The Unemployment Benefits Appeal Process In Pennsylvania

If your application for unemployment benefits has been denied, it is not necessarily the end of the road. You still have the right to appeal and get approved for benefits to help you make ends meet while you search for a new job. Pennsylvania law sets out a specific process for appeals that you must follow if you want it to be heard.

Denial Letter, Filing Your Appeal

It begins with receiving a negative Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Determination from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. This document explains why you were turned down and how long you have to appeal. Knowing exactly why DOLI denied your claim can help you and your attorney develop your case.

DOLI accepts appeal filings online, as well as in person at a PA Career Link office and through the mail. In your appeal, you will explain why you believe you are entitled to unemployment. Our team of highly experienced attorneys can write your appeal on your behalf to ensure it is as compelling as possible.

DOLI will then schedule a hearing before an Unemployment Compensation referee. While your appeal is pending, you should continue to file claims for benefits every week and otherwise act as if you have already been approved. If you win on appeal, doing this can help you obtain retroactive benefits for the weeks you were wrongfully denied.

Appeals Hearing

The hearing is somewhat like a trial but less formal. The referee will review the evidence and ask questions to the parties, so you should be prepared to discuss why you lost your job and why you are entitled to unemployment compensation. Your former employer may attend and bring their attorney, as can you. In the end, the referee will decide whether to overturn your denial.

If the referee denies your appeal, you have the right to appeal again to the U.C. Board of Review, and eventually to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Don’t Wait Too Long To Appeal

You have very little time to take action after a denial. Let our attorneys, with more than 40 years of combined experience, help you. Call Belt Law Firm, P.C., in Wilkes-Barre at 570-431-9455 to schedule your initial consultation.