I'm also brand new to PA unemployment and just discovered this amazing thread! Filed my claim about a week ago and was absolutely terrified about the work search requirements after registering with CareerLink. Like so many others here, I found that most of the job listings were completely unrelated to my background (I work in event planning) - lots of warehouse and retail positions that pay way less than what I need to survive. I was seriously considering applying to jobs I had no business doing just to check the weekly requirement box, which felt so demoralizing when I'm already stressed about being unemployed. This entire discussion has been such a huge relief! I had no idea that my applications through Eventbrite job board, LinkedIn, and directly contacting venues and event companies would count toward my work search requirements. I've been focusing on those platforms all week since that's where the actual event industry jobs are posted, but I was worried none of it would be accepted by PA UC. I'm starting my documentation spreadsheet right now with all the details everyone mentioned - dates, company names, positions, application methods, screenshots, etc. It's honestly incredible how much more helpful this community has been compared to trying to navigate the confusing official PA UC website. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and making this whole process so much less scary for newcomers like me!

I'm also completely new to PA unemployment and just filed my claim yesterday - this thread has been absolutely amazing! Like so many others here, I was having a total meltdown about the work search requirements after registering with CareerLink. The job listings there are absolutely terrible for my field (I'm in data analysis) - mostly warehouse, retail, and food service jobs that pay a fraction of what I need to cover my bills. I was genuinely panicking that I'd have to start applying to completely irrelevant positions just to meet the weekly requirements, which felt so defeating on top of already dealing with unemployment stress. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such an enormous relief! I had no idea that applications through Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and company career pages would count toward the work search requirements. I've actually been using those platforms exclusively this week since that's where all the actual data analyst positions are posted, but I was terrified none of it would be accepted by PA UC. I'm setting up my documentation spreadsheet tonight with all the details everyone mentioned - dates, company names, positions, application methods, confirmation screenshots, etc. It's honestly shocking how much clearer this one community thread is compared to hours of trying to understand the confusing official PA UC website. They really need to spell out that ANY legitimate job search activity counts! Thank you all so much for sharing your real-world experiences and making this whole intimidating process way more manageable for newcomers like me.

This thread has been incredibly helpful to read through as someone who's relatively new to dealing with PA UC! Emma's experience really shows how confusing their system can be - it's both frustrating and reassuring to see that the dashboard can show conflicting information while payments still go through normally. The consensus here about trusting the "expect payment" message during weekly certification over other dashboard elements is such valuable advice. I've been dealing with some similar inconsistencies in my own account and was starting to worry, but seeing everyone's real experiences and Emma's positive outcome gives me much more confidence. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to share their actual experiences rather than just speculation - it makes navigating this whole system so much less stressful when you know others have been through the same thing!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable for understanding PA UC's system! As someone who just filed my first claim after being laid off last month, I was completely baffled by the conflicting information on my dashboard. Emma's journey from confusion to getting paid despite the open issue still showing really illustrates how unreliable their interface can be. The key insight everyone's sharing about trusting the "expect payment" message during weekly certification over dashboard flags is something I'll definitely keep in mind. It's incredible how many people have dealt with this exact same situation - really shows how broken their system integration is. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here, especially Emma for coming back with the update. Stories like this make navigating PA UC's confusing system feel way less overwhelming when you know you're not alone in dealing with these technical glitches!

Just wanted to add one more important point - make sure you keep paying attention to any deadlines even while your appeal is pending. Sometimes PA UC will send additional notices or requests for information during the appeal process, and missing those deadlines can hurt your case. Also, if your appeal gets denied, you typically have another 15 days to file for a Board of Review hearing, so don't give up if the first appeal doesn't go your way. The fact that it's marked as non-fraud gives you a really good chance with the waiver, so stay positive! Keep us updated on how it goes.

I went through something very similar about 18 months ago and want to share what worked for me. First, definitely file your own appeal within the 15-day deadline - don't rely solely on your employer. When I filed mine, I included a detailed timeline of events showing that I had provided all accurate information when I initially applied, and that PA UC had approved everything without any red flags at the time. For the waiver request, I emphasized that I had received and spent the benefits in good faith based on their approval, and that repaying would create serious financial hardship. The key phrase to use is "against equity and good conscience" - that's the legal standard they use. I also included my current budget showing that repayment would prevent me from covering basic living expenses. It took about 4 months total, but both my appeal and waiver were approved. The non-fraud determination really does work in your favor here - it shows they acknowledge their system made an error, not you. Stay organized with all your paperwork and don't get discouraged by how slow the process moves. You've got this!

Any update on your situation? Did you file the waiver yet?

Glad to see you're taking action! I went through something similar a few years ago and the key thing that helped me was getting everything documented properly. Since you mentioned it's about freelance work reporting, make sure you have copies of ALL your 1099s, bank deposits, and any correspondence you had with UC about reporting that income. Sometimes they have the dates wrong or misinterpret when the income was actually earned vs when it was reported. The non-fault classification is huge - that means they're acknowledging you weren't trying to deceive them. With non-fault overpayments, they're much more likely to approve waivers, especially if you can show genuine financial hardship. One thing I learned is to keep detailed records of every phone call, form submission, and letter. Get confirmation numbers for everything. The $25/month payment plan was smart - shows good faith while protecting you from garnishment. Best of luck with the waiver process!

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I was stuck in the lockout loop - disable any browser extensions you might have running, especially ad blockers or privacy extensions. I had uBlock Origin running and it was interfering with the PA UC site's login process. Once I disabled it and refreshed the page, I was able to stay logged in. Also, if you're using any password managers like LastPass or 1Password, try logging in manually without using the auto-fill feature. The PA UC system seems really sensitive to anything that might look like automated login attempts.

I went through this exact same nightmare last month! The PA UC system is so broken it's ridiculous. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1) Used Firefox browser in private/incognito mode, 2) Completely cleared all browser data (not just cache but cookies, stored passwords, everything), 3) Waited until mid-morning on a weekday to try logging in (seems like the system is less overloaded then), and 4) Made sure to type everything manually - no copy/paste, no autofill, nothing. It took me about 6 attempts over 3 days but I eventually got through. The key was being really patient and not trying to rush the process. Good luck!