This thread is absolutely incredible - I can't believe how much valuable information everyone has shared! I'm currently in the middle of my own open issue situation (week 3 with continued payments) and finding this discussion has been such a relief. Reading Ezra's update that it was just employer verification delay really gives me hope that mine might be something routine too. The advice about Claimyr has been a game-changer - I tried it yesterday and actually got through to a PA UC agent after just 45 minutes! Turns out my open issue is also related to employer verification (they're waiting for wage records from my previous job). The agent said payments should continue normally while they follow up with the employer, which matches exactly what others have experienced here. What really strikes me is how much more useful this community discussion is than any official PA UC information. The pattern recognition about continued payments often indicating routine verification rather than serious eligibility issues is knowledge you just can't get anywhere else. I've been documenting everything with screenshots like Ana suggested, which gave me peace of mind even before I got through to someone. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - both the success stories and the cautionary tales. This kind of real-world knowledge makes all the difference when you're dealing with such an opaque system! Hopefully my experience adds another helpful data point for anyone else going through this stressful situation.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who just started my first unemployment claim last week, I had no idea that open issues with continued payments were so common. Reading through all these experiences - especially the successful resolutions like Ezra's and Andre's - really helps understand how the PA UC system actually works behind the scenes. The success rate with Claimyr is impressive based on what people are sharing here. Andre getting through in just 45 minutes after weeks of failed attempts at the regular phone lines really shows the value of that service. And the pattern that keeps emerging - employer verification delays being the most common cause - is such useful information that you'd never learn from PA UC directly. I'm bookmarking this thread and all the practical advice (screenshots, Claimyr, detailed documentation) just in case I ever face a similar situation. It's honestly sad that we have to crowdsource this essential information, but I'm really grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences and actually help each other navigate these confusing systems. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share both their struggles and solutions!

Congratulations on the new job! I'm actually going through something similar right now - just got an offer yesterday and was having the exact same concerns about the proper procedure. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's clear that the process is much simpler than I was making it out to be in my head. Just stop filing when you start working full-time, keep your login info safe, and document everything for peace of mind. The consensus from everyone who's been through this is so consistent that I feel much more confident now. Thanks for asking this question - you've helped more people than just yourself! Best of luck with your new position, and here's to both of us "graduating" from unemployment benefits! 🎉

Congratulations on the new job! I just went through this same process about 3 months ago and had identical concerns. Everyone here is absolutely right - there's no formal "closing" procedure needed. You simply stop filing your weekly certifications once you start working full-time. Since you're starting Monday, go ahead and file for this current week (you haven't earned anything yet), then you're done! Your claim will automatically go inactive but stays open for the full benefit year as a safety net. I kept screenshots of my last certification and noted my final filing date, which gave me peace of mind even though I never needed the documentation. The hardest part was actually remembering NOT to file the following week after months of it being routine! PA UC's system is designed for people transitioning in and out of work, so it handles these situations automatically. Just be completely honest about any earnings if you ever have partial weeks, and you'll be fine. Enjoy your new job and the relief of being done with weekly filings!

Just wanted to share my recent success story to give everyone hope! I was in the same situation as many of you - forgot to add my two kids (ages 6 and 14) when I initially filed my PA UC claim back in February. After reading through all the advice in this thread, I decided to try the Tuesday morning strategy that Max mentioned. Called at 7:50 AM yesterday and actually got through after only 20 minutes on hold! The representative was super understanding when I explained I'd been trying to reach them for over a week. She added both my children to my claim and even noted in my file that I had attempted to contact them multiple times since filing. She couldn't promise anything about backdating, but said the notation would help if there's ever a review. The dependent allowance should show up in my next weekly payment. For anyone still trying to get through - don't give up! The Tuesday morning time slot really seemed to work, and having all my kids' info ready (SSNs, birth dates, birth certificates) made the actual call go super smoothly once I got connected.

I just wanted to add another data point that might help others in this situation. I successfully added my 3-year-old son to my claim last month after initially forgetting to include him. What worked for me was calling on a Thursday around 10:30 AM - I got through after about 35 minutes on hold. The key thing the representative told me was that they prioritize dependent additions if you can show you've been actively trying to contact them. I had screenshots of my online messaging attempts and a list of call times/dates, which she said really helped my case. She was able to backdate the dependent allowance for 2 weeks. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you get through to a rep who seems rushed or unhelpful, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or call back later. Some reps are more willing to go the extra mile than others. The $5 per week per child really does add up, so it's worth the persistence!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! I was working full-time as a warehouse supervisor while doing some freelance photography on weekends (maybe $300/month). I stopped taking photo gigs in early February when work got crazy busy, and then got unexpectedly laid off last week due to company downsizing. My claim just got flagged with "self-employment investigation" a few days ago and I was totally freaking out until I found this thread. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief - it sounds like this is just standard procedure rather than them looking for reasons to deny us. I have good documentation ready - emails declining new photo shoots, my last invoices from February, bank statements showing no photography income since then. Based on all these similar success stories, it seems like I just need to be patient and wait for whatever forms they send me. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking financially, but seeing so many people with nearly identical situations (stopped self-employment before layoff, minimal side income compared to main job) eventually get approved is really encouraging. Thanks to everyone for sharing - it helps so much to know we're all going through this together and that there's light at the end of the tunnel!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! I was working full-time as a retail manager while doing some freelance tutoring on the side (brought in about $180/month). I completely stopped the tutoring in mid-January when my store got busier during inventory season, and then got laid off in early March due to store closure. My claim has been stuck on "self-employment investigation" for about 10 days now. I was absolutely panicking thinking I'd be automatically denied until I found this thread - reading everyone's experiences has been such a lifesaver for my anxiety! It's clear this is just their standard verification process rather than them trying to find reasons to deny us. I have all my documentation ready - final text messages with parents saying I couldn't continue lessons, my last payment records from January, bank statements showing no tutoring income since then. Based on all these similar success stories, it sounds like I just need to be patient and wait for whatever questionnaire they send. The financial stress while waiting is definitely real, but seeing so many people with nearly identical situations (minimal side income, stopped before layoff, good documentation) eventually get approved gives me so much hope. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this process and that most people do get through it successfully!

Just wanted to jump in and say THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this thread! I literally just went through this exact same issue today - got my RESEA notification this morning and spent the entire afternoon clicking through every possible menu on PA CareerLink trying to find where to schedule it. I was getting so frustrated and worried I'd miss the deadline when I stumbled across this thread. @James Maki your step-by-step instructions are absolutely perfect! Found it immediately under Services > Recommended Services just like you said. It's honestly shocking how many people have had this exact same problem. You'd think after all these complaints PA would fix their website design, but apparently they'd rather have us all waste hours searching for mandatory requirements. This community is seriously a lifesaver though - way more helpful than any official help documentation. Just scheduled my interview for next week and feeling so much less stressed about the whole process. Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

This thread is absolutely amazing and should be required reading for anyone dealing with PA unemployment! I just went through this exact same frustrating experience last month - spent literally an entire day searching for my RESEA activity before finally giving up and calling the customer service line. Of course, I sat on hold for over 3 hours only to be told to look in the exact same place @James Maki described in his incredibly helpful step-by-step instructions. What really gets me is that this is clearly a widespread issue that PA is aware of, but instead of fixing their confusing website design, they just let thousands of people waste time and stress out trying to find mandatory requirements. I even had the customer service rep tell me they get dozens of calls about this every single day! It's honestly mind-boggling that something so critical for maintaining benefits is buried in such an obscure location. @Aisha Jackson I'm so glad you were able to get it sorted out and scheduled your interview! The actual RESEA process is genuinely helpful once you get past all the technical nightmares. My counselor was really knowledgeable and gave me some great job search tips I hadn't considered before. Just make sure to prepare a list of your recent job search activities and be ready to discuss what types of positions you're targeting. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community support is literally more valuable than any official PA unemployment resource!