Just wanted to add my experience from earlier this year - I was in a similar boat after being out of the UC system for a few years and came back to find everything had changed! The Money Network transition definitely threw me for a loop initially. One thing I learned that might help - if you're still waiting for your claim to be approved, you can actually set up your payment preferences (including direct deposit) RIGHT NOW in your PA UC dashboard even before you get your first payment. Don't wait like I did! Just log in, go to "Payment Options" and add your bank info. That way when your first payment gets approved, it'll go straight to your account instead of triggering a card to be mailed out. Also, if you end up needing to call UC for any reason during your claim process, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open - that's when I had the most luck getting through without waiting forever. The Money Network stuff is definitely an improvement, but the direct deposit route will save you so much hassle in the long run. Hope your claim gets processed quickly!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who recently navigated this whole Money Network transition too! I was also out of the UC system for a while and came back to find everything completely different. The Money Network app is definitely legit - search for "Money Network Mobile App" in your app store. It's so much better than that old automated phone system where you'd have to punch in your card number 50 times just to hear your balance! My advice echoes what others have said - go straight for direct deposit if possible. I made the mistake of waiting for the card first and it added an extra 10 days to get my money. You can set up direct deposit right in your PA UC dashboard under payment options, even before your first payment is approved. One heads up though - if you do get the Money Network card, don't panic if the app login seems confusing at first. It's a completely separate login from your PA UC account (which confused me for days!). You'll need the card number AND a security code from the paperwork, not just the CVV on the back. The whole system is honestly a huge upgrade from the ReliaCard days. Good luck with your claim!

One more thing to try: check if your claim is being processed under regular UC or if it might have been routed to the Shared Work program (if your employer participated in partial layoffs). Sometimes claims get misdirected in the system when large layoffs happen. Also, make sure you've set up your payment method (direct deposit or debit card) correctly in the system. Sometimes claims appear as "processing" when actually they're approved but there's a payment method issue. January is historically the slowest month for claim processing due to holiday backlogs and seasonal claim increases. If your separation reason is clearly "lack of work" due to layoff, your claim should eventually be approved without issues once they process it.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed in late December after being laid off and still stuck in "processing" hell. I've tried calling every single day, multiple times a day, and it's like they've designed the phone system to be impossible. The automated system just hangs up on you after making you jump through all the hoops. I'm definitely going to try some of these suggestions - especially contacting my state rep and checking out that Claimyr service. At this point I'm willing to try anything because my savings are almost gone and my landlord isn't going to wait much longer. It's so frustrating that we pay into this system our whole working lives and then when we actually need it, we can't even get through to find out what's wrong! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess. The PA UC system really needs a complete overhaul.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the waiting is absolutely brutal when you're depending on these benefits. I went through something similar last year where my claim sat in "under review" for 6 weeks. What finally worked for me was calling the UC office repeatedly using a redial app on my phone starting at exactly 7:58 AM. It took about 45 minutes of constant redialing but I finally got through to someone who could see that my claim was flagged for income verification from a previous employer. Once I provided the documents they needed, it was approved within 3 days and I got all the backpay. Don't give up on calling - it's frustrating but sometimes that's the only way to find out what's actually holding up your claim. Also make sure to check if there are any document upload requests in your online portal that you might have missed. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what!

I'm in week 4 of "under review" status and this thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! It's both reassuring and terrifying to see how long some of you have been waiting, but knowing that most people eventually get approved with full backpay gives me some hope. The complete lack of communication from PA UC is what's driving me crazy the most. @Kaitlyn Otto your redial app strategy sounds genius - I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. @Skylar Neal I'm also seriously considering that Claimyr service you mentioned since traditional calling seems nearly impossible. The financial stress is getting really intense but at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare. Going to keep filing my weekly claims religiously and documenting everything just in case. Hopefully we all get some movement on our claims soon!

Connor, I just went through a very similar situation in PA last month! Got fired from my sales job for missing targets and my manager also threatened that I wouldn't get benefits. I was so scared I almost didn't apply, but I'm so glad I did because I got approved! Here's what helped me: I kept detailed records of all my sales activities, training sessions, and client interactions to show I was genuinely trying to succeed. When PA UC interviewed me, I explained that I was putting in effort but just couldn't close enough deals in the short time I was there. The investigator told me that not meeting quotas is usually considered a "lack of skill or ability" rather than willful misconduct, especially when you can show you were trying. Your employer can contest it (mine did), but UC makes the final decision based on facts, not threats. One thing that really helped my case was that I documented every training I attended and every sales call I made. If you have any of that kind of documentation, definitely bring it up during your interview with UC. Don't let them intimidate you - apply right away and be completely honest about everything. The system is designed to help people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and that includes people who just aren't cut out for certain sales roles. You've got this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress, Connor. As someone who's been through a similar situation, I wanted to add that your employer's threats about blocking your claim are really just scare tactics. They can contest your claim, but they absolutely cannot "block" you from applying or make the final decision. What really matters is whether you were making a good faith effort to meet expectations. The fact that you're a travel healthcare recruiter who's only been there 3 months is actually important context - that's a complex field that typically requires time to build relationships and develop expertise. Most people would agree that 3 months isn't enough time to fairly judge someone's ability in that role. When you apply (and you definitely should apply right away), focus on being factual about your termination reason and emphasize any efforts you made to improve your performance. If you have any documentation of training you completed, goals you worked toward, or feedback you received, mention that too. The unemployment system exists specifically for situations like yours - people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, which includes being let go for performance reasons when you were genuinely trying. Don't let their intimidation tactics work. You have every right to apply and let PA UC make the determination based on the actual facts, not your employer's threats.

Great advice everyone! Just to add one more tip - when you're filling out the employer information section, double-check that you enter the correct employer name exactly as it appears on your paperwork/offer letter. I made the mistake of using an abbreviation of my company name instead of the full legal name, and it caused a delay in processing that took weeks to resolve. PA UC cross-references employer information, so accuracy is key. Also, if you're unsure about your exact gross earnings for the week, it's better to slightly overestimate than underestimate - you can always correct it later, but underreporting can trigger fraud investigations. Wishing you the best with your final claim this Sunday!

One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you have your Social Security card or know your SSN by heart when filing! The system will ask for it to verify your identity, and if you enter it wrong too many times it can lock you out for 24 hours. Also, don't stress too much about the exact dollar amount if you haven't gotten your first paycheck yet. You can estimate your gross earnings by multiplying hours worked by your hourly rate. Just be as accurate as possible and keep records. The fact that you're asking these questions ahead of time shows you're being responsible about it. You've got this!