UPDATE: Success! I tried calling this morning at 7:58 like someone suggested, but still couldn't get through after an hour of trying. So I took your advice and went to CareerLink in person. The staff there was super helpful! Turns out my old email in the system was my work email which was deactivated. They were able to update everything, reset my PIN, and walk me through filing my initial claim right there. Apparently my employer did file a mass layoff form, which made things easier. The rep said I still need to do work search activities even with a return date (something about it being more than 4 weeks), but she showed me how the job browsing activities on PA CareerLink website count towards it. Thanks everyone for your help! Such a relief to have this sorted out.

Awesome update! So happy you got it resolved through CareerLink. I've been dealing with a similar situation with my old account and was getting nowhere with the phone system. Your experience convinced me to skip the phone hassle and just go straight to my local CareerLink office tomorrow. Quick question - did they make you bring any specific documents besides your ID? I want to make sure I have everything they need when I go in. Also, how long did the whole process take once you were there? Thanks for sharing your success story - gives the rest of us hope that there's actually a way through this nightmare system! 😅

That's great news that you got through on PAT! For anyone else reading this thread who might face the same issue - I've found that calling the PAT system early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) tends to have less wait time than calling during business hours. Also, if you get disconnected or confused during the automated prompts, you can usually press 0 or say "representative" to get transferred to a human, though that will increase your wait time significantly. The key is to have all your info ready before you call: SSN, employer info from your last job, and answers to the standard work search questions.

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who's helped a lot of folks navigate the PA UC system. Based on everything shared in this thread, you have several solid options: **Immediate action steps:** 1. Try calling PAT (888-255-4728) at 7 AM sharp - multiple people confirmed this works with minimal wait 2. Visit CareerLink with ID + SS card + UC paperwork for same-day PIN reset AND filing assistance 3. If desperate, consider Claimyr service to skip phone wait times **Key things to remember:** - You have a full 2 weeks from your claim week end to file late - Family emergency is absolutely valid "good cause" - don't worry about that - Even late filings usually process within 2-3 days - Keep that confirmation number they give you! The fact that multiple people here successfully resolved identical situations should give you confidence. The CareerLink option seems to be the most reliable based on the experiences shared. You're going to get through this! The system seems scary but it's actually more forgiving than it appears, especially with legitimate circumstances like yours. Good luck and please update us on how it goes - your experience could help the next person in this situation!

One important point I haven't seen mentioned yet: If you filed for this week but then start your job during the same week, you need to report ANY earnings for that week when you file. Even if it's just one day of work. Failure to report earnings is considered fraud and can result in penalties, including having to pay back benefits with interest and potentially being disqualified from future benefits.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - make sure you keep records of your last filing date and when you started work, just in case there are any questions later. I screenshot my last certification and kept my job offer letter with the start date. PA UC can sometimes ask for documentation if there are ever any discrepancies. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around! Good luck with the new job!

i had this exact problem too. i actually ended up calling and the lady on the phone explained that most people don't realize they selected tax withholding when they first applied. she said its usually better to keep it that way though unless you're setting aside money yourself for taxes. unemployment benefits are 100% taxable income.

Just want to add that you can also see a breakdown of your withholdings if you go to "View Payment History" in your UC dashboard. It should show the gross benefit amount, any deductions (like the $20 tax withholding), and your net payment. This helped me understand exactly what was being taken out when I had the same confusion a few months ago. The interface isn't super intuitive but the info is there if you dig around a bit!

Has anyone had luck calling PA UC to ask about their waiting week? I've been trying to get through on the phone for days with no success. Just busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting forever. Really need to sort out my payment issues too.

Thanks everyone for the info! At least now I understand what's happening. Still annoyed I have to wait so long for that first week payment, but at least I know I'll get it eventually. I'll keep claiming my weeks and hope the second week payment comes through soon.