Kaitlyn has worked six years straight as a child care worker in Montgomery County, and lost her job when the state closed down schools. "I received a letter two weeks late for an appeal saying I was denied, and that my payroll was not found for the past year," she said.
But she's not the only one who has received a denial letter past the deadline to file for an appeal.
Susan Dickinson, policy director for Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment, said there was a major delay in the mailroom with sending out letters denying benefits, but they can still appeal.
"If a person received a determination that is not favorable, and the date for appeal has already passed, those individuals can file for an appeal," she clarified.
The appeal process usually takes about three weeks, but with so many more people, it could take longer.
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Dickinson said there are different kinds of appeals, like if the applicant doesn't agree with the benefit amount.
"If their financial determination is unfavorable and missing some information and they wish to appeal, that actually comes with an appeal form that can go straight back to the UC service center with the information that is needed, and the UC service center can actually handle those," she explained.
That information can include wage documents, tax forms and other types of records.
Sometimes a hearing with a labor official, employers and other relevant parties — now done over the phone — is required.
Kaitlyn hasn't had any income in two months, and now waits for her appeal to go through.
"I can't really do much right now, I can't spend money. What I have is what I have."