Thursday, May 19, 2011

Pennsylvania Service Center for Unemployment Claims - Who Are These People, Anyway?




  
I Have Filed for Unemployment in Pennsylvania - What is the Service Center?

The Service Center is the place where claims for unemployment are initially administered.  The two main offices are located in Allentown and Erie.  The Service Center Representatives are reasonably well-educated people.  Perhaps the most important thing they do is make initial determinations into whether or not applicants for unemployment are entitled to benefits.

How Does the Pennsylvania Service Center Determine if I am Eligible for Unemployment Benefits?  Need attorney to Handle Pennsylvania Unemployment Hearing in Montgomery County?

Service Center representatives are a lot like insurance adjusters.  The Unemployment Fund is largely comprised by contributions made by employers and employees throughout the state.  Thus, the Fund is analogous to an insurance policy - which is primarily funded by premiums paid by customers. 

Since Service Center representatives are like insurance adjusters, they often fall into one of two camps: 1) conservative with the Fund; or, 2) liberal with the Fund.  That is why two different people with virtually identical claims may receive different decisions from the Service Center.

The Pennsylvania Service Center Makes the Initial Decision as to Whether an Employee Was Terminated for Willful Misconduct.  What is Willful Misconduct Under Pennsylvania Unemployment Law?

HERE ARE SOME OTHER LINKS YOU MAY FIND WORTHWHILE:

Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Unemployment Appeal Hearing in Pennsylvania?

Unemployment Appeal Hearings by Telephone in Pennsylvania - The New Norm - And Why You Want to Consider Hiring Legal Counsel

Pennsylvania Unemployment Lawyer - Willful Misconduct Referee Hearings

Seven Things to Know About The Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Board of Review

I Want to Quit My Job and Get Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Unemployment Determination of Financial Eligibility - PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT LAWYERS

How Do I Complete an Application for Unemployment Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania - Did I Resign or Was I Fired?  What is a Reduction in Force Versus a Layoff?

 What is a Necessitous and Compelling Reason for Quitting my Job Under Pennsylvania Unemployment Law? Philadelphia Unemployment Lawyers Explain

The Burden of Proof in a Pennsylvania Unemployment Appeal Referee Hearing

Performance Appraisals, Performance Evaluations and Character Evidence at a Pennsylvania Unemployment Appeal Hearing -  Experienced Unemployment Lawyers Explains Why They Are Generally Irrelevant

Can I Get Unemployment in Pennsylvania if I am Out on Disability Leave? What are the Differences Between Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability?

 

I was Fired - What Should I Say on My Internet On Line Application for Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits?

Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Board of Review - Philadelphia Lawyers Who File Appeals With Unemployment Board of Review

Voluntary Retirement and Unemployment Compensation in Pennsylvania - Am I Entitled to Benefits if I Retire From My Job?

Overpayments Under Pennsylvania Unemployment Law - Fraud, Non-Fraud, At Fault, Non-At Fault- Can I Go To Jail for an Unemployment Overpayment in Pennsylvania?

 

YOU CAN GET PARTIAL UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION IN PENNSYLVANIA IF YOUR EMPLOYER REDUCES YOUR HOURS OR MAKES YOU A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE

 

Can I Get Unemployment In Pennsylvania If I am Working a Part-Time Job? How Much Can I Earn in a Part-Time Job Without Losing Unemployment Benefits?

Unemployment Compensation Rules for Pennsylvania Public School Teachers, Administrators, Principals and Employees

What is My Base Year Under Pennsylvania's Unemployment Law?

HOW DO I COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FOR PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS - SOME KEY TIPS

SEVERANCE PAY, SETTLEMENTS AND PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW UNEMPLOYMENT LAW

Forced to Resign:  What Are My Rights if I am Forced to Quit From My Job in Pennsylvania?


The Pennsylvania Service Center Makes the Initial Decision as to Whether an Employee Had a Necessitous and Compelling Reason to Quit Work.  What is a Necessitous and Compelling Reason to Quit Under Pennsylvania Unemployment Law?  


I Received a Notice of Determination From the Pennsylvania Service Center - What Do I Do Now?  Lawyer Who Represents Employees at Unemployment Referee Hearings in Delaware County

The key thing that Service Center representatives do is collect information from employers and employees as to why the employment relationship ended, and then issue a decision, called a Notice of Determination, setting forth whether benefits are granted or denied.  The Service Center does this by gathering information from the Employer and, often the Claimant, after the claim for benefits has been filed.

The Service Center may ask the Employer and/or the Claimant to provide additional documentation and/or statements in the course of evaluating the claim.  It is after this evaluation process is completed (usually around 4-6 weeks after claim was filed), that the Service Center issues its Notice of Determination).

Either side then has 15 days to appeal the Notice of Determination, which automatically results in a Hearing before an Unemployment Referee.

NOTE:  Do not confuse the Notice of Financial Determination with the Notice of Determination.  Everyone gets an NFD, and it merely tells you how much in benefits you will receive if benefits are granted.

If no one files an appeal from the Notice of Determination, the decision of the Service Center becomes final.

NOTE:  If you do not appeal from the Notice of Determination within 15 days, any right you have to appeal will be lost.  IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FILE A LATE APPEAL FROM A NOTICE OF DETERMINATION.  That is why it is important that you keep an eye out for the NOD.  The Notice of Financial Determination always comes within 1-2 weeks of your application.  The NOD may come much later.

What Should I Say When I Appeal from a Notice of Determination in Pennsylvania?  Attorney Representing Employees on Referee Hearings in Philadelphia

If you (or the company) file an Appeal from a NOD, a hearing before a Referee is ALWAYS scheduled. ALWAYS. Why do I emphasize that?  Because you do not need to prove that a you have a right to a Hearing.  No matter what you state as the reason for your appeal, there will be a Hearing scheduled.

So, we always tell people to simply state, as the reason for appeal, "I disagree with the determination."  That is it.  Why?  Remember, it does not matter what you say, a Hearing will be scheduled.  Therefore, since anything you say in the Appeal can be used against you (as an admission against interest), and nothing you say is going to help you at the Hearing (you will have to prove whatever you say at the Hearing), there is nothing to be gained by providing facts and argument sin your Appeal.

Further, if you (unwittingly) say something harmful on your appeal, it can really compromise the ability of your lawyer to win the case at the Referee Hearing.

What Happens After I Appeal from a Notice of Determination Issued by the Pennsylvania Unemployment Service Center?

If an appeal from a Notice of Determination is filed, a Hearing before a Referee will be conducted in all cases.  Usually, you will get a Notice of Hearing.  Usually, you will get the Notice of  Hearing about 2-4 weeks after your Appeal is filed.  In most cases, the Hearing will be listed for within 2-3 weeks after the mailing date of  the Notice of Hearing.

When this occurs, the decision of the Service Center is basically annulled; it has no relevance or persuasive value to the Referee.  The Referee is in no way required to consider, much less rely upon or follow, the reasoning or decision of the Service Center representative found within the Notice of Determination.
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Unemployment Lawyers Representing Employees in Unemployment Referee Hearings in Bristol, 

Norristown, Springfield, Malvern and Philadelphia

Philadelphia Are Employment Attorneys Representing Employees

We are employment lawyers who represents employees in Pennsylvania. 

We typically represent employees who need an employment lawyer in Philadelphia County, Chester County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Berks County, Lancaster County and Montgomery County.

Pennsylvania Employment Attorneys Provides Free Telephone Consultations

If you are looking for an employment lawyer, and live in Ardmore, Telford, Ambler, Cheltenham, Ft. Washington, Lansdale, Blue Bell, Germantown, Chalfont, Plymouth Meeting, Honeybrook, Pottstown, Boyertown, Drexel Hill, Trainer, Willow Grove, Horsham, North Wales, Conshohocken, Glenside, Montgomeryville, Hatboro, Harleysville, North Wales, Souderton, Jenkintown, Gilbertsville, Downingtown, Lionville, Collegeville, Phoenixville, Northeast Philadelphia, Oaks, Royersford, Springfield, Lower Providence, Malvern, Yeadon, Wayne, King of Prussia, Downingtown, Upper Gwynedd, Wyncote, Glenside, Narberth, Doylestown, Trappe, Radnor, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Wayne, Newtown Square, Exton, Center City Philadelphia, West Chester, Skippack, Langhorne, Haverford, Newtown Square, Nether Providence, Broomall, Drexel Hill, Reading or any of their surrounding towns, feel free to send us an e-mail via our Contact Form or give us a call at 610-647-5027.  We are always glad to spend some time with people via a free telephone consultation.

 

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