This whole overpayment system is such a MESS! I got hit with a $4,200 overpayment last month because they said I didn't report earnings correctly, but I SWEAR I did everything by the book! Now I'm appealing but reading your post has me worried maybe I missed something in the fine print. The PA UC website is impossible to navigate even when you DO have computer access!!!

Glad you got through to the appeals office! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you're having trouble reaching PA UC by phone, try calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours around 12-1 PM. Those seem to be the best times to actually get through. Also, if you do end up owing an overpayment, don't ignore it! They'll work with you on payment plans if you're proactive about it. The interest and penalties add up fast if you just let it sit.

I just checked my account and im good but now im paranoid lol. Does anyone know how far back they can go to change a non-fault to fault? Like can they go back a year or more??

Hey did u ever get this fixed? I'm dealing with the EXACT same issue now - non-fault to fault and a $6200 overpayment notice that appeared out of nowhere. I'm about to lose my mind!!!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare about 8 months ago. The confusion and stress you're feeling is totally valid - the PA UC system does a terrible job of explaining how appeals and claim status interact. Here's what I wish someone had told me: Your appeal is 100% still being processed regardless of your claim being inactive. Think of them as two completely separate tracks - one handles eligibility decisions (appeals) and the other handles benefit payments (weekly certifications). Definitely reopen your claim TODAY and start filing weekly certifications immediately. Don't even think about trying to backdate those missed weeks - it'll just create more delays and complications. Focus on moving forward from this week. When your appeal gets approved (and based on what you've shared about your employer not showing up with evidence, it should be approved), you'll get backpay for every week you properly certified during the waiting period. But those weeks you missed? Gone forever, unfortunately. The single mom struggle is real, and I know how demoralizing this whole process can be when you're already dealing with job rejection after job rejection. But hang in there - you're advocating for yourself the right way, and this community has your back. Keep documenting those job applications and stay consistent with your weekly filings once you reopen. You've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! As someone who works with unemployment cases, I want to emphasize what others have said - definitely reopen your claim immediately and start filing weekly certifications again. Your appeal is absolutely still being processed even with an inactive claim status. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: when your appeal decision finally comes through (and it sounds like you have a strong case given your employer's no-show), make sure you're ready to act quickly. Sometimes there are additional steps required after a favorable appeal decision, like identity verification or updating your banking information. Having everything current will help you get your benefits flowing as soon as possible. Also, don't let the "hiring now" signs fool you - the job market is incredibly competitive right now despite what employers advertise. Keep applying broadly and don't take the lack of callbacks personally. Many companies are getting hundreds of applications for each opening. Stay strong and keep fighting for what you're entitled to. The system is frustrating and slow, but you're doing everything right by seeking advice and staying persistent. You've got an entire community here rooting for you! 💙

I went through something similar last year when my company had rolling shutdowns. One thing that helped me was keeping really detailed records of my hours and earnings each week - take photos of your pay stubs and write down exactly which days you worked. The PA UC system can be glitchy and sometimes they'll ask you to verify your earnings weeks later. Also, if you're doing the work search requirements, you can use things like updating your resume on job sites or attending virtual job fairs - it doesn't all have to be actual job applications. The Friday thing sounds like it'll be ongoing so I'd definitely file for that. The one Tuesday probably isn't worth the hassle unless you really need every dollar.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who dealt with this exact situation in PA last year. My husband's manufacturing job went to a 4-day schedule (no Fridays) for about 6 months, and filing for partial UC was definitely worth it. He got around $180/week which really helped cover the lost wages. A few tips that made the process smoother: - File your initial claim online on Sunday night or early Monday morning - the system is less busy then - For work search activities, I found that registering on PA CareerLink and updating his profile counted as one activity, and doing skills assessments on there counted as another - Keep a simple spreadsheet with dates worked and gross earnings for each week - makes the weekly certifications much faster The one-day Tuesday thing probably isn't worth the hassle, but if the Friday shutdowns are really going to be ongoing, I'd file ASAP since there's that waiting week. The key is being super consistent with reporting earnings accurately every week. Good luck!

I've been dealing with this nightmare for 5 weeks now and finally have some insight that might help others. After trying everything - calling hundreds of times, emailing, contacting my state rep - I finally got through using persistence and calling right at 8 AM. Turns out my review was also triggered by an employer dispute even though I was clearly laid off due to company downsizing. The agent explained that PA UC has been overwhelmed with these employer contests lately, especially from companies trying to avoid paying into the unemployment fund. What's really messed up is that they don't tell you this is happening - you just sit in limbo for weeks not knowing if it's a simple verification issue or something more complex. For anyone in this situation: 1) Keep detailed records of your layoff/termination, 2) Don't give up on calling early in the morning, 3) Document everything with your former employer if possible. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you have bills to pay, but knowing the actual reason at least helps with the anxiety of not knowing what's going on.

I'm currently in week 4 of my claim being under review and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this frustrating situation. Like many of you, I have no idea what triggered the review - I was laid off due to company budget cuts and reported everything accurately when I filed. The uncertainty is honestly the worst part. I've been continuing to file my weekly claims and doing my work search activities, but the financial stress is really getting to me. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like 4-6 weeks is pretty typical, which means I might have another 2-3 weeks to go. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy that several people mentioned, and if that doesn't work, I might look into that Claimyr service. Has anyone had any luck getting through to an agent recently using the traditional phone method, or is it still nearly impossible? Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's really helping me understand what to expect even though the whole system is clearly broken.