Something else to consider - once you receive your card, you can transfer the funds to your personal bank account through the Money Network mobile app or website. You don't have to use the physical card for purchases if you don't want to. Many people don't realize this option exists.

Just wanted to add that if anyone else runs into this issue, you can also check the status of your Money Network card by calling their automated system at 888-233-5916 and selecting the option to check card status without speaking to a rep. It'll tell you when it was mailed and the tracking info. Also, make sure your address is correct in your PA UC dashboard under "Personal Information" - I've seen people have issues because they moved and forgot to update it there. The card gets sent to whatever address is on file in the system, not necessarily your mailing address elsewhere.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep copies of any communication from your employer about the return date (emails, texts, etc.) even though they didn't file official paperwork with the state. If UC ever questions your situation, having documentation that shows your employer's intentions could be helpful. I've seen cases where people had issues later because they couldn't prove their employer had given them a specific return date. Better to have the documentation and not need it than the other way around.

I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago! My employer gave us a return date but didn't file the official paperwork with PA UC. What I learned is that even though it feels pointless, you really do need to follow through with the work search requirements. I ended up doing a mix of online applications and attending a couple virtual job fairs - it actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The key is just documenting everything properly like others mentioned. And honestly, having that backup plan of knowing what jobs were out there gave me some peace of mind, even though I was confident about returning to my original job. Better to be safe and keep your benefits flowing smoothly!

I had almost the exact same situation! Lost my office job in March and had an AirBnb that brought in around $1200/month. The key thing that helped me was being super detailed about documenting that the AirBnb was truly supplemental income, not my main business. When I filled out their self-employment form, I made sure to emphasize: - Only spent 4-6 hours per week managing it (mostly just guest messages and coordinating my cleaning lady) - My office job was my primary profession and career focus - I was 100% available for full-time work and would prioritize any new job over the rental - Kept detailed expense records (cleaning, supplies, Airbnb fees, etc.) to show actual net income They ended up classifying it as supplemental income rather than self-employment, and I only had a small weekly deduction from my benefits based on the net earnings. The whole process took about 3 weeks once I submitted everything. My advice: be completely honest about hours and income, but really emphasize that you're available for full-time work and that the AirBnb is just a side income stream, not your career. Keep filing your weekly claims even while they review everything!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Lost my restaurant job two weeks ago and have been renting out a room in my house on Airbnb for about 8 months. When I filed my initial UC claim, I wasn't sure how to handle the Airbnb income either - it's only bringing in maybe $600-800/month and I spend maybe 3-4 hours a week on it (mainly just changing sheets and basic cleaning between guests). Now I'm worried they're going to send me that same self-employment form. Reading through everyone's responses here is super helpful though. It sounds like the key is really documenting that it's truly passive/supplemental income and that you're available for full-time work. I'm definitely going to start tracking my hours now just in case. Has anyone heard how long PA UC is taking to process these determinations lately? I can't afford to wait months for this to get sorted out. Also wondering if having just a single room rental vs a whole property makes any difference in how they evaluate it?

Just wanted to add another data point - I had a similar situation last year where my payment date showed on a Friday but the money didn't hit my account until the following Tuesday (skipped the weekend obviously). It was nerve-wracking but totally normal! The UC system processes payments in batches and banks have their own processing schedules. Your 1.5 day timeline sounds about right. Also, since you mentioned this being your first time on UC - don't forget to save a portion for taxes if you didn't have withholding set up. That lump sum can bump you into a higher tax bracket for the year.

Seeing all these success stories gives me hope! I'm currently on week 7 of waiting for my payments to process. My claim shows "pending" but no movement yet. For those who had long waits like Oliver - did you do anything specific that seemed to help get things moving, or was it just a matter of waiting it out? I've tried calling but can never get through. Starting to get really anxious about bills piling up.

Just following up - did you ever receive your payment? If you're still having issues, there might be something else going on with your claim. Sometimes there can be payment holds that aren't immediately visible in your account dashboard.

Glad to hear you finally got your payment! This is exactly what I've experienced too - the changing dates are nerve-wracking but the money does come through eventually. For anyone else dealing with this, I've found that once you see transaction numbers, it's really just a waiting game. The PA UC system isn't great at communicating the exact timeline, but 2-3 business days after the final benefit paid date seems to be the norm. Just keep checking your Money Network card balance rather than obsessing over the system dates!