The Pennsylvania unemployment denial appeal procedure is available to all state workers who were denied unemployment benefits in PA. Former employees who have had their unemployment compensation benefits denied can file a request for reconsideration with the Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation.

Unemployment claimants must complete the procedure within 15 days of receiving the OUC determination notice, regardless of how they submit the unemployment denial appeal in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania workers who were denied unemployment coverage can file their request for review at two different levels of appeals.

Those who do not receive a favorable decision from the unemployment compensation (UC) referee at the first level of appeals can file a next-level unemployment denial appeal with the UC Board of Review. The OUC generally denies UC claims for reasons such as financial ineligibility or losing your job due to misconduct. However, PA workers who have lost their employment due to wrongful termination remain eligible for unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania.

We have compiled helpful information, hints, and tips about appealing an unemployment benefits denial in Pennsylvania on this website and FAQs and our free guide.

Learn more about this process in Pennsylvania by reading below, checking out our Pennsylvania FAQs, and reading our free guide.

Reasons for Being Denied Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania

State employees who are applying for unemployment coverage may have their unemployment compensation benefits denied in Pennsylvania for various reasons. As the state UC qualifying process consists of several steps, current claimants will be notified of their progress at each stage of the procedure.

For instance, as soon as the OUC reviews your financial records, you will receive the Notice of Financial Determination, which informs you of whether or not you have passed the first qualifying step.

Former PA employees are generally denied unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania due to the following reasons:

• They did not complete all the necessary steps in the UC application procedure.
• They did not earn enough wages in the months preceding their UC application.
• They left their job without providing a good reason for doing so, or they were discharged due to misconduct.
• They did not meet the UC program’s requirements on a regular basis.

Regardless of the reason for which you were denied unemployment payments, you can still file your appeal if you believe you were unjustly denied unemployment benefits. For instance, if you were a victim of wrongful termination, you can submit the necessary evidence to prove your eligibility for unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania.

How to Appeal Denied Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania at the First Level of Appeals

Former employees who were denied unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania can file an unemployment denial appeal and present their case for eligibility before a UC administrative judge. Unemployed workers who were granted UC coverage can also file a Pennsylvania unemployment denial appeal if they believe they are eligible for a higher amount of payments.

However, unless unemployment claimants submit their request within 15 days of receiving the department’s determination, the OUC decision will become final and the claimants will have no other appeal options available.

Pennsylvania workers can submit the request for review by email, by standard mail, by fax or in person through a local OUC office. Once you submit your unemployment denial appeal in PA, you can prepare for the hearing with the UC referee by following several steps:

1. Collect any evidentiary documents and organize the facts relating to your appeal.
2. If you are disabled, or if you do not speak proper English, contact the judge’s office and request assistance.
3. Contact any witnesses that are familiar with your case and ask them to assist you during the hearing.
4. Contract an attorney and obtain legal help.
5. The presiding judge will inform UC claimants of his or her decision within four to six weeks from the date of the hearing.

Unemployment petitioners whose appeals are successful will be able to withdraw their due payments within two to four weeks of receiving the referee’s determination.

Note: In certain extenuating circumstances, the UC judge may allow unemployment applicants to provide their testimony via telephone.

How to File a Pennsylvania Unemployment Denial Appeal at the Second Level

If you are wondering, “What can I do if unemployment denied my initial appeal in Pennsylvania?” you can simply submit a second-level request for reassessment with the UC Board of Review. In order to properly submit their PA unemployment denial appeal with the review board, UC petitioners must follow the instructions contained in the referee’s decision and file the appeal within 15 days of receiving the decision.

To file a request for reconsideration at the second level of appeals, unemployment claimants in PA must obtain a copy of their hearing’s record in order to present it to the appeals board. Then, UC petitioners can submit their request for reassessment via the same methods that are available for first-level appeals. The review board will render a decision regarding your denied unemployment case within 40 to 75 days after you file your appeal.

Furthermore, workers who still have their unemployment benefits denied in Pennsylvania after appealing at the second level can file a plea for reconsideration with one of the state’s Commonwealth Courts.

Last Updated: March 1, 2023