This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a very similar situation - just got my fact finding letter today even though I returned to full-time work about 2 weeks ago. Like many others here, I was initially really confused and worried that I'd done something wrong since I thought my UC claim would automatically close when I stopped filing. Reading Tyler's successful resolution and all the detailed experiences everyone has shared really puts this in perspective as just routine administrative closure rather than something to panic about. I also had one partial week where I honestly reported some orientation hours, so seeing that transparency worked out well for Tyler and others gives me confidence. Planning to respond online this week and definitely keeping all the screenshots and confirmation documentation everyone recommends. It's amazing how this community has turned what initially seemed like a scary letter into understanding it's just standard procedure. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it makes such a difference when navigating these UC processes!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just received a fact finding letter yesterday even though I've been back at my full-time job for almost 3 weeks. Reading Tyler's update and everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - I was initially panicking thinking I had somehow messed up my final claims or that there was an issue with my account. Like several others mentioned, I also had one partial week where I honestly reported some training hours, so seeing that transparency worked out well for Tyler and others gives me a lot of confidence. It's really eye-opening to understand this is just UC's standard administrative process for properly closing benefit years rather than any kind of investigation or problem. I'm planning to respond online this weekend and definitely taking screenshots of everything based on all the great advice throughout this thread. This community has been incredible at turning what initially felt like a really stressful and confusing situation into just understanding it's routine paperwork. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and positive outcomes - it makes such a huge difference when trying to navigate these UC processes!

Just wanted to follow up - if you do mail or fax your appeal, you should include: 1. Your full name 2. The last 4 digits of your SSN 3. Your address and phone number 4. The date of the determination letter you're appealing 5. The reason you disagree with the determination 6. Any evidence that supports your position Also, keep calling the appeals office at 717-787-5122 while you're waiting. Sometimes they can process an appeal over the phone.

This is such a common issue with the PA UC system! I had similar problems last year when trying to file my initial claim - the website would randomly error out or time out completely. It's really stressful when you're dealing with deadlines and can't get basic functions to work. For future reference, you can also try accessing the site during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) when there's less traffic on their servers. Sometimes the errors are just from the system being overloaded. Really glad to see you got it sorted out at CareerLink though! Those offices are a lifesaver when the online systems fail. Good luck with your appeal hearing - make sure to gather any documentation you have that contradicts their misconduct claim (emails, witness statements, company policies, etc.). The burden is on them to prove misconduct, not on you to prove innocence.

Don't get your hopes up. I've been waiting on 7 weeks of backpay since MARCH and every time I manage to get through they tell me "it's processing" or "a specialist needs to review it" or some other excuse. The whole system is designed to make people give up!!!! They're hoping you'll just stop trying to collect what they legally owe you.

UPDATE: Finally got through to someone at UC this morning! Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and it actually worked - got me past the busy signals. The agent said there was a "benefit payment audit flag" on my account that was holding everything up. She released the payments and said I should see the missing weeks deposited within 2-3 business days. Will update again when/if they actually arrive. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I'm new to the UC system and was having the same authentication errors with CareerLink for about two weeks. After reading through everyone's solutions, I tried the incognito browser method that @Isabella Russo suggested and it worked like a charm! Turns out my privacy-focused browser extensions were blocking some of the authentication scripts. What really struck me reading through this thread is how many different technical issues can cause the same error message - browser extensions, DNS settings, VPNs, password managers, even server overload during peak hours. It's honestly ridiculous that PA's system is so fragile, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing all these workarounds. For anyone new to this like me, definitely keep detailed records of your job search activities outside of CareerLink just in case, and don't panic if you can't access the system right away - there's almost always a technical solution. Thanks everyone for making this stressful process a little easier!

This thread has been absolutely amazing! I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago. The authentication errors with CareerLink nearly gave me a panic attack because I thought I was going to lose my benefits. After trying everything - different browsers, clearing cache, even calling the useless tech support line multiple times - it turned out to be a combination of my VPN and an outdated version of Chrome. Once I disabled the VPN and updated my browser, everything worked perfectly. The lesson I learned is to try the simple fixes first: incognito mode, disable extensions, update your browser, and turn off any VPN. Also, for anyone dealing with this stress - document EVERYTHING externally. I keep a Google Doc with all my job applications, dates, and contact info. That way even if CareerLink crashes or locks you out, you have proof of compliance. The system is definitely broken but there are almost always workarounds. Don't let the technical issues discourage you from your job search!

I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago - got fired from a warehouse job for missing 7 days over 6 weeks, but most were for legitimate reasons (had pneumonia with doctor documentation, plus a couple days for car issues). Here's what I learned: PA UC absolutely does consider the circumstances of your absences, not just the number. Your doctor's notes for the flu are HUGE - that's documented medical necessity, which PA specifically excludes from willful misconduct. The car breakdowns are trickier, but the fact that you called 2+ hours ahead and the alternative transportation costs show you weren't being careless. I was initially denied (like most people), but won on appeal after about 4 months total. The hearing referee specifically asked about my documentation and efforts to notify my employer. Having everything organized - doctor's notes, text screenshots, even a breakdown of why public transit wasn't feasible - made all the difference. My advice: File ASAP, expect the initial denial, and start preparing for your appeal right away. Keep job searching (PA requires it), and don't let the initial "no" discourage you. With 3 out of 5 absences being documented medical reasons, you're in a much stronger position than you might think. The system is frustrating but it does work for people with legitimate cases like yours.

I was in almost exactly your situation last year - fired from a restaurant job for attendance issues, but most of my absences were legitimate. Here's what I wish I had known: Your case actually sounds pretty strong! Having doctor's notes for 3 out of 5 absences is a major advantage. PA UC specifically excludes documented medical reasons from "willful misconduct," so those flu days with doctor's notes should work heavily in your favor. For the car breakdown days, the key factors that helped me were: - Giving advance notice (which you did with 2+ hours) - Showing that alternative transportation was unreasonably expensive or time-consuming - Demonstrating this wasn't a pattern of irresponsible behavior I'd recommend documenting everything NOW before you file: 1. Organize those doctor's notes with dates 2. Screenshot any texts you sent to your manager about the absences 3. Maybe research/document the actual Uber costs vs. your daily wage to show it was financially impossible 4. Look up bus routes/times to show the 2+ hour commute wasn't feasible I was initially denied (super common for attendance cases) but won on appeal after about 3 months. The hearing referee was really interested in my documentation and the fact that I had made good faith efforts to notify my employer and find solutions. File your claim this week if you haven't already, keep job searching, and don't get discouraged by an initial denial. With your medical documentation, you have a much better shot than you think. The waiting period sucks, but if you win, you'll get all the back pay from when you first filed.