Hey, just checking in - did your card ever arrive? I'm just curious because I remember when I was waiting for mine, it felt like forever.

Glad to hear your card finally showed up! That's a pretty typical timeline from what I've seen. Direct deposit is definitely the way to go - I've been using it for months now and it's so much more reliable than waiting for cards or checks. Just a heads up though, make sure to keep that Money Network card somewhere safe even if you're not using it. Sometimes there are system glitches and payments randomly go back to the card method, so you'll want to have it activated just in case.

I'm dealing with a similar sideline business issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I want to add - make sure you have documentation showing you're registered to work in Pennsylvania and that your business doesn't conflict with any licensing requirements in your main field. I also recommend bringing a written statement explaining how your Etsy shop actually demonstrates your work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, but that full-time employment in your regular field remains your primary goal. The referee wants to see that you're genuinely seeking work and that your side business won't interfere with that. Also, if you have any correspondence with potential employers or interviews scheduled, bring that as additional proof of your active job search. Good luck Marina - sounds like you have a strong case!

I successfully appealed a very similar sideline business denial last year! Here's what made the difference in my case: I created a simple spreadsheet comparing my regular job income vs. side business income over the past 2 years - this visual really drove home how minimal the side income was. I also printed screenshots from my state's job search website showing all my applications since becoming unemployed, with timestamps proving I was spending way more time job hunting than on my business. During the hearing, I made sure to mention specific examples of how I'd adjusted my business schedule around job interviews (like declining custom orders when I had interviews scheduled). The referee seemed most concerned about whether I would turn down a good job offer to focus on my business, so I directly addressed that by explaining my business was more of a creative outlet that I could easily scale back or pause entirely for the right full-time opportunity. You sound like you have an even stronger case than I did - $2,900 annual income and only 5 hours per week is clearly supplemental, not primary employment!

One more important tip: if they say they can't backdate your claim during the appointment, ask them to document in their notes that you requested backdating and provide you with information about the appeal process. Sometimes the frontline staff can't approve certain things, but you can appeal the decision and often win. Also, many people don't realize that PA UC has a "Request for Backdating" form (UC-496) that you can fill out. While it's better to handle this in person at your appointment, having this form with you as backup isn't a bad idea. You can download it from the PA UC website under Forms.

Best of luck with your appointment! You're definitely going in well-prepared. One thing that helped me was arriving about 15 minutes early and using that time to organize all my documents in the order I planned to present them. Also, if you run into any issues after your appointment or need to follow up, don't hesitate to reach out here - this community has been super helpful for navigating the PA UC maze. Fingers crossed they get your backdating sorted out quickly!

Since you mentioned having an open issue specifically, you should know that some open issues will resolve automatically after a certain time period if there's no employer protest. Usually 21 days. When did your issue first appear? If it's been less than 3 weeks, it might resolve itself soon without you needing to call. Also, double-check that you're calling the right number. The main claims line is 888-313-7284, but if you have a specific issue type there might be a more direct number.

Have you tried contacting your state representative's office? I was stuck in a similar situation for almost a month and finally called my rep's constituent services office. They have a direct line to UC and can escalate cases. I got a call back from UC within 48 hours after my rep's office contacted them. It's free and they're actually really helpful with state agency issues like this. Just google "[your county] state representative" and call their local office - explain you've been trying to reach UC for weeks about rent money and they should be able to help.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Got hit with a $980 non-fault overpayment last month because they "recalculated" my part-time work earnings from way back in November. They've been reducing my weekly benefits from $380 to $285, but I'm still getting those stupid payment coupons in the mail every few days. It's so confusing and stressful - like they want me to pay twice for the same thing! Reading everyone's responses here is actually really helpful though. Sounds like I need to call and ask specifically for an overpayment specialist to get this documented properly in their system. The whole PA UC system feels like it's held together with duct tape and prayers sometimes. Thanks for posting this question @Chloe Harris - at least now I know I'm not going crazy and this is a common issue with their automated systems!

This is such a common issue with PA UC's system! I went through something very similar about 6 months ago with a $1,100 non-fault overpayment. The automated system just keeps sending those payment coupons even when you're already set up for benefit reduction - it's like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. What worked for me was calling early in the morning (around 8:15 AM) right when they open and immediately asking to be transferred to an overpayment specialist. Don't waste time with general customer service - they often don't have the full picture. The specialist was able to confirm my benefit reduction was set up correctly and put a stop to the automatic coupon mailings. She also gave me a confirmation number for the conversation which was super helpful. Just to give you peace of mind - you're NOT supposed to pay both ways. It's either the benefit reduction OR the lump sum payment, not both. The system is just terrible at communicating this. Definitely get it documented in writing if possible. Good luck!