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Wow, this thread is super helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where I filed too early and got denied for insufficient base period wages. It's so frustrating that in 2025 we still have to deal with mailing forms and impossible phone lines. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service to get through - seems like multiple people here had success with it. Also good to know about the CareerLink option as backup. The PA UC system really needs to catch up with modern technology!
You're absolutely right about the system needing to modernize! I just went through this exact same process last month. The Claimyr service really does work - I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration. Just make sure you have all your information ready when they connect you to the agent (SSN, claim number, etc.) so you can get everything handled in one call. The whole situation is ridiculous but at least there are workarounds now. Good luck with your withdrawal and reapplication!
I went through this exact same nightmare situation in December 2024! Filed too early, got denied for insufficient wages, and then discovered the archaic withdrawal process. Here's what actually worked for me: I tried the Claimyr service that others mentioned and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to process my withdrawal over the phone immediately - no mailing forms or waiting weeks! She explained that phone withdrawals are definitely possible for denied claims, it's just not well-publicized on their website. Cost me like $20 for the Claimyr service but saved me literally weeks of waiting. After the withdrawal was processed (took about 3 business days), I was able to file a new claim with my updated wages and got approved. The whole PA UC system is stuck in the stone age but at least there are ways to work around it now!
This is really encouraging to hear! I'm in almost the exact same boat - filed in early January and got the dreaded insufficient wages denial. Been putting off dealing with the withdrawal because the whole mailing process seemed so antiquated. Your experience with Claimyr gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved quickly. $20 is totally worth it to avoid weeks of bureaucratic limbo. Did you have to provide any specific information when the agent processed your withdrawal over the phone, or was it pretty straightforward once you got connected?
Just wanted to add my experience with Huntington for PA UC payments! I've been using them for about 4 months now and it's been pretty consistent - usually shows up 1 business day after the payment release date. The only hiccup I had was during my first payment when there was a small delay (I think for verification), but after that it's been smooth sailing. Pro tip: if you're worried about timing for bills, Huntington also offers a small overdraft buffer if you're a good customer, which has saved me once when a payment was delayed by a day due to a holiday. Overall much better experience than my old bank!
Thanks for sharing your experience! The overdraft buffer tip is really smart - I didn't know Huntington offered that. It's good to hear that the first payment verification delay seems to be pretty standard and then things smooth out. I'm feeling much more confident about the switch now after hearing all these positive Huntington experiences!
I've been using Huntington for my PA UC direct deposits for over a year and wanted to share my timeline experience! In my case, payments typically show up within 1-2 business days after the release date, with most arriving on the 1 business day mark. I've noticed that payments released on Tuesday usually hit my account Wednesday, and payments released on Friday show up Monday (unless there's a holiday). One thing that really helps is that Huntington's online banking shows pending deposits, so you can often see the payment coming before it officially posts. The mobile app notifications are also super reliable. Overall, I'd say plan for 1 business day to be safe for your rent timing, but you'll probably see a consistent pattern develop after a few payments. Good luck with the switch!
One more thing to consider: if your current unemployment is with the same employer as when you received PUA, that might complicate things. But if it's a different employer, your case for waiver is stronger since it's a completely different claim. Also, make sure you're accurately reporting any part-time/gig work on your new claim to avoid creating another overpayment situation.
I went through something similar last year and want to echo what others have said - definitely file for regular UC right away, don't let the overpayment stop you. In my case, they approved my regular claim but did set up automatic deductions of about 33% from each payment to pay back the PUA overpayment. The key thing that helped me was requesting a hardship waiver immediately after filing. I had to show that the deductions would prevent me from paying for basic necessities like rent and food. It took about 2 months to get approved, but once they did, they stopped the deductions and even refunded what they had already taken. Also, since your overpayment notice just came last week, you still have time to appeal if you think it was issued in error. You have 15 days from the date on the notice. Even if you're not sure you'll win the appeal, filing it can sometimes buy you time while they review your case. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but there are options available to help with situations like this!
Thank you so much for this detailed response! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. I'm definitely going to file for regular UC today and then immediately request the hardship waiver. The 15-day appeal deadline is something I hadn't fully considered - I should probably look into that too since I honestly don't remember working during the period they're claiming I didn't report earnings for. Did you have to provide a lot of documentation for your hardship waiver, or was it pretty straightforward?
I just went through this same nightmare last month! What worked for me was actually doing a full browser reset - not just clearing cache but completely resetting Chrome to default settings. Also, make sure you're not using any VPN services as IDme flags those as suspicious. One thing that nobody mentions is that if you have multiple IDme accounts (maybe from other government services), you need to use the EXACT same one you used before or it will create conflicts. The PA UC system doesn't handle multiple IDme accounts well at all. If all else fails, the UCIDME@pa.gov email that @Liam Mendez mentioned is legit - they helped me when I was completely stuck.
Thanks for mentioning the multiple IDme accounts issue - that's something I hadn't considered! I think I might have created an IDme account for another state program a while back. How do you check which IDme account is linked to your PA UC? Do you have to contact IDme directly or can PA UC tell you? This could explain why some people have such different experiences with the verification process.
I just went through this exact same issue two weeks ago! The IDme verification has been super glitchy lately. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: first, I went directly to id.me and made sure my account was fully verified there (including uploading a photo of my driver's license). Then I used Chrome in private/incognito mode, disabled all extensions, and tried accessing the PA UC site around 6am when there's less traffic. The key was doing the IDme verification separately first - once that was complete, the PA UC integration worked immediately. Also make sure you're using the same email address for both your PA UC account and your IDme account, as mismatches can cause the endless loading screen. Hope this helps!
This is really helpful advice! I'm dealing with a similar IDme issue right now and hadn't thought about doing the verification directly on id.me first. Quick question - when you say "fully verified," does that mean completing the identity proofing with the selfie and document upload? I've been stuck on the PA UC side but maybe I should start fresh on the IDme website itself. Also, did you have to wait any specific amount of time between completing the IDme verification and trying the PA UC portal again?
Natasha Volkova
I'm so sorry you're going through this, especially while pregnant. The stress must be overwhelming. I went through a similar situation last year - 8 weeks of waiting with my dashboard showing an open issue despite being told everything was fine. What finally worked for me was being very specific about what I needed when I called. Instead of just asking "what's wrong with my claim," I started asking "what is the exact issue code and what documentation do you need from me to resolve it?" This forced them to actually look deeper into my file. Also, when you do contact your state rep, mention that you're pregnant and in financial hardship - they prioritize cases involving pregnancy and children. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what! You WILL get all that back pay once this is resolved. Hang in there mama, you've got this!
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Carmen Diaz
•Thank you so much for this advice! I never thought to ask for the specific issue code - I've just been accepting their vague answers. You're absolutely right that I need to be more direct about what exactly needs to be fixed. The stress has been terrible, but hearing from others who got through this gives me hope. I'll definitely mention my pregnancy when I contact my state rep tomorrow. Really appreciate the encouragement!
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Mary Bates
I'm going through something very similar right now - 8 weeks of filing with no payments and my dashboard shows conflicting information every time I check. What's really frustrating is that different UC reps tell me completely different things about my claim status. One says everything looks fine, another mentions an "identity verification issue" that wasn't there before. I've been hesitant to contact my state rep because I wasn't sure if it would actually help, but reading all these success stories here is convincing me to try it. The financial stress is really getting to me too - I can't imagine dealing with this while pregnant on top of everything else. Has anyone had luck with the identity verification issues specifically? That seems to be what's holding mine up now, but they won't tell me what documents they need or how to submit them. The whole system feels designed to keep you in limbo forever.
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