Appealing a Notice of Determination
Under Section 501(e) of the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law, an eligibility determination issued by the UC Service Center becomes final unless an appeal is filed. A timely appeal must be filed no later than 21 calendar days after the determination date provided on the notice of determination. However, if the 21st day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, a timely appeal may be filed on the next business day. If an appeal is not filed on time, the UC Referee will determine if the appeal was filed late for good cause.
In order to file an appeal, complete Form UC-46B, Petition for Appeal. A copy of form UC-46B is included with the notice of determination. You may also download a PDF version of Form UC-46B using the link below.
All appeals must include the petitioner’s name (person filing the appeal) and address, the claimant’s name, the claimant’s Social Security number, the reason for the appeal, and the date of the determination being appealed.
Appeals should be sent to the UC service center that issued the notice of determination. Sending an appeal to a service center other than the service center that issued the notice of determination may cause delays in processing the appeal.
You may not file an appeal in person at a UC service center.
How to File an Appeal to a UC Service Center
Determination Appeals may be filed:
- by completing the Petition for Appeal (included with your determination) and mailing or faxing the appeal to the department.
- online from your UC account for more details view our How to File an Appeal Online page by mailing or faxing an appeal letter to the department; or,
- by delivering a petition for appeal in-person to a PA CareerLink® office.
Filing an Appeal by Mail
To file an appeal by mail, Form UC-46B should be completed and mailed to the service center listed on the notice of determination using the
address listed below. If you appeal by mail, the filing date of the appeal will be determined by:
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US Postal Service: The filing date is the US Postal Service postmark date, the date of a Postal Service certificate of mailing, or the date of a Postal Service certified mail receipt. In the absence of these dates, the filling date is the date of a postage meter mark. In the absence of all of the above dates, the filing date is the date the department receives the appeal.
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Common
Carrier: The filing date is the date the envelope containing the appeal is delivered to a common carrier. If that date cannot be determined, the filing date is the date the department receives the appeal.
If the sources above are not available, the date the appeal is filed will be the date it is received by the department.
Filing an Appeal by Fax
Appeals that are sent by fax should include only the last four digits of the claimant’s Social Security number, for example, xxx-xx-1234.
If you appeal by fax:
- The filing date is the date imprinted by the receiving fax machine. If the receiving fax machine does not imprint a legible date, the appeal is filed on the date of transmission imprinted by the sending fax machine. If the faxed appeal does not contain a legible date of transmission, it is filed on the date recorded by the department when it receives the appeal.
- You are responsible for any delay, disruption, or interruption of electronic signals and the readability of the appeal, and you accept the risk that the appeal may not be properly or timely filed.
IMPORTANT: If you remain partially or fully unemployed while an appeal concerning your eligibility is pending, continue to file your bi-weekly claims for benefits. If the appeal is decided in your favor, only benefits for the weeks you claimed will be released for payment.