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    Benefit Appeals

    Below you will find information on how to request a review or file an appeal of a decision on an unemployment compensation claim. You will also get details on the three levels of appeals, including: deadlines; how to prepare for a hearing; and how to request a change from an in-person hearing to a telephone hearing.

     

    FAQs are provided below to answer many of your questions.

    Fixing Missing Wages (Wage Protest)

    If your unemployment claim is missing wages or an employer, you can file a wage protest.

    A wage protest:

    • Lets you correct missing wages or errors in your financial determination
    • Does not require a hearing
    • Is reviewed by the agency
    • Must be filed within 21 days of the date on your determination notice 
    Filing a Wage Protest

    Your Right to Appeal

    • You have a legal right to appeal any unemployment decision
    • Both claimants and employers can appeal
    • You will be scheduled for a hearing
    • You can:
      • Represent yourself, or
      • Hire an attorney, or
      • Ask another person to represent you.
    • Free legal help may be available to claimants through legal aid, bar associations, or law schools

    The 3 Levels of UC benefits eligibility appeals

    1. Service Center Determination

    • Appeal to a UC Referee
    • Deadline: 21 days from the decision date
    Appeal a UC Service Center Determination to a UC Referee

    2. Referee Decision

    • Appeal to the UC Board of Review
    • Deadline: 21 days from the decision date
    Appeal a Referee Decision to the UC Board of Review

    3. Board Decision

    • Appeal to the Commonwealth Court
    • Deadline: 30 days from the mailing date
    Appeal a UC Board of Review Decision to the Commonwealth Court

    Important information for scheduling UC hearings

    Hearing Attendance (Default: In Person)

    • Hearings are generally scheduled to be attended in person.
    • You may request to attend by phone, but requests must be made in advance. Late requests may be denied.

    If an Appeal Is Filed

    • If you file an appeal, you may request to attend by phone when submitting your appeal.
    • If another party files an appeal, you will receive a notice explaining how they requested to attend.

    Requesting or Changing Attendance Method

    • To attend by phone, submit your request through your UC account or write to the Referee Office right away.
    • If another party requests to appear by phone and you want them to attend in person, write to the Referee Office right away to object and request they attend in person.
    • If you are scheduled for phone attendance but prefer to appear in person, notify the Referee Office as soon as possible prior to the hearing date.

    Written Requests Must Include

    1. Claimant’s name
    2. Appeal number
    3. Your request (e.g., attend by phone or in person)
    4. The reason for your request

    Referee Office Information

    • The Referee Office handling your case is listed on your appeal notice. 

    Unemployment benefit appeals FAQs