when i was on unemployment last year i totally forgot about the waiting week and was freaking out when my first payment didnt come. called like 50 times lol. just remember u gotta keep filing every week even if u dont get paid that first one!!!!

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The waiting week really is confusing at first. To add to what others said - make sure you keep detailed records of when you file each week. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking my filing dates and payment status because it helped me stay organized and know exactly where I stood with my benefits. Also, don't panic if your first payment seems to take forever - that's totally normal with the waiting week delay. The system will catch up once everything processes correctly.

As someone who's been navigating PA UC for a while now, I'm so glad to see this resolved! The RESEA exemption confusion seems to happen way more often than it should - I've seen probably a dozen posts about this exact issue over the past few months. Your experience really highlights how important it is to act quickly when you get those threatening emails from UC. The system errors are frustrating but they're usually fixable if you have the right documentation and can get through to someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks for sharing your resolution - it'll definitely help the next person who runs into this same problem!

This thread is such a perfect example of why I love this community! @Fatima Al-Mansour, I'm so relieved you got this sorted out quickly. The RESEA system issues are absolutely maddening - I went through something similar a few months back where the systems weren't syncing properly. The stress of potentially losing benefits over a technical glitch is just awful. For anyone else reading this who might face RESEA confusion: the advice here about screenshots is golden. Also, if you're exempt, make sure to check both your CareerLink dashboard AND your UC account periodically to catch any discrepancies early. Sometimes these system errors pop up weeks or even months later. The Claimyr service mention is interesting too - I've heard mixed reviews but it sounds like it worked well in this case. Sometimes paying a small fee is worth it when your benefits are on the line and you can't get through the regular phone lines. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - these success stories really help others know there's light at the end of the tunnel!

I'm also facing this exact situation! I have a family wedding coming up in a few months that will take me out of state for about a week. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's clear that the consensus is to be honest about your availability - answer 'no' to able/available during travel weeks, but definitely keep filing those biweekly claims to maintain your active status. What really stands out to me from everyone's stories is how smoothly the process works when you just follow the straightforward approach. I was initially worried about creating complications, but seeing so many positive outcomes when people simply tell the truth about their temporary unavailability gives me a lot of confidence. The practical tips shared here - like documenting your travel, having work search activities ready for your return, and being mindful of which days fall into which filing period - are really valuable. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences. It's made what seemed like a potentially complicated situation much clearer and less stressful!

I've been through this exact situation twice now - once for my sister's wedding and once for a family reunion - and both times went smoothly when I followed the advice everyone's giving here. The key really is just being straightforward: answer 'no' to able/available for the weeks you're traveling, but absolutely keep filing those biweekly claims to maintain your active status. When I returned from both trips and started answering 'yes' again, my benefits resumed immediately with zero complications. One thing I learned that might help: I kept a simple note in my phone with my exact travel dates, just in case anyone ever asked for clarification later (though they never did). PA UC really does seem to expect these kinds of temporary family situations and handles them well when you're honest about your availability. Don't let the stress of managing this overshadow what should be a wonderful celebration - just follow the proper steps and you'll be fine!

I've been dealing with Money Network issues for months now and honestly it's so reassuring to see I'm not the only one! The website crashes constantly and the app is even worse. What really helped me was downloading a different browser (I switched from Chrome to Firefox) and that seemed to work better with their system. Also, if you're comfortable with it, you can enable automatic text notifications for every transaction - that way you always know your balance without having to log in. Just call that customer service number and ask them to set it up. It's been a lifesaver for me since I can't rely on their website at all anymore.

Just want to add another option that saved me when I was in a similar situation - you can also check your balance at most grocery store customer service counters for free! Places like Giant, Weis, and even some CVS locations can do a balance inquiry on your Money Network card without charging the ATM fees. I discovered this when I was too embarrassed to risk a declined transaction at checkout. The customer service people are usually pretty discreet about it too. Hope this helps as a backup option when the phone system is busy or if you're already out running errands!

Hey there! I just went through my RESEA appointment last Friday and wanted to share my experience while it's still fresh. I was absolutely terrified beforehand - spent the whole week before stressing about my messy job search records and convinced they were going to find some reason to stop my benefits. But my counselor Rebecca was amazing! I walked in with a crumpled folder full of random stuff - some printed job postings I'd applied to, screenshots on my phone, and literally just a sticky note with company names I'd written down. She took one look at everything and said "I can tell you're really trying, let's just organize this better for you." We spent about an hour going through everything, and she helped me set up a simple Google sheet to track applications going forward. She also reviewed my resume and suggested some changes that made it way more professional looking. The coolest part was she showed me this trick where you can set up job alerts on multiple sites to come straight to your email, so you don't have to keep checking manually. I actually got a phone interview this week from one of the leads she helped me find during our session! To anyone still worried - these counselors really do want you to succeed. Just bring whatever you have and be honest about your efforts. You'll probably be surprised by how much it helps!

I just had my RESEA appointment this morning and wanted to share my experience to help anyone still feeling anxious! I was absolutely panicking for weeks after getting that letter - kept imagining they'd find some reason to cut my benefits or that I'd fail some kind of test. But my counselor Tom was incredibly patient and professional. I brought whatever I could gather: some email confirmations, a few printed applications, and honestly just a handwritten list of places I'd applied to online but didn't have proof for. He didn't judge my documentation at all! Instead, he said it was clear I was making real efforts and just needed better tools to track everything. We spent about an hour going through my job search strategy, and he showed me some local networking groups and job fairs I had no idea existed. He also helped me optimize my LinkedIn profile and taught me how to follow up professionally after submitting applications. The whole experience was so much more supportive than I expected - I walked out feeling like I had an actual plan instead of just randomly applying places. For anyone still worried about their appointment: these counselors truly want to see you succeed and get back to work. Just bring whatever documentation you have, be honest about your efforts and challenges, and be ready to learn. You might be amazed at how much it helps your job search!