UPDATE: You guys aren't going to believe this. I finally got through on the phone this morning after trying for 2 hours (started calling at 7:55am). The rep told me my claim was actually already approved LAST WEEK but there was a glitch in the system that didn't update the status online!! My payments are being processed now and should hit my account in 2-3 business days. I'm so relieved but also frustrated that I've been stressing for no reason. Make sure you keep calling even if your online status doesn't change!!

This is a great reminder that the online system doesn't always reflect the current status accurately. For anyone else dealing with long waits on 'Unsatisfactory Work Performance' issues (or any open issues), persistence is key. Keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for resolution, check your dashboard regularly, and try to speak with a representative when possible. Glad to hear your claim was approved! Remember to continue filing weekly claims and completing your work search activities to maintain your benefits.

To answer your question about payment delays - I didn't experience any when I updated my address. The system processed it right away and my payments continued without interruption. But definitely set up mail forwarding like someone else suggested just to be safe!

The REAL question is why are benefits so LOW that you have to move back with family?? PA benefits max out at $716/week which is NOTHING in today's economy!!! They haven't raised the maximum in YEARS while rent has doubled!!! The whole system needs to be overhauled!!

i had a similar situation happen last year and when I finally got through they told me there was a "payment hold" on my account that wasn't showing up online. had to verify my identity AGAIN even though I'd already done it twice. check if there's anything like that going on.

Update us when you get your money! I've been tracking these payment times for my own research (dealing with my second appeal now) and it's ridiculous how inconsistent the timeframes are. Some people get paid in 3 weeks, others wait 3 MONTHS for the same exact situation.

Just to follow up on your question about the 26 weeks - Pennsylvania regular UC benefits do provide up to 26 weeks, but the 'exhaustion' notice is sent automatically when you're approaching the end. Since you're on week 24, you still have 2 more weeks of eligibility assuming you continue to qualify. Once you get your account unlocked (which is the immediate priority), you'll be able to see your exact benefit balance and remaining weeks. The system calculates this based on your initial monetary determination, so sometimes the weeks and dollar amounts don't perfectly align with what you might expect. Just make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even while locked out of your account if possible (you can do this by phone with the PAT system at 888-255-4728). Missing weekly claims during this period could create additional complications.

I got through to PA UC today after trying for 2 days straight with the lockout issue. For anyone facing the same problem, here's what worked: call exactly at 7:58am, then press options 1, then 3, then 1. This routing seems to have shorter queues than the main line. The agent was able to verify my identity and immediately unlock my account while I was on the phone. The whole process took about 10 minutes once I finally got through. Regarding the exhaustion notice - they confirmed it's just an automated alert that triggers at week 24. My full 26 weeks of benefits were still intact.

For what it's worth, my sister got her refund exactly 3 weeks after that message, but my husband waited almost 5 weeks. I think it really depends on how complicated your return is and if they flag anything for review. When we called, they said returns with schedule C's or rental income take longer to process.

To update everyone, I just checked the PA Department of Revenue website and they're reporting an average 24-day processing time from the date you receive that message. They're also saying that returns filed after April 15, 2025 (even with extensions) are taking longer - about 30-35 days on average. If it's been more than 6 weeks, you should definitely call them at 717-787-8201.

this happened to me too!! i freaked out thinking i wasnt going to get paid!! turns out it was just showing that i had 1 week during my last claim where i didnt qualify cause i made too much at my part time job that week. as long as ur current weeks dont say 'disqualified' ur probably ok!

Just to add onto what others have said - it might be worth checking your 'Claim Summary' page to see if there are any outstanding issues listed for your current benefit year. That's different from the dashboard status and would show any actual problems with your current claim. The Previous Claim message is just historical info.

If you decide to do a phone hearing, make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception and your phone fully charged. I've seen hearings get complicated when people are in noisy places or their phone keeps cutting out. Also, remember that you can submit documents ahead of time for a phone hearing - you don't have to physically bring them. The notice will explain how to submit evidence beforehand.

In my case, it was just my supervisor and the HR person. They didn't bring separate witnesses. But every case is different - depends on what the issue is and who has relevant information. The hearing notice should say who's expected to participate. One thing that really helped me was taking notes during my employer's testimony so I could address specific points when it was my turn to respond. Good luck with everything!

has anyone else noticed that the pa uc website has literally NO guidance about per diem work?? i spent like an hour searching for info when i was working as a substitute teacher and couldnt find ANYTHING about what to do in situations where your hours change week to week. its like they want us to mess up or something

Just to clarify one important point from my earlier comment: According to PA UC regulations, you need to consistently work 30+ hours per week (not 32 as I incorrectly stated) for three consecutive weeks to be considered "full-time employed" and no longer eligible for benefits. At that point, you would naturally stop filing. During training or periods of inconsistent scheduling, you're considered partially unemployed and eligible for partial benefits, which is why you need to continue the job search requirements.

Has anyone tried calling the Treasury department directly about this? I feel like they should have clear guidance rather than all of us guessing which banks work!

Update: I ended up just using my regular PNC account for direct deposit. Better safe than sorry! Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'll report back if I have any issues with my payments.

make sure u report ur parttime work EXACTLY right or theyll hit u with an overpayment later!!! happened to my cousin and they made her pay back like $1200

You report the earnings for the week you WORKED, not when you get paid. So if you worked Monday-Sunday but don't get paid until the following Friday, you still report those earnings for the week you actually performed the work. The biweekly pay schedule doesn't matter for UC reporting purposes. They'll ask you for the hours worked and gross earnings (before any deductions) for each specific claim week. Keep detailed records of your hours and earnings to avoid any issues later.