my card took like 12 days to come after my payment date so dont panic if it doesnt show up right away

I went through this exact same situation last month! The envelope is super plain and generic looking - white envelope with "Money Network" and a Tennessee return address. No mention of PA unemployment anywhere on the outside. I almost threw mine away because it looked like a credit card offer! Pro tip: Once you get it and activate it, download the Money Network app right away. You can check your balance, transfer money to your bank account (takes about 2-3 business days), and even set up text alerts for when new payments are added. The transfer feature was a lifesaver for me since I prefer having everything in my regular checking account. Also, don't stress too much about the timing - mine took about 8 business days to arrive after my payment date. Hang in there, you're almost at the finish line after that long wait!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's absolutely maddening! Filed my claim in early February after getting laid off from my accounting job, and immediately got hit with the "eligibility review - prior benefits" status. I received PUA in 2020 when my previous employer had to cut hours due to COVID restrictions, but I've been working full-time since late 2020 and paying into the UC system like everyone else. What's so frustrating is that they're essentially penalizing us for using a federal program that THEY told us to use during a national emergency. I've made over 180 calls in the past month and haven't gotten through to a single person - the phone system just hangs up on you after 45 minutes of holding. I finally tried Claimyr after seeing so many recommendations here and actually got through to an agent in about 25 minutes! She confirmed this is happening to thousands of people and said to keep filing weekly claims no matter what. She also mentioned that people with clear work history between their PUA and current claim usually get processed faster. It's been 6 weeks now and I'm running out of savings fast. My landlord is being understanding but that won't last forever. The worst part is explaining to creditors that I can't pay because the state thinks using unemployment during COVID somehow makes me suspicious for needing it again during a legitimate layoff. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - at least we know we're not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Going to keep filing weekly and hope this gets resolved soon. Stay strong everyone!

This is happening to me too and it's completely insane! Filed my claim three weeks ago after being laid off from my warehouse job, and immediately got stuck in this "PUA comparison review" because I received benefits in 2020 when my previous job shut down during lockdowns. What makes this even more frustrating is that I worked steadily from 2021-2024, paid into the system, and earned my quarters fair and square. Now they're treating my legitimate use of a federal program during a PANDEMIC like some kind of red flag? It's like they're punishing us for following government guidance during the worst crisis in decades. I've been calling every single day and can't get through - the phone system is completely broken. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to try Claimyr since so many people have had success with it. Also going to contact my state rep's office like @Sophia Clark suggested. The financial stress is unreal - I'm already behind on my car payment and my landlord is starting to ask questions. It's humiliating having to explain that I can't pay bills because the state thinks using unemployment during COVID somehow makes me suspicious. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - at least I know I'm not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Going to keep filing my weekly claims and document everything. We shouldn't have to go through this but we'll get through it together!

I'm in a very similar situation right now - remote worker for a company in another state but living and working from PA. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like the consensus is definitely to file in PA since that's where you physically performed the work. The wage investigation issue seems to be totally normal for interstate situations like this. I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need to reference it if I end up in the same boat. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so reassuring to know there are others who have successfully navigated this process!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Remote worker for a California company but living and working from my home in PA. I just got laid off last week and was completely confused about where to file. This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea about the wage investigation process or that it was normal for interstate situations. I'm definitely going to file in PA based on all the advice here. It's so helpful to see that multiple people have successfully navigated this process. The tip about uploading W-2s and pay stubs right away seems really smart. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's given me confidence that this will work out even if there's a waiting period for the wage verification!

You're correct about how Pennsylvania unemployment benefits work! Your benefit year is indeed 52 weeks, but you can only receive payments for a maximum of 26 weeks within that year. If you pick up per diem work, you can absolutely skip filing for benefits during weeks you work (or when your earnings would disqualify you), and then resume claiming during weeks when you're not working or have reduced hours. This is a common situation and won't affect your overall eligibility as long as you're within your 52-week benefit year. A few important things to know: - When working part-time or per diem, you must report all earnings when filing your weekly claims - Pennsylvania has a partial benefit credit - you can earn up to 30% of your weekly benefit amount without reduction (this is called the "earnings allowance") - If you earn more than your allowance but less than your weekly benefit amount plus the allowance, you'll receive reduced benefits that week - If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus the allowance, you won't receive benefits for that week, but you won't lose weeks of eligibility Make sure to accurately report all earnings during any week you file a claim. The system will calculate if you qualify for full benefits, partial benefits, or no benefits that week. If you have specific questions about your situation, you can contact the PA UC service center at 1-888-313-7284 or check your benefit details in your online account at www.uc.pa.gov.

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar situation and had been wondering about this exact scenario. Just to clarify - when you say we need to report earnings during weeks we file claims, does that include if I work just one day that week? And is there a minimum amount that needs to be reported, or do we report everything no matter how small? Also, I noticed you mentioned the 30% earnings allowance - is that calculated based on the gross pay or net pay from the per diem work? I want to make sure I understand this correctly before I start taking on any temporary work. Thanks for breaking this down so clearly!

Kind of a side question but related - does anyone know if the severance affects the job search requirements? Do I still need to apply to jobs while getting severance even if my benefits are $0?

Just wanted to add my experience from when I was laid off in 2023 with severance. I filed immediately and I'm so glad I did! Even though my weekly benefits were reduced to $0 for the first 6 weeks due to severance, when the severance ended my benefits kicked in right away without any delays. The key is being super accurate when reporting your severance amounts each week - I kept detailed records of every payment. Also, don't forget that your severance might push you into a higher tax bracket temporarily, so definitely consider having taxes withheld from your UC benefits when they do start. The whole process was way less painful than I expected once I got into the routine of filing weekly claims.