PA UC withholding benefits due to RESEA meeting I already completed - got overpayment notice too!

The same exact thing happened to me in January. UC is terrible about updating their systems when you complete RESEA appointments. You need to file an appeal ASAP - you only have 15 days from the date on the letter. Make sure you include any proof you have of attending the RESEA meeting (emails, confirmation numbers, the counselor's name, etc). Did you get anything in writing after your RESEA appointment?

omg this is so typical of PA UC!!! they do this on purpose to make ppl give up. my cousin went thru similar bs last year and it took MONTHS to fix. the left hand doesnt know what the right is doing over there

I'm an employment counselor and see this situation regularly. Here's what you need to do: 1. File an appeal for BOTH issues immediately - don't wait the full 15 days. You can file online through your PA UC dashboard or mail in the appeal form that came with your determination letters. 2. In your appeal, explicitly state that you DID attend the rescheduled RESEA meeting, provide the date, time, counselor's name and ID number, and any confirmation emails/numbers you received. 3. For the overpayment, they're likely claiming you weren't eligible during the weeks after your original RESEA date but before your rescheduled meeting. Request a breakdown of the overpayment amount and which weeks are in question. 4. While waiting for appeal, CONTINUE filing your weekly claims even if you're not getting paid. This protects your eligibility for those weeks if you win your appeal. 5. Request a copy of your RESEA attendance record through a Right to Information request - this will prove you attended. Appeals are currently taking 6-8 weeks to be scheduled, unfortunately. The system is extremely backed up.

I had a similar thing happen but with job search requirements instead of RESEA. Called for 3 weeks straight and couldn't get through to anyone. Busy signals all day long. Finally got through after 67 calls one day only to be disconnected after waiting on hold for 45 minutes. PA unemployment is the absolute worst system I've ever dealt with!!!!

They only needed basic info to connect the call - nothing more than you'd provide when calling yourself. And yes, it worked for me! I got connected to a real person who could actually help. The agent confirmed my RESEA attendance and removed the hold on my account while I was on the phone. Just make sure you have all your documentation ready (dates, confirmation emails, counselor name) before you call.

Quick question about your situation - did you receive a notice BEFORE the RESEA appointment with the original date? And then did you reschedule it through the PA CareerLink portal or by calling? The reason I ask is because there's a specific procedure for rescheduling RESEA meetings, and if you didn't follow their exact process (which they don't explain clearly), they'll mark you as non-compliant even if you completed the meeting later. I went through this last year and learned that you need to reschedule within 7 days of the original notice, or you're automatically considered non-compliant regardless of whether you attend a later meeting. Complete bureaucratic nonsense, but that's how their system works.

To answer your question about calling vs. appealing - do both. File your formal appeals immediately to protect your rights, then try calling to get faster resolution. Having an appeal in process actually helps your case when you call, as the representatives can see you're actively contesting the determination. And yes, that 7-day rescheduling rule is one of the most common reasons people get caught in this situation. It's not well-communicated in the notices. Make sure to mention in your appeal that you were never informed of this rule and that you did complete the RESEA meeting in good faith, just on a rescheduled date. UC judges tend to be more understanding in cases where the claimant made a genuine effort to comply. Regarding the overpayment - request a waiver of recoupment alongside your appeal, citing financial hardship if applicable. This won't guarantee the overpayment is dismissed, but it may prevent them from withholding money from future payments while you appeal.

Update: I filed both appeals online last night and included all the information about my completed RESEA appointment. I also requested that waiver of recoupment form. This morning I tried calling PA UC directly but got busy signals for 2 hours straight. I'm going to try that Claimyr service mentioned above tomorrow if I still can't get through. This whole situation is just so frustrating. I did everything they asked - just not exactly on their timeline - and now I'm being treated like I committed fraud or something. I have rent due in 10 days and was counting on this money. The stress is unreal.

Hey just wondering did u get this resolved? Im having similar issues with PA UC and getting nowhere fast

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now - got a letter saying I didn't attend my RESEA meeting even though I completed it over the phone 3 weeks ago. The counselor even sent me a follow-up email confirming everything was good to go. Now they're threatening to cut my benefits and I'm panicking because I have car payments due next week. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that this can actually be resolved. I'm going to file my appeal tonight and try that Claimyr service tomorrow if I can't get through by calling directly. It's insane that we have to jump through all these hoops when we're already doing everything they require. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this mess!