This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where PA UC flagged my account for "return to work" even though I never reported that. It's reassuring to see that so many people have gotten through this successfully, even if it takes some time. @Derek - thanks for posting the update about getting through with Claimyr and finding out your employer incorrectly reported rehiring you. That's exactly the kind of real-world example that helps the rest of us understand what might be happening with our own cases. For anyone else dealing with this, it seems like the pattern is: employer contacts you about work (even just to check availability), employer reports something incorrectly to UC, system automatically flags your account, then you have to prove what actually happened. It's frustrating that the burden of proof is on us, but at least now I know what to expect. Going to fill out my questionnaire today with all the specific details about the job offer I declined due to unsuitable pay/conditions. Will also try calling using the tips shared here. Thanks everyone for creating such a supportive discussion about this stressful situation!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same thing about 2 months ago. The "return to work" flag appeared on my account even though I had only reported some freelance income (like $150 for a small project). Apparently the system sometimes interprets ANY reported income as "returning to work" which is ridiculous. I ended up doing both - filled out the questionnaire immediately AND kept calling until I got through (took about a week of trying). The phone rep was actually really helpful and explained that this happens frequently when people report partial earnings or when employers submit incorrect information. My timeline was about 12 days total from when I submitted the questionnaire to when my payments resumed. The key things that seemed to help speed it up were: 1) being very specific in the questionnaire about the exact nature of any income/work contacts, 2) having the phone conversation documented in my file, and 3) continuing to file weekly claims throughout the process. Don't panic - this is frustrating but definitely fixable! The system has serious flaws but most people do get their benefits restored once they work through the bureaucracy.

You've been so helpful, thank you! I'm going to start a job search log right away. I'll also check our employee handbook - pretty sure they have a 3-strike policy they completely ignored in my case. Hopefully that helps my claim!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! The same thing happened to my brother last year - suddenly fired for "performance issues" after 5+ years and consistently good reviews. It's like they keep you thinking everything is fine then blindside you. From what I've learned lurking here, having those positive reviews is HUGE for your case. Screenshot/save every email, review, or text that shows you were doing well. Even casual "good job" messages from your boss can help. One thing that really helped my brother was writing down EVERYTHING he could remember about the termination call while it was still fresh - exact words used, who was on the call, time, etc. The details matter if it goes to a hearing. You've got this! The system is designed to help people who get wrongfully denied benefits. Just be patient with the process and keep detailed records of everything.

One more important thing to remember: PA UC is required to consider all available evidence, but they also understand that not everything can be documented. The referee's job is to determine the facts based on credibility and preponderance of evidence. Since your hearing is next week, you should prepare a brief statement explaining the situation in clear terms. Practice saying it out loud a few times so you don't ramble during the hearing. Be specific about dates, names, and details even if you don't have documentation for everything. If the restaurant manager is unwilling to provide a statement, you might also consider if there's anyone else who knew about your job offer - perhaps a friend or family member you told about it at the time? While not as strong as employer confirmation, it can help establish that you were consistent about the job offer at the time it happened.

I had a similar situation with a verbal job offer during my appeal last year. Here's what I learned: PA UC referees vary widely in how thoroughly they investigate, but having ANY supporting evidence helps tremendously. Your text messages about scheduling are actually really strong evidence - they show the employer was treating you as a hired employee by discussing your work schedule. One thing that helped me was creating a simple one-page summary with bullet points of what happened, including exact dates and the manager's name. Even though my offer was also verbal, having those specific details written out clearly made me seem more credible during the hearing. Also, don't stress too much about them calling the restaurant. Even if they do, employers usually just confirm basic facts like "yes, we made an offer" and "yes, we had to rescind it due to circumstances." Most restaurants right now are dealing with staffing issues from the recent outbreak, so they're likely to be straightforward about having to cancel new hires. Good luck with your hearing - sounds like you're preparing well!

Any update on your situation? Did you file the appeal yet? And were you able to get through to someone at the service center to get more details about the denial reason?

That vacation time issue explains a lot! I had a similar problem when I got laid off - HR processed my final day wrong in their system and it looked like I quit. Make sure you keep copies of everything you submit for your records. Also, just a heads up that the hearing referee might ask about your job search efforts during those first 6 weeks even though you weren't getting paid, so have those records ready too. Sounds like you caught this early enough that it should get resolved quickly once you have your hearing. Good luck!

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?

Just wanted to add - if you're feeling anxious about representing yourself, remember that the referee is neutral and actually wants to help get to the truth. They're not there to intimidate you. I was super nervous before my hearing but the referee was patient and explained things clearly. They'll make sure you understand the questions and give you chances to clarify your answers. The most important thing is to be honest and stick to the facts about what happened when you were separated from your job. Having those texts from your supervisor about your position being eliminated should definitely work in your favor!