I just wanted to share some hope with everyone here - I was in a similar situation last year and it did eventually get resolved! I waited 15 weeks total (including 4 weeks after they said it was "expedited"). What finally worked for me was calling first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM and asking to speak with a claims examiner about a "review status inquiry." I also mentioned I was facing financial hardship due to the delay. The examiner found that my file had been sitting in the wrong queue and was able to process it immediately. Got my backpay for all 15 weeks within 3 days. I know it's incredibly stressful and feels hopeless, but keep fighting and don't let them brush you off with generic responses. Document everything and be persistent! @Yuki Kobayashi - based on your timeline, I'd definitely try the hardship prioritization route that @Zoe Stavros mentioned. Hang in there!

Wow, reading through all these stories makes me realize I'm not alone in this frustrating situation! I'm currently at week 8 myself and just had a rep tell me they were "expediting" my claim yesterday. Based on what everyone is sharing here, it sounds like I should temper my expectations and prepare for several more weeks of waiting. The advice about asking specifically what TYPE of review and requesting a claims examiner instead of just any rep is incredibly valuable - I had no idea there was a difference! I'm going to try calling Monday at 8 AM sharp like @Emma Taylor suggested and use that exact phrase "review status inquiry." It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become experts in navigating their broken system just to get benefits we're entitled to, but this community is a lifesaver for sharing these insider tips. Thanks everyone for being so detailed about what worked (and didn't work) - it gives me hope and a much better game plan than just calling and hoping for the best.

Good luck with your application! You're taking the right approach by being honest and exploring all your options. Just wanted to add that when you do apply, make sure to mention any tips you received at the bar job if you reported them on past tax returns - sometimes people forget that tip income can count toward eligibility if it was properly reported. Also, keep records of all your contacts with the Department of Labor about the misclassification issue, as this could be helpful if they do investigate your employer. The fact that you're being proactive about reporting the situation properly shows you're handling this the right way despite your employer's poor practices.

I went through something similar a few years ago working at a pizza place. The owner paid everyone cash and when I got fired, I was in the same boat. What I learned is that even though you can't get UC benefits for the under-the-table work, you might still qualify for other assistance programs like SNAP (food stamps) or emergency rental assistance through your county. I know it's not the same as unemployment, but it can help bridge the gap while you're looking for new work. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing the tax implications - a lot of employers in the service industry take advantage of workers who don't realize they're being screwed over. You're doing the right thing by asking questions and trying to handle this properly now.

This thread is super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got approved for UC benefits and waiting on my first payment to the Money Network card. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the midnight-2am window is pretty reliable for most people. Really appreciate all the detailed info about the app notifications and the pending deposits feature - definitely going to set that up right away. It's reassuring to hear that while there can be some variation in timing, the system generally works as advertised. Thanks for sharing your experience and glad your payment came through on time!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been on UC for about 8 months now with the Money Network card. The timing has been pretty consistent for me - usually hits around 1-2am on the pay date, but I've had a few random delays where it didn't show up until Friday afternoon even with a Thursday pay date. The app is definitely your best friend here! Make sure you turn on push notifications because sometimes the money shows up earlier than expected and you don't want to miss it. Also, pro tip: if you're ever cutting it close with bills, you can check your account balance at any ATM for free at certain locations (there's a list in the app). The whole system isn't perfect but once you get used to the rhythm it's way better than waiting for paper checks in the mail!

That's awesome that your status changed to payable! I'm in a similar situation - won my appeal two weeks ago and have been waiting. Seeing your update gives me hope that mine might change soon too. The whole process is so stressful when you're broke and waiting. Fingers crossed you get those payment dates posted quickly!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Won my appeal last Friday and my status just shows "appeal decision rendered" with no payment dates yet. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like 7-14 days is pretty normal for the system to process everything. I'm also completely broke and stressed about bills, so I totally understand what you're going through. Thanks for posting this question because now I know what to expect and that I'm not the only one dealing with this frustrating waiting period after winning an appeal.

I'm sorry you're going through this! I had a similar situation a few months ago where I was fired for not being able to work mandatory overtime due to my elderly mother's medical appointments. The separation issue on my claim took about 3 weeks to resolve, but I was eventually approved. The key things that helped my case were: having documentation of my caregiving responsibilities (medical appointment schedules), showing that I had communicated my limitations to my supervisor in writing (emails), and demonstrating that the overtime demands were unreasonable and not part of my original job description. Since you have documented daycare late fees, that's great evidence that you had legitimate childcare obligations. Make sure to bring those receipts to your interview and emphasize that you were a reliable employee who just couldn't accommodate last-minute schedule changes due to your parental responsibilities. PA generally recognizes family care obligations as good cause. Stay strong - the system is frustrating but it does work out for legitimate cases like yours!

I work in HR and deal with these cases regularly. Your situation sounds like a clear case where you should be approved. PA unemployment law specifically protects workers who refuse overtime due to legitimate personal obligations that were communicated to the employer. The fact that your employer knew about your childcare situation and still terminated you for prioritizing your child's needs actually strengthens your case. A few tips for your interview: 1) Bring documentation of your daycare pickup times and late fees, 2) If you have any texts/emails about the overtime requests, bring those too, 3) Stick to the facts - don't get emotional about how unfairly you were treated, 4) Emphasize that you were otherwise a good employee who simply couldn't accommodate unreasonable last-minute demands due to parental responsibilities. The "separation issue" flag is standard procedure when there's any dispute about the reason for termination. It doesn't mean you're likely to be denied - it just means they need to investigate. Most cases involving legitimate childcare conflicts are resolved in the claimant's favor. Keep filing your weekly claims and stay patient!