UPDATE: My payment finally hit my account this morning (Thursday)! Looks like it was just taking longer than I expected. For anyone else new to this - it took 4 days from Sunday filing to Thursday deposit for me. Thanks everyone for the help and advice!

Congrats on getting your first payment! For future weeks, you should see a more consistent pattern now that your account is fully set up. Just make sure to file your weekly certification by Sunday night to get paid by Wednesday/Thursday. The first payment is always the most nerve-wracking but it gets routine after that.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I called off work for the whole morning just to be safe. One more question - will I find out the decision right after the hearing ends or do I have to wait?

Just wanted to add - if you're feeling anxious about representing yourself, remember that the referee is neutral and actually wants to help get to the truth. They're not there to intimidate you. I was super nervous before my hearing but the referee was patient and explained things clearly. They'll make sure you understand the questions and give you chances to clarify your answers. The most important thing is to be honest and stick to the facts about what happened when you were separated from your job. Having those texts from your supervisor about your position being eliminated should definitely work in your favor!

Update: Got the letter from HR today with the specific September 15th recall date. I uploaded it to my dashboard under "Provide Additional Documentation" as suggested. Hopefully this resolves everything! Thanks everyone for your help. I'm glad I registered with CareerLink already since that seems to be required regardless. Fingers crossed I don't have any benefit interruptions!

Great update! You did everything right by getting the specific date and uploading it properly. Just a heads up - keep checking your dashboard over the next week or two to make sure the exemption gets processed correctly. Sometimes there's a delay before it shows up in the system. If you don't see any confirmation or if your weekly certification still asks for work search activities, don't panic - just call UC to confirm they received and processed your documentation. You're being super proactive about this which is smart!

After reading through your situation and the comments, here's my practical advice: 1. File your claim and be honest about voluntarily quitting 2. Clearly explain the harassment was specific, persistent, and severe 3. Document how you attempted to resolve it (HR emails, conversations with supervisors) 4. Get statements from your doctor and the coworkers who witnessed the harassment 5. Be prepared for initial denial and ready to appeal quickly 6. During the appeal process, focus on why continuing work was impossible for your health From what you've shared, you have a legitimate case under PA's "necessitous and compelling reason" standard, especially with medical documentation of the impact on your mental health. The appeal process is where most legitimate voluntary quit cases get approved.

I went through something similar in PA last year - quit due to hostile work environment and discrimination. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also request your complete personnel file from your former employer within 30 days of leaving (it's your right under PA law). Sometimes there are performance reviews, disciplinary actions, or other documents in there that can either help or hurt your case, so it's better to know what they have. Also, when you file your UC claim, don't just say "harassment" - be specific about the behavior and how it created an unsafe or intolerable work environment. PA UC looks for concrete examples, not general complaints. Good luck with your claim!

anyone know if taking classes while ur on uc affects anything? thinking of doing some training for a new career since i cant find work in my field

I was in a similar situation last year and can share what I learned. When your benefits are exhausted but you're still within your benefit year, you're essentially in a waiting period until that year expires. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even with a $0 balance - this maintains your claim status in case any emergency extensions are enacted (though as others mentioned, none are currently available in PA). One thing that helped me was reaching out to CareerLink offices for additional job search resources and networking events. They sometimes have job fairs or training opportunities that aren't widely advertised. Also, consider looking into gig work or temporary agencies while you search - even part-time income can help bridge the gap until you can file a new claim next year. The waiting period is rough, but staying proactive with your job search and exploring all available assistance programs will help you get through it.