@Jade Lopez Congratulations on finally getting through! Your story is exactly why I always tell people not to give up on these claims. Six weeks for a simple wage discrepancy is absolutely ridiculous, but the important thing is you stuck with it and got results. For anyone else reading this who's in a similar situation - this is proof that there's usually a real person who can actually fix these issues, you just have to be persistent enough to reach them. The system is definitely broken when it comes to communication, but the benefits are there waiting for you. Thanks for sharing your victory - it gives the rest of us hope!

@Jade Lopez That's incredible news! Your persistence really paid off and this gives so much hope to everyone else dealing with similar delays. The fact that it was just a wage discrepancy that could have been resolved months ago is maddening, but at least you're finally getting your backpay. Your story is a perfect example of why we can't just sit back and wait - sometimes you really do need to keep calling until you reach someone who can actually help. Thanks for updating us throughout this whole process - it's been really valuable to follow along and see that these issues can be resolved with enough determination. Enjoy that well-deserved backpay!

This is such a great example of how confusing the PA UC system can be for newcomers! I went through something similar when I first started collecting - kept wondering where those extra few dollars were going. The fact that PA doesn't clearly explain upfront that tax withholding includes BOTH federal AND state taxes is really frustrating. It would save everyone so much confusion if they just said "we'll withhold approximately 11% total" instead of making it sound like it's just the 10% federal. Really appreciate everyone who jumped in to help solve this mystery - this thread is definitely going to help other people who run into the same issue!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently waiting for my UC claim to be approved and was planning to elect tax withholding, but I had no idea PA takes out both federal AND state taxes. I was definitely assuming it would just be the 10% federal like Connor initially thought. Thanks to everyone who helped solve this mystery - I'll know to check that detailed payment view right away when my payments start so I'm not caught off guard. It's really frustrating that PA doesn't make this clearer during the application process. This community is awesome for helping newcomers navigate all these confusing details!

One last tip - when you're entering your work information during the weekly certification, be super precise with your hours and pay. Round to the nearest dollar, not cent (PA UC system doesn't handle cents well for some reason). And if you have any issues with the calculation showing up wrong, take screenshots of everything before you submit. The system sometimes glitches with partial benefits calculations.

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was in a similar situation - keep a detailed log of your hours and earnings for each week. I used a simple spreadsheet with dates, hours worked, and gross pay. This made filing my weekly claims so much easier and also helped when I had to provide documentation later. PA UC sometimes asks for pay stubs or employer verification, especially if your earnings vary week to week. Having everything organized from day one saved me a lot of headaches down the road. Good luck with the new job!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you do get through to PA UC (whether through Claimyr or eventually on your own), ask them specifically about "good cause for leaving employment." PA has pretty clear guidelines about what constitutes good cause, and leaving one job for another that offers comparable wages is typically considered valid good cause, even if the hours are slightly less. This will be your strongest defense if your current employer does contest the claim. Also, make sure when you file your initial claim that you're very clear in your explanation that you left your previous job FOR other employment, not just to collect benefits later. The way you phrase things in that initial application can make a big difference in how they process your claim.

One thing to keep in mind is timing - you mentioned the new job starts in June and seasonal layoffs happen in winter. Make sure you understand exactly when that layoff period begins because PA UC has a waiting week requirement, and you'll want to file as soon as you're laid off to start the process. Also, during your winter layoff period, you'll need to maintain your job search requirements even though you know you'll likely return to the seasonal job in spring. PA UC will expect you to be genuinely seeking other work during the off-season, not just waiting for your seasonal job to restart. Keep records of your job search activities because they may audit this, especially if there's a contest from your former employer.

Hey Liam! I went through this exact same situation when I got RIF'd from the Department of Defense last year. A few things that helped me speed up the process: 1) Make sure you're logging into the PA UC portal regularly to check for any additional document requests - they don't always send email notifications, 2) If your claim shows "monetary determination pending" that usually means they're still verifying your federal wages, which is the longest part, 3) You can actually call your former agency's payroll office directly and ask them to expedite the wage verification to PA - some agencies are faster at responding than others. Also, since you mentioned bills coming due, consider applying for emergency assistance through 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you with local programs that help with utilities and rent while waiting for benefits. The waiting is brutal but hang in there!

Based on my experience helping other federal workers navigate PA UC, here are a few additional tips that might help speed things up: 1) If you haven't already, double-check that your Social Security Number matches exactly between your federal employment records and your UC application - any mismatch can cause delays, 2) Keep copies of all your federal pay stubs from the last 18 months handy in case PA UC requests them for wage verification, 3) If your claim gets stuck in "pending" status for more than 6 weeks, you can file an appeal which sometimes forces a review and speeds up processing. Also, since you mentioned being "stationed" in PA, make sure you filed in the correct state - if you're military or worked at a federal facility in multiple states recently, there might be interstate claim complications. The good news is that once federal claims get approved, the back payments usually come through pretty quickly (within a week). Hang in there!