7 weeks no PA UC payment despite state rep intervention - losing hope

I'm at my wits end with PA unemployment. Been waiting 7 weeks since my layoff and still haven't received a SINGLE payment despite following every step. I worked retail for 3 years before being laid off, and also did some gig work with Doordash (reported on my 1099) during that time. I uploaded the 1099 tax form they requested over two weeks ago, but my claim is still sitting with 'pending issues'. The state rep's office supposedly 'expedited' my case to an examiner on Monday, but nothing has changed online. Meanwhile my bank account is nearly empty. My $4,100 severance ran out weeks ago, and I've had to apply for food assistance just to eat. I see posts everywhere about people getting their claims resolved quickly after contacting their rep, but that hasn't worked for me. What am I missing? Is there some magic phrase I should be saying? This whole experience has me completely depressed and anxious - I can't sleep, can't focus on job applications, and honestly don't know how I'll pay next month's rent. Has anyone else had success AFTER their state rep supposedly 'expedited' things? How long did it take?

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20 comments

Gael Robinson

•9M

Unfortunately the combination of W2 and 1099 income often triggers extra review in PA's system. The examiner needs to verify that your 1099 work doesn't make you ineligible for regular UC benefits. This typically happens because they need to determine if your gig work was self-employment (which would complicate eligibility) or if it was properly classified as an employee relationship. I was in a similar situation and it took them 9 weeks to resolve. The key was getting someone on the phone who could look at my documents and manually push the claim through. Most state reps can't actually expedite claims themselves - they just send a notification to UC that doesn't always get prioritized.

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Dana Doyle

•8M

Former PA UC examiner here. When you have both W2 and 1099 income, your claim gets routed to a specialized unit that handles combined income sources, and unfortunately that unit is severely backlogged. Here's what I recommend: 1. Call your state rep again and specifically mention you're experiencing financial hardship (possible eviction, utility shutoffs, etc) 2. Ask them to contact the UC executive office, not just the regular examiner queue 3. Continue filing your weekly claims 4. If you have documentation showing financial hardship (late notices, etc.), have those ready 5. Make sure your 1099 shows clearly that this was gig work through an established platform and not independent contracting The normal timeframe for these mixed-income claims is currently 6-8 weeks, so you're nearing the end of the typical wait. I know that's not comforting when bills are due.

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