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UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at PA UC after using that Claimyr service (thanks for the recommendation). The agent confirmed the check is legitimate! Apparently, there was a statewide review of pandemic claims and they found that I should have received the additional $600 federal supplement for 2 weeks I was eligible but didn't get it, plus they recalculated my base year wages and found I qualified for a higher weekly benefit rate than I received. The agent said a notification letter was supposedly mailed 3 weeks ago explaining all this, but I never received it (typical PA UC). She's having another letter sent and noted in my file that the payment was confirmed legitimate. I'm depositing the check tomorrow! Thanks everyone for your help. If anyone else gets a surprise payment, definitely verify before cashing, but it might be legitimate backpay from this review they're doing.
Just be careful and SAVE some of that money for taxes next year!!! UC payments are taxable and they probably didn't withhold anything on this check!!!
@Emma Davis is absolutely right about the taxes! I learned this the hard way when I got a surprise 1099-G for unemployment benefits I forgot about. Set aside at least 20-25% for federal and state taxes since they probably didn t'withhold anything. Also, keep all your documentation from this call - reference numbers, agent name if you got it, confirmation details. PA UC has a history of forgetting "phone" conversations happened.
Congratulations on getting it sorted out! This gives me hope that PA UC is actually trying to make things right from the pandemic chaos. I was laid off in May 2020 and always wondered if I got everything I was entitled to - the whole system was such a mess back then. For anyone else reading this thread, I'd recommend keeping an eye on your mailbox over the next few months. Sounds like they're working through these claims chronologically, so if you had unemployment during the pandemic, you might be getting a surprise too. And definitely use that Claimyr service if you need to call - trying to get through to PA UC the regular way is like winning the lottery! Thanks for sharing your update QuantumQuest - really helpful to know how this all played out.
This whole thread has been super helpful! I was also unemployed during the pandemic (March-July 2020) and never thought to question if I got everything I was entitled to. The whole system was so overwhelmed back then - half the time I couldn't even log into the website to certify my weekly claims. Now I'm wondering if I should proactively call to see if I'm owed anything from this review they're doing, or just wait to see if a check shows up in the mail. Anyone know if there's a way to check if your claim is part of this audit without having to spend hours on hold?
Good news is that once the open issue is resolved, you'll get all back payments at once. Make sure you're completing your work search activities each week (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc.) and documenting them. They can audit those records even after your payments start.
I'm in a similar situation - been waiting 6 weeks with an open issue and getting nowhere with the phone lines. Reading through these responses, it sounds like going to the office really isn't worth the drive since they can't actually help with claims anymore. I think I'm going to try the state representative route that Daniel mentioned - never thought of that before but it makes sense they might have better contacts. Also going to double-check my spam folder just in case. This whole system is so frustrating when you're behind on rent and bills! Keep us posted if you make any progress, Micah.
btw has anybody else noticed their benefit payments taking longer to process in 2025? my last 2 weekly claims are still stuck as 'in progress' for like 10 days now
I had the exact same thing happen to me in January! Got 3 identical redetermination letters over 5 days and was so confused. Called PA UC (took forever to get through) and they confirmed it was just a printing error on their end. The rep told me that if all the letters show the same amounts and you agree with the calculation, you can just ignore them - no response needed. Only time you need to act is if you disagree with their wage/benefit calculation and want to appeal. Keep one copy for your records though, just in case you need it later. Their system really is a mess but at least in this case it's harmless!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear that calling UC confirmed it was just a printing error. I was getting worried that maybe I was missing something important, but sounds like this is definitely a known issue on their end. Good to know I can just keep one copy and move on. Really appreciate you taking the time to actually call them - saves the rest of us from having to deal with those impossible phone lines!
Update: The money showed up in my account this morning! So it took exactly one business day after the payment date shown on the UC portal. Thanks everyone for your help!
Glad to hear you got your payment! This is really helpful info for others waiting. I'm still in the review stage myself (week 3 now) but this gives me hope that once it's approved, the actual payment timing is pretty predictable. Did you have to do anything special during the review process or did it just eventually get approved on its own? My case has been radio silent for weeks.
I was in a similar situation - my review took about 5 weeks and I was checking the portal obsessively every day. What helped me was setting up text notifications through the UC system so I got alerts when status changed instead of constantly logging in. The review process seems totally random in terms of timing, but once you get that approval notification, the payment side works pretty reliably as others have mentioned here.
Week 3 can feel like forever but you're definitely making progress! I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through to an agent during my review period - they were able to tell me my case was "actively being reviewed" which at least gave me some peace of mind that it wasn't just sitting there forgotten. Might be worth trying if the uncertainty is driving you crazy like it did me. The agent couldn't speed up the process but knowing someone was actually looking at it helped with the anxiety.
Kara Yoshida
So glad to see your payment finally came through! I'm dealing with the same issue right now - my payment has been showing as "paid" since April 20th but still nothing in my account. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and frustrating at the same time. It's crazy that this is such a common problem with the PA UC system. I guess I'll wait a few more days based on what everyone's saying about the 7-10 day timeline, but man, it's nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money!
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Chloe Delgado
•@Kara Yoshida I totally get how nerve-wracking it is! I was in the exact same boat just a few days ago. Based on what Daryl mentioned about the processing issue affecting payments from April 16-19, and since yours is from April 20th, you might be in the next wave of delayed payments. The waiting is absolutely the worst part, especially when bills are due. Hopefully yours comes through in the next day or two! Keep us posted when it arrives.
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Nia Thompson
This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently waiting on a payment that's been showing "paid" since April 22nd, so it sounds like I'm part of the ongoing Treasury processing delays that @Daryl Bright mentioned. It's honestly a relief to know this is a system-wide issue and not something wrong with my specific claim. The stress of waiting for money you desperately need is just awful - especially when the system makes it look like everything is fine on their end. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and timelines. It really helps to know we're not alone in this mess!
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