I had both types of hearings (phone for my first case, in-person for my second) and the difference was night and day. Go in-person if you can! During my phone hearing, I couldn't see what documents the employer was showing the referee, and there were technical issues with the connection. But for my in-person hearing, I could immediately point out inconsistencies in their paperwork and hand over my own evidence right when it was relevant to the discussion. Since you have those emails about budget cuts and organizational restructuring, being there in person will let you walk the referee through the timeline visually. Also, dress business casual but comfortable - you might be sitting for 1-2 hours. Bring a notepad to jot down points you want to address. The fact that they're claiming misconduct when you have documentation of budget layoffs actually works in your favor - that's a pretty clear contradiction they'll have to explain. You've got this!

I recently went through a PA UC referee hearing and chose in-person, which I'm so glad I did! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple one-page timeline document with dates and key events, then attaching all my supporting documents in chronological order behind it. When the referee asked about specific dates or events, I could quickly flip to the right section and say "as shown in exhibit C" or whatever. It made me look super organized and prepared. Since you have those budget cut emails and the termination letter mentioning organizational restructuring, that's actually a really strong case! The employer will have a hard time proving willful misconduct when your own termination paperwork contradicts their claim. Make sure to highlight that contradiction early in your testimony. Also, if there were any other employees laid off around the same time due to budget issues, try to get that information too - it further supports that this was an economic decision, not misconduct. One last tip: bring a water bottle! I got so nervous and dry-mouthed during mine. The referee was actually very patient and professional, much less intimidating than I expected. You're going to do great - your evidence sounds solid!

Just want to add one more important tip: the week in PA UC runs Sunday-Saturday. So if your last day is Friday, June 30th, you can file on Saturday, July 1st. Your first eligible week would be July 2-8, which is the waiting week (unpaid). Then your first payable week would be July 9-15, which you'd claim during your biweekly filing around July 23rd, with payment typically arriving 2-3 business days after that successful biweekly claim.

Hey Ravi, I went through this exact same situation last fall when my company announced layoffs in September but didn't actually let us go until November 15th. The waiting was torture but you absolutely cannot file until after your last day worked - I tried multiple times and kept getting the same error you described. Here's what helped me: I used those 3+ months to really prepare. I gathered all my employment docs, set up my PA Keystone ID, researched the work search requirements, and even started networking. When November 16th came, I filed first thing in the morning and everything went smoothly because I was so prepared. The peace of mind from being ready was worth the wait. You've got time to get everything perfect!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the uncertainty is the worst part! Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like you have a really strong case for your appeal. That reorganization letter mentioning 12 positions is gold - it clearly shows this was a legitimate layoff, not misconduct. I've been reading through unemployment forums for months while dealing with my own claim issues, and the pattern everyone's describing (approval then quick disqualification due to employer reporting errors) is unfortunately super common with large employers like hospitals. Their HR systems often default to coding terminations as "discharge" even when it's actually a layoff. The good news is these cases usually get resolved favorably once a human reviews the actual evidence. File that appeal ASAP with all your documentation, keep certifying weekly, and try not to panic - you're going to get through this!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what happened to me recently since it sounds so similar to your situation! I got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant in January due to "economic restructuring" (they eliminated our entire quality control department). Got my approval letter for $394/week, then 5 days later received the disqualification notice citing Section 402(e) - misconduct. I was absolutely devastated because I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. After reading through posts like this one, I realized my employer probably reported it incorrectly in their system. I filed my appeal immediately and included my termination letter that clearly stated "position elimination due to restructuring" along with an email from my supervisor explaining the department closure. The hearing was nerve-wracking but straightforward - the referee could see it was obviously an employer reporting error. Took about 4 weeks total but I got approved and received all my back pay. The key things that helped me were: 1) Filing the appeal within 15 days, 2) Continuing to file weekly claims during the process, 3) Having clear documentation of the layoff reason, and 4) taking screenshots of everything in my dashboard. Your reorganization letter mentioning 12 positions being eliminated sounds like perfect evidence. Don't let this discourage you - from what I've learned lurking in these forums, hospital HR departments are notorious for these kinds of reporting mistakes. You've got this!

Based on what I've seen recently, the system is processing most standard claims (where there's no dispute about the reason for separation) within 2-3 weeks. The pandemic backlog is completely gone. However, there are still some common causes of delay: 1. Identity verification issues 2. Employer disputes about separation reason 3. Recent receipt of severance pay (needs to be properly reported) 4. Previous overpayments that haven't been resolved 5. Working part-time while claiming benefits If none of these apply to you, you should have a relatively smooth experience compared to 2021. And remember - if your claim shows 'Open Issue' status for more than 2 weeks, don't wait - call them to find out what's needed!

Filed for PA UC in November 2024 and got my first payment in exactly 3 weeks. Much better than the horror stories from 2021! A few things that really helped me: 1. I called the week after filing just to confirm everything looked good - caught a small issue with my employer's address that could have caused delays 2. Made sure to file my biweekly claims on the same day each time (Sundays work well) 3. Keep detailed records of your work search activities from day one - don't wait until they ask for proof The phone lines are still busy but not impossible like before. If you do need to call, try right when they open at 8am or around 4pm - had better luck those times. Good luck with your claim!

Great to hear you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for anyone else dealing with this - when you hit the benefit year end, make sure to keep filing your weekly certifications even while the new claim is being processed. Sometimes people think they should stop filing until the new claim is approved, but you need to maintain your filing schedule or you could lose benefits for those weeks. The system will backdate your new claim to cover any gap once it's approved, but only if you kept filing. Learned this the hard way during my first BYE transition!

Just went through this exact same situation last month! The benefit year end (BYE) requirement caught me completely off guard too. One thing I wish someone had told me - when you file the new claim, they'll ask about any work you did during your previous benefit year. Make sure you report ALL work, even short-term or part-time jobs, because they cross-reference with wage records. If there are discrepancies, it can delay your claim for weeks while they investigate. Also, if you had any overpayments or issues with your previous claim, now is when they might bring those up again. The whole process took about 10 days for me from filing to getting my first payment on the new claim. Hang in there!