@OP glad you got this sorted but BE CAREFUL - they told me the same thing about "investigating" and then did NOTHING for 2 months! Keep calling every week until they actually fix it in writing. Don't trust anything they say over the phone unless you get it in writing too!!!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago. Got an overpayment notice for $6,200 when I had only received $4,100 total. Turned out they had flagged some of my part-time work as "unreported" even though I had reported it correctly every single week. The problem was their system didn't properly match my employer's quarterly wage report with my weekly certifications. It took about 3 months to get fully resolved, but they eventually waived the entire overpayment once I provided all my documentation. Key things that helped: 1) I kept copies of EVERY weekly certification I filed showing my reported earnings, 2) Got my employer to provide a letter confirming the dates and amounts I worked, and 3) Printed out all my bank deposits to show the timeline. Don't give up - these notices are wrong more often than they're right!

Just to add some clarity here - while separation determinations can take time, the PA UC system has improved somewhat since last year. The current average wait is about 5-6 weeks for contested separations. Yes, it's still too long, but not quite the 11 weeks some experienced during the peak backlogs. My advice is to: 1. File all back weeks immediately 2. Upload any documentation supporting your case 3. If you haven't heard anything after 5 weeks, try contacting them 4. Keep filing your weekly claims while waiting for the determination 5. Document all your job search activities (2 per week minimum) And don't lose hope. Many contested claims are still approved when the evidence supports the claimant's case.

I'm going through something similar right now! Filed my claim 4 weeks ago and just got approved to claim back pay for 3 weeks, but still waiting on my separation determination. My former employer is also contesting it (they're claiming misconduct when I was actually part of a department closure). From what I've read in other threads here, the back pay approval is mostly procedural - it just means the system is ready to process those weeks IF your separation gets approved. But like others said, definitely file those weekly certifications right away. I did mine yesterday and it felt good to at least make some progress while waiting. Has anyone here had success appealing if the initial determination goes against you? I'm trying to prepare for all possibilities since my employer has been pretty aggressive about fighting UC claims from our whole department.

i had the same situation last month where i got approved but hadnt gotten my card yet. once i activated my card all my back payments were there waiting for me! just make sure you check your mail carefully, the envelope is pretty plain and I almost threw mine away thinking it was junk mail!

Congrats on finally getting approved! I went through a similar situation last year with open issues that took forever to resolve. From my experience, once you see that payment date on your dashboard, you're usually looking at 2-4 business days for Money Network cards. Since today is Monday and your payment date shows today, I'd expect to see it by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. The good news is that once your first payment goes through, future payments are usually much faster. Hang in there - you're almost at the finish line!

Congratulations on getting your payment! This is such a helpful thread for anyone going through the PA UC approval process. It's good to see that the 3 business day timeline is pretty reliable once you're truly approved with no outstanding issues. For future reference for anyone reading this - it sounds like the key things to watch out for are: making sure there are no hidden issues in your determination letters, keeping up with weekly certifications even during approval delays, and having your payment method properly set up. Thanks for updating us on the outcome!

This is such a great success story! I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my verification issues to be resolved, so seeing that you got approved and received payment within 3 business days gives me hope. I've been stressing about my bills piling up while waiting. Quick question - when you say you had "verification issues" for 3 weeks, what kind of documents did they end up needing from you? I'm wondering if I'm missing something that could speed up my process. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on getting it sorted out!

Good luck with your application! You're taking the right approach by being honest and exploring all your options. Just wanted to add that when you do apply, make sure to mention any tips you received at the bar job if you reported them on past tax returns - sometimes people forget that tip income can count toward eligibility if it was properly reported. Also, keep records of all your contacts with the Department of Labor about the misclassification issue, as this could be helpful if they do investigate your employer. The fact that you're being proactive about reporting the situation properly shows you're handling this the right way despite your employer's poor practices.

I went through something similar a few years ago working at a pizza place. The owner paid everyone cash and when I got fired, I was in the same boat. What I learned is that even though you can't get UC benefits for the under-the-table work, you might still qualify for other assistance programs like SNAP (food stamps) or emergency rental assistance through your county. I know it's not the same as unemployment, but it can help bridge the gap while you're looking for new work. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing the tax implications - a lot of employers in the service industry take advantage of workers who don't realize they're being screwed over. You're doing the right thing by asking questions and trying to handle this properly now.