To answer your question about timing - the Board of Review typically takes 4-8 weeks to make a decision, though it can sometimes take longer during busy periods. The good news is that the Board reviews the entire case fresh - they listen to the recording of your referee hearing and review all evidence. In my experience helping claimants with appeals, the Board is often more thorough than individual referees and more likely to properly apply the legal standards regarding good cause for voluntary quits. Just be sure to file your appeal within the 15-day deadline, continue certifying weekly, and gather any additional supporting documentation you can.

Don't lose hope - your case actually sounds very strong for the Board of Review! A 41% pay cut is absolutely substantial and should qualify as good cause under PA law. I went through something similar where the referee seemed to have made up their mind before I even spoke. The Board of Review is usually much more thorough and actually reads all the evidence. Make sure when you write your appeal that you lead with the facts: hired at $17/hr, employer unilaterally cut to $10/hr after 5 weeks (41% reduction), you objected based on financial necessity, employer told you to leave. That's constructive dismissal, not voluntary quit. Also document that similar positions in your area pay around $18/hr (like your previous job) to show the $10 rate was unreasonable. You've got this!

so ur telling me we gotta wait till the whole year is up even if the money runs out early?? thats crazy i thought u could just file again right away

This is exactly why PA's UC system is so frustrating! I went through the same thing last year - exhausted my benefits around month 6 but had to wait until my full benefit year ended to reapply. It's a tough spot to be in financially. While you're waiting for your benefit year to end, definitely check out the resources @Arjun Patel mentioned. Also, many local food banks and community organizations have emergency assistance programs that can help bridge the gap. Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local resources in your area. Hang in there - I know it's stressful but you'll get through this!

It looks like you received a notice saying your appeal was "reviewed as invalid" because it was filed on the "incorrect determination." This can be frustrating and confusing. This typically happens when you appealed something different than what EDD thinks you were trying to appeal, or you may have used the wrong form or process for what you're contesting. Your next steps should be: - Carefully read the "Further Appeal Rights" section of your decision letter - it should explain exactly what to do next - Make sure you're appealing the specific determination you disagree with (using the correct form/reference number) - If you're confused about which determination to appeal, call EDD directly for clarification - Consider whether you need to file a new appeal that specifically addresses the correct determination Don't give up if you believe you have legitimate grounds for appeal. The system can be technical, but following their specific instructions in the "Further Appeal Rights" section is crucial to having your appeal properly considered.

What does that mean?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I've registered on CareerLink, confirmed my employer submitted the proper paperwork, and set up a system to track my work search activities each week. This community has been incredibly helpful - much clearer than the official instructions from PA UC!

Just wanted to add something for other seasonal workers who might find this thread - if you're in construction like Sergio, make sure to check if your union (if you're in one) offers any online training or workshops during the off-season. These definitely count as work search activities and can help you stay current with industry standards while you're laid off. Also, PA CareerLink has some really good free online courses for construction trades that count toward your work search requirements. I did a few OSHA refresher courses through their platform last winter and it was actually pretty useful when I went back to work. Way better than just applying to random jobs you know you won't take!

I've been getting PA UC for about 6 months now and can confirm what others are saying - Thursday releases almost always show up Monday morning. The only time I've seen it come Friday was when the release happened super early Thursday morning (like before 6am). Money Network seems to batch process these overnight Sunday into Monday. Since your bills are due on the 1st, you should be fine if this is for next week's payment. Also pro tip - if you ever need cash before it hits your account, some ATMs will show pending deposits a day early, though YMMV with that.

I'm in a similar boat - just got approved for PA UC last week and still learning the ropes! From what I've been reading in this thread and other forums, it sounds like Monday is your safest bet for planning purposes. I've been setting up a little emergency fund for these weekend gaps since the timing can be unpredictable when you're first starting out. Also, if you haven't already, definitely download the Money Network app - it sends push notifications when deposits hit which is way faster than logging into the website to check. Hope it comes through for you before your bills are due!