This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I've been struggling with PA UC for the past 6 weeks because my former employer (a retail chain) hasn't responded to their questionnaire either. I had no idea about the 30-day rule or that I could specifically request they move forward without the employer response. I've been calling constantly but never knew the magic words to say. Reading Ella's success story gives me so much hope - I'm definitely calling first thing Monday morning and using the exact language everyone suggested here. It's ridiculous that we have to fight this hard for benefits we've earned, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can share strategies and support each other. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This is such an eye-opening thread! I'm currently in week 4 of waiting for my benefits because my former employer (a small manufacturing company) hasn't responded to their questionnaire either. I had absolutely no idea about the 30-day rule until reading through all these responses. It's honestly shocking that PA UC doesn't inform claimants about this option upfront - how many people are just sitting there waiting indefinitely when they could be pushing for action? I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and use the specific language everyone mentioned here about "proceeding with determination based on claimant information only." Thank you Ella for sharing your experience and congrats on getting your claim escalated! This community is invaluable for helping each other navigate this broken system.

To answer your original question directly: With 29 work weeks from June to December 2025, your friend has enough credit weeks (more than the required 18) IF those weeks are counted in his base year. The current base year for someone applying in December 2025 would be July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. Since he started in June 2025, most of his work would fall outside this period. However, the Alternative Base Year would be October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025, which would capture some of his work. The most favorable would be applying in January 2026, when the Traditional Base Year shifts to October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025, and the Alternative Base Year becomes January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 (capturing all his work). Advice: Apply immediately after job loss, but be prepared to reapply in January if necessary.

One more thing your friend should know - even if he qualifies for UC, there's a one-week waiting period before benefits start. So the first week he's eligible, he'll file but won't get paid for that week. With the holidays coming up, make sure he's prepared for that delay on top of the normal processing time.

dont forget u still have to file ur weekly claims even tho ur waiting for payment

Just a quick update check - has your payment come through yet? Should have hit your account by now if everything's processing normally.

Just wanted to add - if you're worried about the work search requirements being a hassle for such a short period, you can often count activities like updating your resume, taking online courses related to your field, or attending virtual job fairs. These all qualify as "work search activities" beyond just applying to jobs. Since you're only looking at maybe 3-4 weeks of claims, it's totally manageable. Good luck with your application!

Just went through this exact situation myself! Applied for UC while working part-time and having a future job lined up. Got approved within about 10 days and received benefits for the 3 weeks I was between jobs. The key is being completely honest on your application - I disclosed everything including my part-time hours and future start date. They actually have a specific question about whether you have work lined up, so they're used to dealing with this scenario. My weekly benefit was around $195 and I was earning about $120/week part-time, so I got a partial payment of roughly $85/week which was still super helpful for covering basics. Don't let the conflicting info here discourage you - every situation is different and yours sounds totally legitimate!

Just wanted to add that you should also keep detailed records of everything during this process. I kept a journal with dates, times, and who I spoke with at UC - it really helped during my hearing when they asked about timeline details. Also, don't panic about the 2-week rent deadline. Many landlords will work with you if you explain you're waiting on UC appeal results, especially if you can show them your appeal paperwork as proof. I had to do this and my landlord gave me an extra 3 weeks once they saw I had a legitimate case pending. Your video evidence sounds really strong! Make sure to watch it yourself a few times and practice explaining what it shows in simple, clear terms. Sometimes what seems obvious to us isn't immediately clear to someone else viewing it for the first time.

I just went through this same situation about 6 months ago! My employer also lied about the reason for my termination and I was SO stressed about the whole process. Here's what helped me: For the hearing timeline - mine took about 5 weeks to get scheduled, but I've heard it can vary. The good news is that your video evidence sounds like exactly what you need! I had text messages that proved my case and they made all the difference. About lawyers - I was torn on this too but ended up representing myself and won. The referee was actually really patient and helped me understand the questions. Just make sure you practice telling your story clearly and stick to the facts that directly relate to why they said you were fired. One thing that really helped my stress was calling the local legal aid office. Even though I didn't hire a lawyer, they gave me a free 30-minute consultation where they explained what to expect at the hearing. Might be worth looking into if you have something similar in your area. Hang in there - having that video evidence puts you in a much stronger position than a lot of people! The hardest part is just waiting for the hearing date.