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.

That's awesome that your status changed to payable! I'm in a similar situation - won my appeal two weeks ago and have been waiting. Seeing your update gives me hope that mine might change soon too. The whole process is so stressful when you're broke and waiting. Fingers crossed you get those payment dates posted quickly!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Won my appeal last Friday and my status just shows "appeal decision rendered" with no payment dates yet. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like 7-14 days is pretty normal for the system to process everything. I'm also completely broke and stressed about bills, so I totally understand what you're going through. Thanks for posting this question because now I know what to expect and that I'm not the only one dealing with this frustrating waiting period after winning an appeal.

UPDATE: Finally got through to someone at UC this morning! Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and it actually worked - got me past the busy signals. The agent confirmed my appeal is "in final review" and should be decided within the next 7-10 days. She also added a hardship note to my file which might help speed things up. They said decisions from January hearings are being processed now, so the timing lines up with what others mentioned. Feeling slightly more hopeful now that I at least know where I stand!

So glad to hear you finally got some concrete information! That "final review" status is definitely encouraging. I went through something similar last year and once they told me it was in final review, I got my decision 5 days later. The hardship note was smart too - I think that really does help prioritize cases. Fingers crossed you get good news soon and can finally put this nightmare behind you. Keep us posted on how it goes!

That's such a relief to hear you got approved and received all your backpay! I'm in a similar situation - my benefit year ended in February and I just submitted my reopening application last week. Reading about your 6-week wait is making me nervous, but it's encouraging to know that it worked out in the end. Quick question - when you say you uploaded your last paystub, was that from the landscaping job or did you need to provide paystubs from the entire 7 months you worked there? I'm wondering how much documentation I should prepare just in case they ask for more info. Also, did your new weekly benefit amount get calculated automatically once approved, or did you have to do anything else to get that $386 figure? Thanks for sharing your experience!

Wow, 6 weeks is really long but I'm so glad you finally got approved! I'm actually dreading having to go through this process myself - my benefit year ends next month and I've only been at my new job for about 5 months. Reading everyone's experiences here is super helpful though. One thing I'm confused about - do you have to wait until your benefit year actually expires to reopen, or can you file early? I keep seeing conflicting info online about the timing. Also, did you have any issues with the job search requirements while you were waiting for approval? I'm worried about keeping up with all that while also dealing with the stress of waiting to hear back. Thanks for sharing your story - it gives me hope that even if it takes forever, it can still work out in the end!

Congratulations on finally getting through and getting your appeal approved! This is such a relief to read. Your story is going to help so many other people who are stuck in the same situation. It's crazy that there was a "system issue" preventing your approved appeal from being processed - makes you wonder how many other people are dealing with the same thing without knowing it. Definitely going to save that direct appeals number (717-787-5122) for future reference. Thanks for coming back to update us!

Welcome to the community! This thread is such a perfect example of why this forum is so valuable - seeing Haley's journey from panic to resolution gives me hope for my own situation. I'm currently dealing with a similar appeals delay (4 weeks post-hearing) and was starting to lose faith in the process. The direct appeals number (717-787-5122) and state rep contact advice are game-changers - I had no idea these options existed. It's also eye-opening (and frankly disturbing) how many approved cases are apparently sitting in "system issue" limbo without people knowing. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive space for navigating this frustrating system!