when this happened to me i just lied about my hours the next time so my claim wouldn't close again... probably not the best advice but it worked lol

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now, except I work part-time as a substitute teacher. My hours change every week depending on who needs coverage. It's such a headache having to potentially reopen my claim every other week! What I've started doing is calculating exactly how many hours I can work before hitting that 140% threshold, and then I try not to exceed it. Might be helpful for you too if your retail job will work with you on scheduling.

If you haven't received your Money Network card yet, don't panic! The funds will be loaded onto your card account and will be available once you activate your card. The card is typically mailed within 7-10 business days after your first payment is approved. If it's been longer than that, you should contact Money Network directly at 1-888-233-5916 to check on the status of your card or request a replacement. In the meantime, your payments aren't lost - they're just waiting for you to access them.

i had the same situation last month where i got approved but hadnt gotten my card yet. once i activated my card all my back payments were there waiting for me! just make sure you check your mail carefully, the envelope is pretty plain and I almost threw mine away thinking it was junk mail!

That's great news! Most issues that people worry about end up resolving themselves. Glad it worked out smoothly for you.

my anxiety always gets the best of me with these things too lol. but really waiting week is waiting week, they dont pay you anyway so as long as you were honest youre good. keep up with the job search requirements thats the most important part or they will definitely deny benefits!!

did u also do the job search requirements??? if u didnt they will hold ur payment

My roommate had his payment date on a Thursday once but didn't get it until Monday because they don't process on weekends. So if your date is Friday it might be Tuesday before you see it.

One thing worth mentioning is that employer verification issues can sometimes be expedited if you're experiencing severe financial hardship. If you're facing potential eviction, utility shutoff, or inability to afford medications, make sure to mention this when you speak with a UC representative. In certain cases, they can flag your claim for priority processing. Also, while waiting, be sure you understand the job search requirements fully. You must complete at least two work search activities each week and be able to document them if asked. This includes applying for positions, attending job fairs, creating profiles on job search websites, etc. Failing to meet these requirements could affect your eligibility even after the employer verification issue is resolved.

I'm on week 4 waiting for a decision. Every time I call they just say "it's still pending" and can't tell me anything more. My landlord is getting impatient and I don't know what to tell him. Has anyone had any luck getting an advance payment or partial payment while waiting?

I'm in a similar boat rn and its so stressful! My bar is staying open but they cut my shifts from 5 days to just 1 day a week. Can I even file for partial unemployment? Has anyone tried that?

FINAL UPDATE: My claim was approved! Took 12 days total and I already got my first payment via direct deposit. For anyone in the same situation, here's what worked for me: 1. I uploaded the text from my boss about the closure right away 2. I took photos of the closed restaurant with the sign in the window 3. I called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above when I saw an "employer contact" issue 4. The agent was able to verify everything and push my claim through They did count most of my tips in the calculation (the ones reported on tax returns), and my weekly benefit amount is actually pretty decent. Now I just need to keep up with the weekly claims and job search requirements while I find a new bartending job. Thanks again to everyone who helped!

my uncle worked for the unemployment office years ago and he said they always tell people 24-48 hrs even when they know it'll be longer because people complain less that way. sneaky if u ask me

To give you some perspective on which method is better, here's my experience with both: Money Network Card: - Pros: No risk of rejected bank deposits; can use immediately once loaded; works like a debit card - Cons: May take 1-3 business days after payment release; card can get lost; another account to manage Direct Deposit: - Pros: Usually faster (often same-day or next-day); money goes directly to your main account - Cons: Initial setup takes 7-10 days; bank routing problems can cause delays; bank might hold funds For your current situation with rent due soon, definitely wait for this payment on your Money Network card. You can decide on switching later when you're not in a time crunch. One other tip: log into your PA UC account daily and check your payment status. It will change from "In Progress" to "Processed" when the money has been sent to Money Network. From that point, it's usually just 1 business day until it's available on your card.

Try clearing your cache and cookies. Sometimes that fixes it. CareerLink was working fine for me yesterday afternoon.

UPDATE: Just called PA CareerLink (not UC). They said they're experiencing a database sync issue that's causing search results to disappear. Should be fixed within 48 hours. The rep confirmed that if you document your work search activities through other methods during this time, it won't affect your UC benefits eligibility. Just keep detailed records of what you do and be prepared to explain if questioned.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to someone? If you're still having trouble, remember that you can also try contacting your state representative's office. They often have liaisons who can help escalate unemployment issues. This has worked for many people when they can't get through directly to UC.

any luck??? did u find out what the issue was???

One additional thing to be aware of: if you ever need to file for unemployment again within the same benefit year (which runs for 52 weeks from when you first filed), you would reopen your existing claim rather than filing a completely new one. That's another reason why properly closing your current claim by reporting your return to work is important - it keeps everything clean in the system for any future claims.

To answer the follow-up question about partial benefits: Yes, you might qualify for partial benefits for those first few days before starting full-time. PA UC has what's called a "partial benefit credit" - you can earn up to 30% of your weekly benefit amount without reduction, then benefits reduce dollar-for-dollar after that. So definitely worth reporting accurately!