Pennsylvania Notice of Financial Determination - Everyone Gets One From Unemployment

You've received a document from the Unemployment Service Center called "Notice of Financial Determination."  This document tells you how much in unemployment benefits you will get.  "Yay," you think, "that means I get unemployment!"

No, it doesn't.  EVERYONE who applies for Pennsylvania Unemployment gets a Notice of Financial Determination, no matter why their employment ended.  However, it does not mean you are entitled to benefits.  Rather, it only tells you what you will get, if you are approved for unemployment benefits.

It is the Notice of Determination that tells you if you are actually approved for benefits.  That usually arrives 4-6 weeks after the Notice of Financial Determination, and it tells you if you are qualified for unemployment benefits. Click Here for answers to the most commonly asked questions about Pennsylvania Unemployment, which explains how the processing of your application works. 

The two most common reasons to deny benefits?  1) You quit without a good reason; and, 2) You were fired because you engaged in "willful misconduct" justifying a denial of benefits.

Most common area of confusion? Whether unemployment benefits can be denied for an employee who was fired for (alleged) poor performance.  Answer:  No (click Link above to learn more).

If you get a Notice of Determination denying you benefits, you should appeal immediately, stating "I disagree with the determination."  Then you will get a date for a Hearing before a Referee. 

If you get a Notice of Determination granting you benefits, then the employer can appeal, and a Referee's Hearing will be scheduled.

Usually, the Referee's Hearing will be held within a month of any appeal from a Notice of Determination.  You can have an attorney represent you at the Hearing, and in my view it's a real good idea to consider doing so!

Use the Search Key on this Blog to check out any of the terms used herein - I have blogged on them before!

Thanks for checking in, hope this was helpful.

John A. Gallagher, Philadelphias Area Unemployment Lawyer, 610-647-5027, http://www.johnagallagher.com/

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