Update: I finally got through to PA UC yesterday! The claims examiner confirmed there was an availability issue flag on my account from that one week I reported being sick. She took my statement explaining it was a temporary illness and said they'll make a determination within 7-10 days. She also said I should receive payments for all eligible weeks after that one sick week once the issue is resolved. Such a relief to finally talk to someone! Will post again when I (hopefully) get my backpay.

This exact same thing happened to me back in 2023! I was honest about being sick with COVID for a few days and it triggered a months-long nightmare with PA UC. What finally worked for me was sending a written statement through their online portal explaining that my illness was temporary and I was fully available for work before and after that week. I also included a timeline showing exactly which days I was unavailable vs. available. The key thing the examiner told me later was being very specific about the temporary nature of the illness and emphasizing that I resumed normal job search activities immediately after recovering. It took about 3 weeks after submitting the written statement to get everything resolved, but I did receive all my backpay. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but you should get your money once they review your case!

So did u get all the back pay for those 6 weeks too? When I finally got approved they only gave me for like 4 weeks and said I was "ineligible" for the first 2 weeks but never explained why

Congrats on finally getting approved! The waiting is absolutely brutal. From my experience with PA UC, direct deposits typically take 2-3 business days after the payment date shows in your portal. Since you mentioned today is your payment date, you should see the money by Friday or Monday at the latest. My bank usually shows pending deposits the day before they clear, so keep an eye on your account. The good news is that once you get your first payment, the subsequent ones tend to be more consistent timing-wise. Fingers crossed it arrives before your bills are due Monday!

I'm dealing with this exact problem right now too! Been on review for a week. Did your payment actually come through like they promised? Mine's been "processing" for 3 days now after they said they fixed it...

This is such a common issue with PA UC right now! I went through something similar last month when my seasonal job recall got delayed due to equipment issues. The system definitely gets confused when there are changes to original recall dates, even when you report them properly. One thing that helped me was calling first thing in the morning (like 8:05 AM) - seems like there's a brief window when it's easier to get through before the lines get completely jammed. Also, when you do get connected, ask the agent to put notes on your account about the recall date change so if this happens again, future agents can see the full story immediately. The good news is these weather-related delays are happening everywhere right now, so UC agents are getting familiar with fixing these flags quickly. Hope your payment comes through soon!

They said they're severely understaffed and have a backlog of claims with 'open issues' that require manual review. Apparently these don't get looked at in any particular order unless you call in. The rep admitted it's a broken system but said calling is definitely the way to speed things up. Good luck!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my claim on January 13th and still waiting for my first payment. Like you, I've been using Indeed and LinkedIn mostly for job searches and was worried about the CareerLink requirement. Reading all these responses is really helpful! I've been keeping detailed records of all my applications (company name, position, date applied, etc.) and doing way more than the minimum 2 per week. It's good to know the platform doesn't matter as long as you document everything properly. I also have an 'open issue' showing on my dashboard with no explanation. Definitely going to try calling this week - or maybe that Claimyr service if the phones are still impossible. This whole system is so frustrating when you're already stressed about finances!

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know my payments hit my card this morning! It took exactly 11 calendar days (8 business days) from when I got the referee's decision. Everything came through correctly including all the back weeks. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and info while I was waiting.

Congratulations on winning your appeal! That's such a huge relief after 4 months of fighting. I went through a similar situation last year - won my appeal for a separation issue and was terrified about the timing too since I was drowning in bills. Mine took 10 business days to hit my Money Network card, which felt like forever but was actually pretty reasonable based on what I've seen others experience. The hardest part is that there's really no way to track it once the decision is made - it just shows up one day. Keep checking your UC portal daily like others suggested, and try to hang in there. You've already gotten through the hardest part by winning the appeal!