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UPDATE: I just got my hearing notice in the mail today!! It's scheduled for May 18th at 10:45am and will be by phone. That's about 3 weeks from when I got the first letter. Now I need to get all my evidence together. Thanks everyone for the advice and support!
Great! Here's a quick checklist for your preparation: 1. Make copies of all your doctor's notes 2. Print out any text messages or emails showing you notified your employer about absences 3. Review your company's attendance policy if you have access to it 4. Write down a chronological timeline of events 5. Practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely 6. Be ready 15 minutes before the scheduled call time 7. Have a pen and paper ready to take notes during the hearing Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
That's awesome news about getting your hearing date! May 18th gives you plenty of time to prepare. Since it's a phone hearing, make sure you're in a quiet location with good reception and have all your documents organized in front of you where you can easily reference them. One additional tip - if you have any prescription records or pharmacy receipts that correspond to your illness dates, those can also help support your case. They show a pattern of medical treatment that backs up your doctor's notes. You've got this! The fact that you have documentation and proof of notifying your employer puts you in a much better position than many people who go into these hearings.
That's such a relief that you got your hearing date! I'm new to this whole UC appeal process myself and seeing your timeline really helps. The pharmacy records tip is brilliant - I never would have thought of that. It's encouraging to see someone who actually has their documentation together. I'm dealing with a similar situation where I'm waiting to hear back on my own appeal, and reading through this thread has been incredibly helpful. Thanks for updating us and best of luck on May 18th!
One last piece of advice - make a copy of your decision letter when it arrives and keep it forever. If PA UC ever tries to bring this up again (even years later), having that documentation will immediately shut it down. Also, if the decision is in your favor, check your UC account online after about 2-3 weeks to confirm the overpayment has been removed from your balance. Sometimes they're slow to update the system even after a favorable decision.
I went through almost the exact same situation last year! My employer was a no-show for my non-fault overpayment appeal and I was terrified about what it meant. The good news is that I won my case - the referee ruled that without the employer present to dispute my evidence, my documentation of being laid off due to restructuring was sufficient proof. The decision took about 12 days to arrive by mail, and like others mentioned, it came in a plain white envelope that could easily be mistaken for junk mail. Within 3 weeks of receiving the favorable decision, the overpayment was completely removed from my UC account online. Your layoff letter stating "lack of work" should be strong evidence in your favor, especially since your employer chose not to defend their position. Try not to stress too much while you wait - I know it's easier said than done! Keep checking your mailbox daily and your UC account online for any updates.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! This gives me a lot of hope. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing and came out okay. I've been checking my mailbox obsessively since the hearing and refreshing my UC account multiple times a day. Did you get any kind of confirmation or notification online before the letter arrived, or did the letter come first? I'm trying to manage my anxiety while I wait but it's so hard when $4,200 is hanging over my head!
Update for anyone who finds this thread later: Finally got my hearing notice today - took exactly 4 weeks and 2 days from when I filed my appeal. The hearing is scheduled for phone, but I'm going to request in-person since I have a lot of documentation to present. Thanks everyone for the advice! I'll post again after the hearing to let you know how it went.
Wow, congrats on getting your hearing date Fatima! That timeline matches what I experienced - about 4 weeks. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have a quiet, private space for your phone hearing if you decide to stick with that option. I made the mistake of taking mine in a coffee shop and the background noise was really distracting. Also, speak slowly and clearly - the referee needs to take notes on everything you say. If you do go in-person, arrive at least 15 minutes early to get familiar with the room setup. Rooting for you!
UPDATE: You guys were right! Just checked this morning (Monday) and now I see a transaction number has appeared! The payment status says "paid" with today's date. So relieved! Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance.
Congrats on getting the transaction number! That's exactly how it worked for me too - approved Friday, transaction number Monday morning. Just a heads up that when the money hits your Money Network card, you might want to check if there are any ATM fees at your usual locations. Some people don't realize the card has specific fee-free ATM networks. Also, if you need to make a large purchase or pay rent, you can usually do a cash advance at certain banks or use it for direct payments. The money should be available by Wednesday at the latest!
Theodore Nelson
Just wanted to add my experience from last Veterans Day - I bank with PNC and even though PA UC processed payments on Tuesday instead of Monday, my deposit still showed up Tuesday morning around 6 AM. So it might depend on your specific bank's policies for handling delayed ACH transfers. Worth checking with your bank to see if they release funds as soon as they receive them or wait for the official processing date. Either way, definitely safer to plan for Wednesday just in case!
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Evelyn Kim
•That's really good to know about PNC! I have Citizens Bank and I'm wondering if they do the same thing. Might be worth calling them tomorrow to ask about their policy on holiday ACH delays. Thanks for sharing your experience - gives me some hope I might still see it Tuesday even if it's processed a day late.
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Oliver Cheng
I've been through this same situation multiple times and here's what I've learned: Yes, Veterans Day will almost certainly push your payment to Wednesday instead of Tuesday. The key thing is to file your weekly claim as early as possible (Sunday is best) to make sure you're first in line when they start processing on Tuesday. Also, if you have bills due around that time, consider calling your creditors/landlord ahead of time to let them know about the one-day delay. Most are understanding about government payment delays during holidays. I've found it's much better to give them a heads up rather than scramble to explain after the fact if something's late. One more tip - set up text alerts with your bank if you haven't already. That way you'll know the exact moment your deposit hits instead of constantly checking your account all day Tuesday/Wednesday!
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