UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked! I used Claimyr yesterday morning and got through to someone at UC in about 30 minutes. The agent was actually really helpful once I explained about the job interview. She put notes on my account and forwarded it to an examiner for priority review. Just got the notification this morning that my claim was approved! The relief is incredible. Now I can go to my interview Monday with the proper documentation. THANK YOU all for the help and suggestions!

Awesome outcome! This is really encouraging for others who might be in similar situations. Thanks for updating us - it shows that sometimes persistence does pay off. Wishing you the best of luck with your interview on Monday! 🙌

Thank you! Yes, my issue is definitely about qualifying wages. I was working at the same place for 18 months before being laid off, so I don't understand why they said I didn't have enough qualifying wages. Hopefully I can get this sorted out at the hearing.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - filed my appeal about 10 days ago and also stuck in "awaiting review" status. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking at the same time! It sounds like the 5-8 week timeline is pretty standard. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I've been keeping a detailed log of all my interactions with the UC system, including dates I filed claims, when I submitted my appeal, and any phone calls I've made. This has been helpful for my own sanity and I think it'll be useful documentation if I need to escalate anything later. Also, for anyone else dealing with wage disputes like the original poster - make sure you understand exactly which quarters they're looking at for your "base year." Sometimes the timing of when you apply can affect which wages they consider, and it's not always intuitive. The PA UC handbook has a section explaining this but it's pretty confusing to read through. Hang in there everyone - sounds like persistence is key with this process!

so did u get ur money yet? im curious cuz i just switched to direct deposit too and wondering if its faster than what everyone says

That's great news that it came through on Tuesday as expected! For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - I've found that setting up text alerts with your bank can help you know the exact moment your deposit hits. Most banks offer free mobile alerts for deposits over a certain amount. It really helps with the anxiety of waiting for unemployment payments, especially when you have bills due!

As a career counselor who works with the PA CareerLink system, I can tell you this is a common issue. Here's what you need to do: 1. Log out completely and clear your browser cache 2. Log back in and go to your dashboard 3. Look for a section called "Action Items" or "Required Steps" 4. Make sure there's a green checkmark beside EVERY item 5. If all items show complete but the link is still greyed out, there's likely a synchronization issue between systems In that case, call your local CareerLink office directly (not the UC service center) and ask for the Career Services department. Tell them you have a "scheduler synchronization issue" - using those exact words will help them understand the technical problem. They can manually enable scheduling on their end. Also, make sure you're eligible for scheduling - if you just completed orientation today, the system typically updates overnight, so try again tomorrow morning.

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! What finally worked for me was logging in through the PA.gov portal instead of going directly to the CareerLink site. For some reason the scheduling button worked when I accessed it that way. Also make sure you're using the "full site" version if you're on mobile - the mobile version has tons of bugs with the scheduling feature. If you're still stuck after trying all these browser fixes, you can also try calling during their least busy times (Tuesday-Thursday mornings around 8-9am seem to work best for getting through). Good luck!

One last thing to consider - there are two distinct credits that people often confuse: the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). While both require earned income, they have different rules. With your situation, you should definitely speak with a tax professional who can look at your specific numbers and help you maximize your eligible credits. Some free tax prep services like VITA might be available in your area if cost is a concern.

Just wanted to add that if you're looking for quick ways to earn that extra $400 to reach the $2,500 threshold, consider gig work like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Instacart. These platforms let you work flexible hours around your UC schedule, and the income counts as self-employment earnings. You'll get a 1099 at year-end which makes tax reporting straightforward. Just remember to track your expenses (gas, mileage, etc.) since you can deduct them as business expenses. And definitely report all earnings to PA UC when you file your weekly claims!