Something nobody mentioned - check the date on the check! PA UC checks expire after 180 days (unlike regular checks that are good for a year). Also, sometimes they date them for a future date by mistake (I know, makes no sense). If the date is wrong or it's more than 6 months old, that could be why it was rejected.

Any update?? Were you able to cash it? I'm invested in your story now lol

Just to clarify something important - if your severance was paid as a lump sum, PA UC will treat it differently than if it was paid as salary continuation. Based on what you described, they should be calculating a specific number of weeks to delay benefits based on your severance amount divided by your weekly benefit rate. Once you get through to someone, make sure they can tell you: 1. The exact date when your benefits will start flowing 2. Whether you'll receive all back payments at once 3. If there are any other unresolved issues besides the severance Some people have found success contacting their state representative's office for help with stubborn UC issues - might be worth trying if you continue having trouble reaching UC directly.

After reading through all the responses, I want to emphasize that your situation is fairly common but requires speaking with an examiner to resolve. Here's what's likely happening: 1. Your claim is approved conditionally 2. The system flagged your severance for review 3. An examiner needs to calculate the precise allocation period 4. Once allocated, they'll issue a determination letter stating when benefits begin 5. You'll receive all back payments for weeks after the allocation period (assuming you've filed weekly claims) The key is getting someone to review your case. PA UC is severely understaffed which creates these frustrating delays. However, once resolved, the system works according to clear rules. Many claimants go through this exact process with severance packages.

To answer your follow-up question, you can send written status requests to: Unemployment Compensation Board of Review ATTN: Appeals Information 651 Boas Street, Room 1116 Harrisburg, PA 17121 Include your full name, last 4 of SSN, and appeal docket number. You can also try UCBRCommunications@pa.gov but they're less responsive by email in my experience. One more thing - if your financial situation is dire while waiting, remember you can apply for other assistance programs like SNAP benefits or emergency rental assistance. They won't hold your pending UC appeal against you for eligibility.

my board appeal took 15 weeks last year but i did win! totally worth the wait because i got like $6300 in backpay all at once. i actually printed out the entire law section that applied to my case and highlighted the parts that showed the referee was wrong and included that with my appeal. dont know if that actually helped but i won lol

Quick update for everyone: legislative inquiries are currently taking about 12-15 business days to process according to what my rep's office told me last week. This is longer than it was a few months ago (was 7-10 days). They're prioritizing claims with impending evictions or utility shutoffs, so definitely mention if that applies to your situation. Also, make sure your state rep's office submitted an actual "legislative inquiry" and not just an email. There's a specific process they need to follow for it to get properly expedited.

good luck!!! let us know what happens

evry1 giving different info lol. when i was on PA UC in 2023 they told me school DOES count for work search but only if ur in approved program. regular college doesnt count usually. nurse training might tho. u should ask at PA careerlink they helped me figure it out

Just to follow up on the comments about TRA (Trade Readjustment Allowance) - this is specifically for workers who lost their jobs due to foreign trade/competition. It's not available to everyone who gets laid off. However, PA does have a program called Training Unemployment Benefits (TUB) that might apply. You need to submit form UC-1921W as someone mentioned, plus get your training program approved. Even then, work search might still be required depending on your specific situation. Your best bet is to speak directly with a UC representative to clarify your exact situation. Document everything, continue your work searches until told otherwise, and don't risk your benefits.

I forgot to mention earlier - make sure you're checking both your email AND your UC portal inbox. Sometimes they send messages to one but not the other. Also, check your spam folder. I found out my issue was just that they needed employment verification, but the request went to my spam folder.

Good news is that once the open issue is resolved, you'll get all back payments at once. Make sure you're completing your work search activities each week (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc.) and documenting them. They can audit those records even after your payments start.

Does anyone know if accepting 1099 work affects your work search requirements? I'm also wondering about this because I'm in a similar boat.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! To summarize what I've learned: 1) I can still get partial UC benefits while doing 1099 work as long as I don't earn too much 2) I need to report GROSS earnings (before taxes) 3) Report based on when I did the work, not when I get paid 4) Keep detailed records 5) I still need to do my weekly work search activities. I've got an 1099 invoice due next week so I'll make sure to report it properly. Really appreciate all the advice!

For what it's worth, I filed in February 2025 and it took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. That was with no issues on my claim though. If you have any "open issues" it could take longer. Make sure you answer all the questions accurately to avoid delays!

Current processing times are typically 2-3 weeks for clean claims, though it varies. Here's what affects the timeline: 1. If your employer contests your unemployment reason 2. If there are eligibility questions or "open issues" 3. If you worked in multiple states during your base year 4. If the system flags anything unusual about your work history Keep filing your biweekly claims even while waiting for approval. If approved, you'll receive all eligible back weeks at once. You'll receive your payments on a Money Network debit card unless you set up direct deposit.

THE PA UC SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!!! I got laid off last year and they made everything so complicated I almost gave up too. They'll probably try to deny you because it's been so long but DON'T GIVE UP if they do. The appeal process actually works sometimes but they count on people not appealing when denied. The whole system is rigged against us regular people!!

Update: I filed my claim online yesterday and did my best to explain the postpartum depression situation in the comments. They have scheduled a phone interview for next week to discuss the late filing. I'm gathering all my medical documentation now. Thank you everyone for the advice and support! Fingers crossed this works out.

The ENTIRE UC payment system is a complete JOKE!!! I got my Money Network card AFTER my payment was supposed to be on it and had to wait an EXTRA WEEK to get my money!!! They don't care that people have bills and children to feed! I'd call them ASAP and document EVERYTHING. Don't trust what they say online because it's NEVER accurate!!!

this is my first time on unemployment do i need to do anything special for the new card or does it just come automatically?