Pennsylvania Unemployment

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PA UC calling nightmare - free redial app recommendations?

Been trying to reach PA unemployment for THREE WEEKS about an open issue on my claim and it's driving me insane! Constant busy signals, disconnections after waiting 40+ minutes, and straight to voicemail. I've tried calling right at 8am, midday, end of day... nothing works. My rent is due next week and I'm seriously stressing out. Does anyone know of a FREE app that will auto-redial the PA UC number for me? I heard some people use redial apps but don't want to pay $$ when I'm already broke. Also any other tips or tricks to actually get through to a real person? Has anyone had luck with email or the chat feature instead? Thanks in advance!

i use to work for unemployment in a different state and let me tell u somthing... they HATE monday and tuesday calls. way to many people calling those days. try wednesday afternoon around 2:30-3pm, thats when loads of ppl are getting off work but before end of day rush.

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This is super helpful insider info! I've been mostly trying Mondays thinking I'd catch them at the start of the week. Will definitely try Wednesday afternoon.

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Since you mentioned having an open issue specifically, you should know that some open issues will resolve automatically after a certain time period if there's no employer protest. Usually 21 days. When did your issue first appear? If it's been less than 3 weeks, it might resolve itself soon without you needing to call. Also, double-check that you're calling the right number. The main claims line is 888-313-7284, but if you have a specific issue type there might be a more direct number.

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If you're at 17 days and had a clean separation, there's a good chance it will resolve in the next week. Keep filing your weekly claims on time, and check your dashboard daily for updates. If you hit 25 days with no change, then I'd definitely try more aggressive contact methods.

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@Sadie Benitez This is really helpful advice! I had no idea about the 21-day automatic resolution thing. Since I m'already at day 17 and had a clean separation, maybe I should focus on the email route that @Dominique Adams mentioned while waiting to see if it resolves automatically. At least that way I m being'proactive without spending money on calling services. Thanks for the insight about checking daily - I ve been'checking maybe every few days.

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How to backdate a PA UC claim started after IDme verification delays?

I'm so frustrated with the PA unemployment system right now! I finally got my new claim approved that started on 3/15/2025, but it SHOULD have started a week earlier. The problem was that stupid IDme verification system that PA UC implemented. I couldn't log in for almost a week because the system kept rejecting my documents and the video verification kept failing. By the time I finally got through to someone who could help fix my account access, I'd lost a week of benefits. Now I just submitted my first weekly certification and of course they're holding it as a "waiting week" - but if my claim had started when it was supposed to, I'd already be on my second payable week! I've never really dealt with unemployment before 2025, and everything seems different now with all these online systems. I'm worried I might have even messed up my certification somehow. Can I get them to backdate my claim to the correct start date? Has anyone successfully done this? And how long does it usually take for them to process that first waiting week? I'm stressing about bills piling up!

Great to hear you got through and resolved it! I'm dealing with a similar IDme verification nightmare right now - been locked out for 3 days because the facial recognition keeps failing. Super frustrating that they implemented this system without making sure it actually works properly. For anyone else struggling with IDme specifically, I found that using a different device sometimes helps. The facial recognition worked better on my laptop than on my phone. Also make sure you have really good lighting - that seemed to make a difference for me when I finally got through the verification process. Thanks for sharing your experience with the Claimyr service too. Might have to try that if I run into backdating issues once I can actually access my account again.

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I'm dealing with the exact same IDme nightmare right now! Filed my claim last week but got stuck in verification hell for 4 days. The facial recognition kept timing out and their customer service was useless. Finally got verified yesterday but now I'm worried about the same backdating issue you had. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the Message Center approach might be worth trying first before dealing with the phone system. Has anyone had success getting backdating approved through the online message system alone, or did everyone eventually have to call? Also @Zainab Ismail - really hoping your backdating gets processed smoothly! Keep us posted on how it goes. This whole IDme rollout has been such a disaster.

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I tried the Message Center approach first before calling and unfortunately didn't get any response after 10 days. That's when I ended up using the Claimyr service that @CosmicCommander mentioned. From what I've seen in this thread and other posts, most people who got backdating approved had to actually speak to someone on the phone - the online messages seem to get ignored a lot of the time. Since you just got verified yesterday, I'd still try the Message Center first (it's worth a shot and doesn't cost anything), but don't wait too long before trying to call if you don't hear back. The sooner you get the backdating request in, the better. Good luck with the IDme recovery - hopefully they'll fix these technical issues soon because this is affecting way too many people!

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Can I file for PA UC after being terminated from long-term medical leave?

I've been on medical leave for almost a year now due to serious health issues, and my doctor still can't give a definite return date. My employer (where I've worked for the past 10 years) just called saying they're going to terminate me since my leave has gone on so long and they need to permanently fill my position. I understand their situation, but I'm worried about income while I recover. Can I file for PA unemployment if I'm let go because of an extended medical leave? I wasn't fired for misconduct - just can't work right now. Has anyone dealt with this specific situation with PA UC?

One more thing to consider: When you file your initial UC application, you'll be asked about your separation reason. In your case, select "laid off/terminated" rather than "quit/resigned" since the company is initiating the separation. You'll likely have an interview with a UC examiner who will ask about your medical condition and work capabilities. Be prepared to discuss: 1. The nature of your condition 2. What types of work you might be able to perform 3. Any work restrictions from your doctor 4. Your job search efforts If approved, remember that for weekly claims you must be truthful about being able and available for work AND must complete your work search activities (usually applying to at least two positions per week and completing one work search activity). Document everything carefully.

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This is extremely helpful for preparing for the application process. I'll make sure to gather all this information before I start my claim. Thank you!

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I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been on FMLA for 7 months due to a chronic condition and my employer is starting to make noises about my position. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about the "able and available" requirement. One thing I wanted to add is that if you do get approved for UC benefits, make sure you understand Pennsylvania's work search requirements. Even with medical restrictions, you'll still need to apply to jobs and document your search activities. I've been researching remote/work-from-home positions in case my situation goes the same direction as yours. Also, don't forget to ask your HR department about COBRA for health insurance continuation - losing your job means losing your employer health coverage, and with ongoing medical issues, you'll definitely want to keep that going even though it's expensive. Hope things work out for you! This whole system is so confusing when you're already dealing with health problems.

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Need help reporting my new job on PA UC weekly claim - what options will I see on Sunday?

I finally landed a job after 4 months of unemployment! Started on March 4th and I'm super nervous about how to report this correctly on my weekly claim this Sunday. I know I need to report it, but I'm not sure what options I'll see when filing or what information I need to have ready. Will there be a specific place to enter that I got a job? Do I need exact hours worked and earnings for this first week? My orientation was only 4 hours on Monday, then I worked full days Tuesday-Friday. Also, is this my last claim or can I still claim for the partial week? I don't want to mess this up and end up with an overpayment situation later. Thanks for any help!

One more important thing: make sure to enter the correct employment type when filing. Since you mentioned this is a regular job (not self-employment or contract work), select "Regular Employment" when prompted. If you worked any partial days, count those hours accurately. Keep documentation of your hours and earnings for at least a year. PA UC sometimes conducts random audits months later, and having records of your final weeks will protect you. Many people forget this step and face problems later. Congratulations again on the new position!

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Zane Gray

Author

Thank you! I'll definitely save my first pay stub and keep track of all my hours. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!

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Just want to add - when you're entering your hours, make sure you're counting ONLY the hours you actually worked, not including unpaid lunch breaks. So if you worked 8 hours with a 30-minute unpaid lunch, report 7.5 hours for that day. PA is really strict about this distinction. Also, if your employer pays you biweekly and you haven't received your first paycheck yet, you can calculate your gross earnings by multiplying your hourly rate by total hours worked. The system accepts calculated earnings as long as they're accurate. Good luck with your filing on Sunday!

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How to change PA UC tax withholding settings after claim is active?

I started receiving my unemployment benefits last month but just realized taxes aren't being withheld from my payments. I'm worried about owing a huge amount when tax time comes around. Is there a way to update my claim now to have PA UC automatically take out taxes? I looked all over my dashboard but don't see any option to change this setting. Do I need to call them (ugh) or is there a form somewhere on the website that I'm missing? Has anyone successfully changed their tax withholding mid-claim?

does anyone know if the 10% they take out is enough? i had it set up from the beginning but im worried its still not going to cover what i owe next year

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The 10% withholding is fixed by the system - you can't change the percentage. For most people, it's close to what you'll owe, but it depends on your total annual income and other factors. If you're concerned, you might want to consult with a tax professional about your specific situation.

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UPDATE: I followed the advice to go through the Claim Information section and found the checkbox! It was actually under 'Financial Determination' and then 'Payment Options' on my screen (the UI must have changed recently). Just wanted to update in case anyone else is looking for it. Fingers crossed it takes effect with my next payment!

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Great that you found it! One suggestion - take a screenshot of your confirmation page showing the change request was submitted. I've had claimants tell me that having documentation of when they requested the change was helpful when there were issues later.

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Smart tip about the screenshot! I just went back and grabbed one showing my change was submitted. Really hoping this works because I calculated roughly what I might owe and it's going to be a lot without any withholding. Has anyone had success with the system actually processing the change once you find the right section?

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