One more important thing I forgot to mention: Make sure you've created your PA CareerLink profile BEFORE you file your first weekly claim. This is required for everyone on UC now, and if you don't have it set up, your payments can be delayed. Go to pacareerlink.pa.gov to register.

I went through something very similar in 2023. You're definitely eligible to file for UC since you're medically cleared and your employer doesn't have a position for you. A few things that helped me: 1. File your claim ASAP - don't wait. The sooner you start the process, the better. 2. When they ask about other income, be upfront about the workers comp settlement. Transparency is key. 3. Keep detailed records of everything - settlement docs, medical clearance, any communication with your employer. 4. Your claim will likely go into review status for a few weeks while they verify everything, but that's totally normal. In my case, the settlement didn't affect my weekly benefit amount because it was for the injury itself, not wage replacement. The review took about 3 weeks and then I got all my back pay. Just be patient with the process and keep filing your weekly claims even during the review period.

This thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - got laid off in February and received $18,000 in severance. PA UC put a hold on my claim for "severance review" but based on what you all are saying, my amount should be well under the $29,450 threshold too. I've been calling for weeks trying to get through to someone who actually knows the rules. Did anyone else have luck with that Claimyr service that was mentioned? I'm getting desperate here - it's been 6 weeks with no payments and my savings are running low.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this issue. I was laid off in December 2024 and received $25,000 in severance pay. PA UC initially put a severance hold on my claim for "review" that lasted 12 weeks! After reading threads like this one, I realized my severance should have been exempt since it was under the threshold. When I finally got through to a claims examiner (took multiple attempts over several days), they admitted there had been a processing error and my severance was incorrectly flagged as deductible. They removed the hold immediately and I received all my back payments within a week. The key is persistence - don't accept vague answers from general customer service reps. Keep pushing to speak with an actual claims examiner who can review your specific case and the severance calculations. Document everything and have your severance letter/stub ready to prove the exact amount. It's incredibly frustrating that so many people are experiencing the same systematic errors, but there is hope if you keep fighting for the correct determination!

This exact thing happened to me 3 months ago! I was checking my bank account obsessively for days thinking the system was broken. What's even more frustrating is that the PA UC portal shows "direct deposit" as an option during setup but then quietly defaults to the debit card anyway. One tip that helped me: once you get the Money Network card and activate it, you can actually expedite future payments by calling them and requesting express delivery for replacement cards if yours ever gets lost or damaged. Regular delivery is free but express costs like $15 - might be worth it if you're in a tight spot financially. Also, make sure to save the Money Network customer service number (1-888-659-9085) in your phone. Their hold times are way shorter than trying to reach PA UC directly, and they can at least tell you when payments hit the card and help with transfers to your bank.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My payment showed up in the portal on Friday with a transaction number, but nothing in my bank account. Reading through all these comments has been a huge relief - I had no idea about the automatic debit card for first payments. Just checked my email and spam folders but haven't found anything from Money Network yet. Question for those who've been through this: if the payment date in the portal was Friday, should I expect the Money Network email to come this week? Also, does the card get sent to the same address you used when filing your claim? We moved recently and I'm worried it might go to our old place. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this forum is literally the only place I've found clear answers about how PA UC actually works!

did u make sure to look for work? they won't pay if u don't do the work search activities each week. i forgot to do it one week and they stopped my payments

This whole system is so frustrating! Just when you think everything is fine, employers can throw a wrench in the works with these bogus appeals. In my experience, even after an appeal is withdrawn, there's almost always some kind of delay. The UC system seems designed to make it as difficult as possible to get benefits we're entitled to. I would not just sit back and wait. Keep calling, check your portal daily, and document everything. And definitely follow up if you don't see movement in a few days.

Just wanted to share that I went through the same thing last Memorial Day when I was new to UC. The one-day delay is definitely standard, but what helped me was calling my landlord ahead of time to let them know my payment would be delayed by a day due to the holiday. Most landlords are understanding about government payment delays if you give them a heads up. Also, if you're really cutting it close with rent money, some banks will waive overdraft fees if you call and explain that you're waiting on a delayed government payment - doesn't always work but worth trying if needed!

I've been receiving UC payments for about 6 months now and can confirm what everyone else is saying - Memorial Day will definitely delay your payment by one business day. What I found helpful was setting up text alerts through my bank so I get notified as soon as the deposit hits my account on Tuesday. Also, if you use a credit union instead of a big bank, sometimes they're more flexible about making funds available earlier, but that varies by institution. The delay is frustrating but it's been consistent in my experience - better to plan for Tuesday and be pleasantly surprised if it somehow comes earlier than to count on Monday and be short on cash!