This is exactly why I think PA UC needs to completely overhaul their system for seasonal workers! Your situation is so common yet they treat every zero-hour week like it's some kind of fraud red flag. I went through something similar working road construction - had to jump through all these hoops just because of normal winter weather delays. The fact that you've been honestly reporting partial hours for months should show them you're not trying to game the system. One suggestion: when you do get through to someone, ask them to put a note on your account that you're a seasonal construction worker. Sometimes this helps prevent the same issue from happening again next winter. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts in their broken system just to get the benefits we've earned, but at least documenting your work pattern might save you this headache in the future.

I'm dealing with the EXACT same thing right now! I work in landscaping and just had my first zero-hour week of the season. The system immediately flagged me for reapplication even though I've been filing consistently for months with partial hours. What's really frustrating is that my coworker who had zero hours two weeks ago didn't have this issue - seems totally random which accounts get flagged. I called the main UC line about 50 times yesterday and couldn't get through. The automated system just keeps saying "due to high call volume" and hangs up on you. Has anyone had luck with the early morning calls? I'm thinking of trying right when they open at 8 AM. This whole situation is making me want to just give up on UC entirely, but I can't afford to do that with winter lasting another month or two.

good luck on ur assessment btw! you'll probably pass it fine

This is great advice from everyone! I went through something similar with a sales training program that had a probation period. The key thing I learned is that PA UC really does verify your earnings with employers, so definitely keep exact records of what you're paid each week. Also, when you report your work hours, make sure to include ALL the hours you worked that week, even if some were unpaid orientation time. The system is pretty forgiving if you're honest and consistent with your reporting. Wishing you the best on your assessment - remote customer service jobs can be tough but the skills you learn are really valuable!

my brother works for a home health agency and he says they do this ALL THE TIME because it saves them money on their unemployment insurance rates. they keep everyone on the books as "active" even when they have no work for them. total scam. definitely appeal and mention that you suspect this is why they're suddenly contacting you after months of silence.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when agencies pull this kind of stuff. I had a similar experience with a different type of caregiving situation. One thing that really helped me was getting a statement from someone who knew about the specific nature of your employment arrangement. Do you have any documentation from when your mother-in-law was receiving care that shows you were hired specifically as her family caregiver? Medical records, care plans, or even correspondence that mentions your relationship to the patient can be powerful evidence that this wasn't a general healthcare position. Also, if you can get any written confirmation of her passing date from hospice, hospital, or funeral home, that creates a clear endpoint for when your specific job duties ended. The fact that they waited until after your UC claim to suddenly offer work is really telling - make sure to screenshot and save every email they've sent you since filing. You've got a strong case here!

glad it worked out for u! i swear the PA UC system just randomly throws old messages at us to see if we'll panic lol

So glad you were able to figure this out! This is exactly why I always tell people to screenshot EVERYTHING with PA UC - their system glitches are notorious for causing panic attacks over old determinations that randomly resurface. For anyone else who might face this issue: always check the actual date stamps on messages, not just when they appear in your dashboard. The PA system has a habit of "refreshing" old notices during maintenance cycles, making them appear new when they're not. Emma, definitely keep that Statement of Benefits PDF saved locally and maybe print a copy too. PA UC has a tendency to make documents mysteriously disappear from dashboards during "system updates." You've got solid proof now that your appeal decision is still valid and active.

FINAL UPDATE: My tax refund just hit my account this morning! Total wait time was 13 weeks from filing, but only 8 business days after speaking with the UC tax specialist. If anyone else is dealing with long delays, definitely try to speak with someone directly - there might be a simple issue holding things up that they can fix quickly.

Wow, what a journey! Thanks for documenting everything step by step - this is incredibly helpful for those of us still stuck in limbo. I'm at week 8 with my refund and starting to panic. The fact that you got resolution so quickly once you actually spoke to someone gives me hope. I had no idea about employer wage reporting errors being a common cause of delays. Definitely going to try the Claimyr service this week since the regular phone lines have been impossible. Really appreciate you coming back to share the final outcome!