Just wanted to add that I had success with PNC Bank for direct deposit after my online bank got rejected. The whole process is definitely frustrating - it feels like they should at least give you a clear explanation of WHY your bank was rejected instead of just a generic "fraud prevention" message. One thing that helped me was opening a basic checking account at a local branch specifically for unemployment benefits. Most big banks will let you open an account with minimal fees if you set up direct deposit. It's an extra step but might be worth it to avoid the Money Network card hassles that others have mentioned. Also, if you do end up having to use the card temporarily, I found that using it at grocery stores for cash back (instead of ATMs) helped me avoid most of the fees while I was getting my banking situation sorted out.

This is really helpful information! I'm dealing with the same issue right now with my online bank being rejected. The lack of transparency from PA UC is so frustrating - they just give you that vague "fraud prevention" message without any explanation of what banks are actually accepted. I'm going to try calling that fraud department number that @Ethan Anderson mentioned before I resort to the Money Network card. If that doesn't work, opening a basic checking account at a traditional bank specifically for UC benefits sounds like a solid plan. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and workarounds - this thread has been way more helpful than anything I could find on the official PA UC website!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - been having issues with my current bank and considering switching my UC direct deposit. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me a much better idea of what to expect. The timing advice about changing right after filing weekly claims is brilliant - that's the kind of practical tip you just can't find anywhere else. It's also reassuring to see that most people had their payments come through within 2-4 business days. The credit union recommendations are noted too - seems like they're consistently better than the big banks for handling UC payments without all the holds and fees. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the specific timelines and tips. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes all the difference when you're trying to navigate these systems!

This entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently stuck in direct deposit limbo myself - switched from TD Bank to my credit union last week after TD started charging me $15/month in fees plus putting holds on every UC payment. The stress of not knowing when or where your payment will land is unreal, especially when you're already behind on bills. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been more helpful than hours of trying to get through to PA UC on the phone. The timing advice about changing right after filing your weekly claim is pure gold - wish I had known that beforehand! I made my change mid-week so now I'm just checking both accounts obsessively. @Hiroshi Nakamura congrats on getting it sorted so quickly! @Madison King that detailed breakdown of timing and keeping both accounts open is exactly what I needed to hear. It's amazing how this community provides the real-world guidance that the official sites completely lack. Fingers crossed my payment hits the credit union account in the next day or two!

That's awesome that you found the document request! The same thing happened to me - their email notifications are terrible. Once I uploaded my documents it only took 4 days for approval. Pro tip: screenshot everything you upload and keep checking that document center daily, sometimes they ask for follow-up stuff. You're probably going to get a nice chunk of backpay once it all processes since you've been filing weekly. Fingers crossed you get approved before your rent is due!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - filed my claim 3 weeks ago after losing my retail job and it's been stuck on "processing" the whole time. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! I had no idea about checking the document center for hidden requests. Just logged in and sure enough, there's a verification request from last week that I never got an email about. Uploading my stuff now. It's so frustrating that their notification system is this broken - how are we supposed to know what they need if they don't tell us? Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and tips, this thread is more helpful than the actual PA UC website!

For your immediate rent situation - call PA UC and explain the situation. There's a hardship provision where they can sometimes issue emergency funds while the fraud investigation is ongoing. You'll need to document the hardship (like an eviction notice or late rent warning). Not everyone qualifies, but it's worth asking about.

This is such a stressful situation! I went through something similar last year and wanted to share what helped me get through it faster. In addition to what everyone else mentioned, make sure you're checking your ReliaCard account online daily - sometimes they post updates to your fraud case that they don't tell you about over the phone. Also, if you have any text messages or emails from ReliaCard about your recent payment, save those as proof of when the legitimate deposit was made vs when the fraudulent transactions occurred. The timeline matters for their investigation. And definitely take Grace's advice about mentioning Regulation E - that's what finally got my case escalated to someone who actually helped me instead of giving me the runaround. Hang in there, it will get resolved!

Congrats on getting your first payment! This is really helpful info for others going through the same thing. I'm still waiting on my first transaction number to show up - been filing for about 2 weeks now. Did you have to do anything special or did it just automatically appear after your 3rd week of filing? I'm getting a bit anxious since I haven't seen any movement on my account yet.

For anyone still waiting on their first transaction number - I just wanted to share my timeline to help ease some anxiety. I filed for 4 weeks before my first transaction number appeared, and then it took 3 business days for the money to hit my account (a bit longer than the typical 2 days everyone mentions). Turns out there was an additional identity verification step that delayed my first payment, but I never got notified about it. I only found out when I called. After that first payment though, everything has been smooth - transaction numbers appear the day after I file and money comes within 2 days like clockwork. So if you're past the 3-week mark with no transaction number, it might be worth calling to see if there's any verification step holding things up. Don't lose hope!