THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!!! They NEVER give you the full 26 weeks unless you made BIG MONEY! I worked 18 months and only got 18 weeks, how is that fair?? My friend worked only 9 months and got 22 weeks because she had a higher paying job! It's all about how much you earned not how long you worked, which is TOTALLY UNFAIR to those of us in lower wage jobs!!!! 😡

Just got my Notice of Financial Determination today! They approved me for 20 weeks based on my earnings. Not the full 26 I was hoping for, but better than I expected after reading all your comments. Thanks everyone for your help explaining how this works!

just wondering won't u have waiting week anyway if u reopen on 12/22? so maybe not even get paid for that one week?

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm definitely going to reopen on 12/22 exactly, and file as quickly as possible after the week ends. Really hope the system handles it correctly because that week of benefits would really help with bills. Seems like timing is everything with PA UC!

I'm going through this exact situation right now! I'm an independent dog walker (similar situation - 1099 work) and my claim is also under review. My Careerlink person told me ONE activity was enough since I was already working 15+ hours, but when I checked the PA UC handbook online, it definitely says TWO weekly activities minimum. I think our claims are under review because they're checking if we're actually eligible for traditional UC as independent contractors. When did you start your caregiving work? Before or after filing for UC?

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. Yes, the review could be about your work search activities, but it could also be about your status as an independent contractor. When you started working as a caregiver after already being on UC, that's actually a significant change. 2. About potential overpayments - if they determine you didn't meet work search requirements, they could potentially rule those weeks as overpayments. However, you might be able to appeal based on receiving incorrect information from a state employee (the CareerLink staff). 3. Moving forward - absolutely maintain 2 work search activities each week and document everything thoroughly. I'd suggest using the PA CareerLink system to track your activities since it integrates with the UC system. 4. Definitely try to speak with a UC representative to understand exactly why your claim is under review. This will help you address the specific issue rather than guessing.

Update: I tried that Claimyr service and actually got through to someone! The UC rep was able to see that my wage review was still pending but hadn't been assigned. She put a note on my account for expedited review due to financial hardship. Fingers crossed this moves things along. Thanks everyone for your advice - will update when/if I hear anything.

Final update: My wage review was completed yesterday! It took 5 weeks total, but only 4 days after I got through to someone and had them flag my account for hardship review. My weekly benefit amount increased by $164 and I've already received backpay for the weeks I claimed during the waiting period. So relieved this is finally resolved.

When the referee asks why you should receive benefits, focus on these key points: 1. You were separated from employment through no fault of your own (business reasons, not misconduct) 2. You were capable and available for work during all claiming weeks 3. You have been actively seeking employment as required 4. Your employer's late appeal should be dismissed due to untimeliness Keep emotions out of it and stick to these facts. The legal standard for misconduct is pretty high - they need to prove willful misconduct or deliberate violation of policies, not just that you made honest mistakes or weren't perfect at your job.

good luck!! let us know what happens with ur hearning! most ppl on here actually win there appeals so try not 2 stress 2 much

One more thing to watch out for - sometimes they only approve PART of your claim and deny other weeks for different reasons. Check your determination letter carefully to see exactly what weeks were approved in the appeal. I had a friend who thought he was getting 6 weeks of backpay but the appeal only covered 4 weeks because they found another reason to deny him for 2 weeks. The PA UC system loves to find new ways to deny people what they're owed!!!

Update us when you get your payment! It helps others to know the current processing times since they seem to change constantly. And if you do end up calling, try early morning (7:55am right before they open) or late afternoon on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Those times seem to have slightly better odds of getting through.

UPDATE: Money just hit my card this morning (Monday)! So it ended up taking 5 business days rather than the 1-2 they promised. Thanks everyone for the reassurance - you were right that I just needed to be patient. For anyone else in this situation, definitely trust that the process is working but expect delays beyond what they tell you.

glad it worked out! always remember with PA unemployment, add at least 3 days to whatever timeframe they give you lol

THE PHONE HEARING IS ACTUALLY WORSE!!! I did that and regretted it because I couldn't see the referee's face or read body language. Plus my phone kept cutting out and I missed some questions. If your orientation is important, just ask for a postponement instead. The UC system is BROKEN and they don't care about our schedules AT ALL!!!

I ended up having to postpone my hearing by almost 4 weeks because I didn't act quickly enough. Definitely don't wait! I finally got through to someone after using that service I mentioned, and they were able to help me figure everything out. Just make sure to have your appeal docket number ready when you call.

An important point that hasn't been mentioned: In 2025, PA UC has been more thoroughly reviewing self-employment situations because of the high number of overpayments they had to process during the pandemic years. They're being extra cautious with these claims now. The good news is that if your self-employment is just getting started and you're making under the Partial Benefit Credit (PBC) amount, you should still qualify for at least partial benefits assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements and are truly available for full-time work.

Update: I finally got through to UC yesterday! The agent explained that the active issue was indeed related to my self-employment. They're sending me a questionnaire asking about my business hours, whether I'd accept full-time work, and details about my work search activities. She said once I return that with proper documentation, they should be able to process my claim. Will post another update when I hear back.

One more thing to consider - if you hire an attorney, make sure they specialize in unemployment cases specifically. I initially talked to a general practice lawyer who gave me completely wrong information about the appeal process. PA unemployment hearings have very specific rules and procedures that not all attorneys understand. Ask potential lawyers how many UC appeals they've handled in the past year.

My friend who works at the unemployment office (not in appeals tho) says a lot of people represent themselves and win. Just depends on how complicated your case is and how well you can organize your thoughts when you're nervous.