do you have any witnesess who can back up your side of things?

Listen, I went through HELL trying to reach someone at PA UC when I had my appeal last year. Kept getting busy signals and disconnections when I had questions about the process. I finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at UC so I could ask questions before my hearing. It made a huge difference in my preparation. Check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. I was actually able to talk to someone who explained exactly what documents I needed and how to present my case. Worth every penny since I won my appeal.

One more important tip: ask for a copy of your personnel file before the hearing if possible. If not, ask during the hearing if there are any written statements about the incident from your accuser or anyone else. The referee can request these documents. Make sure to point out that no incident report was filed with the parents, which would be standard procedure for any actual incident involving inappropriate touching of a child. That's a huge point in your favor - if you had actually pushed a child's face, there would be documentation for the parents.

I'm still SO BITTER about my appeal hearing!!!! The system is RIGGED against workers!!!!! My employer straight up LIED and the referee just BELIEVED THEM!!! Then I had to wait SIX WEEKS for my decision which was of course DENIED!!! Now I'm appealing to the board which takes even LONGER!!! I hope you have better luck than me but don't count on it!!!!!

When I had my phone appeal last year, the connection was terrible and I could barely hear what was happening. Make sure you're somewhere with good reception and no background noise. Also they were running 45 minutes late for my scheduled time so be prepared to wait. Keep your phone charged and don't miss their call or you might lose by default.

Following up after your hearing - how did it go? In my experience, you typically won't get a decision immediately. They usually mail the determination within 7-14 days, though sometimes they tell you verbally at the end of the hearing.