One more important thing - if your financial situation is dire while waiting, you may qualify for emergency assistance through your county assistance office. This won't impact your unemployment claim and can help with basic needs while your case is pending. You can apply online through COMPASS.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed my claim in November 2024, had my hearing in March, and it's now been 6 weeks with absolutely nothing. The worst part is my dashboard still shows "pending hearing decision" but when I try to call, I either get hung up on or told they can't give me any timeline updates. I've been trying the 8am calling strategy but haven't gotten through yet. Reading all these responses gives me some hope that I'm not alone in this mess. I'm definitely going to try contacting my state rep tomorrow and maybe look into that Claimyr service too. This whole system is beyond broken when people are waiting 7+ months for basic unemployment benefits!

Just to update on a few points raised in this thread: 1. Contacting your state representative can indeed help. Their offices often have dedicated contacts at PA UC who can inquire about stuck claims. 2. The "financial hardship" notation can help in some cases, though there's no official fast-track process. 3. When a determination is made, you typically receive a notification in your dashboard and by mail, though some claimants report seeing payments processed before any formal notification. 4. If your claim involves specific issues like employment verification, separation eligibility, or able/available questions, the review timeframes can vary significantly. What was the initial issue with your claim that led to this escalation? That might help predict your timeline better.

Hey there! I'm dealing with something similar right now - been waiting about 6 weeks since they told me my case was escalated. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like the timeframes are all over the place, which is so frustrating when you're trying to plan your finances. I'm curious - has anyone had luck with the PA CareerLink offices? I've been thinking about going in person to see if they can provide any additional help or insight into what's happening with escalated cases. Sometimes face-to-face contact can move things along faster than phone calls. Also, for those who eventually got their determinations - did you notice any pattern in timing? Like did it tend to happen on certain days of the week or times of the month? I know it's probably random, but when you're checking your account obsessively every day, you start looking for any kind of pattern! Hang in there everyone - this process is absolutely brutal but it sounds like most people do eventually get their resolution.

Hey Raúl, I went through something similar last year with 4 open issues and I know how stressful it is when rent is due. Here's what helped me get through it faster: Call the UC service center first thing in the morning (8 AM sharp) - I had better luck getting through early. Also, when you do get someone on the phone, ask them to look at ALL your issues at once rather than addressing them one by one. For the identity verification, if you haven't done ID.me yet, do that ASAP - it's usually the quickest one to resolve. For the job search issue, make sure you have detailed records of where you applied and when. And for the employer dispute about hours, gather any pay stubs or documentation you have showing your actual hours worked. The good news is once they resolve everything, you'll get all your back pay in one shot. Hang in there - I know it sucks but you will get through this!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - 3 open issues on my claim and it's been 4 weeks without payment. From what I've learned talking to other people in the same boat, you unfortunately do need all issues resolved before they'll release any money. The system basically puts a hold on everything until each issue is cleared. One thing that helped me was organizing all my documentation before calling. For your employer dispute about hours, gather any pay stubs, timesheets, or W-2s that show your actual hours. For the ID verification, complete the ID.me process if you haven't already - that one tends to get resolved fastest. I know it's frustrating when rent is due, but keep filing your weekly claims even though you're not getting paid yet. Once everything is resolved, you'll get all the back pay you're owed. Have you tried calling right at 8 AM when they open? I had better luck getting through early in the morning.

That's correct. The first payment typically requires additional treasury processing which adds 3-5 business days. Subsequent payments are generally much faster.

Filed my claim 3 weeks ago and still waiting... this thread is both helpful and terrifying lol. At least now I know I'm not alone in this mess. The fact that people are waiting 2+ months is insane. I've been doing all my weekly certifications and work search activities religiously just in case. Fingers crossed I don't hit any of those mystery "open issues" that seem to add months to the process 🤞

btw has anybody heard if PA is still backed up with claims? friend of mine waited like 3 months last year for benefits to start

I'm in a similar situation at my retail job - went from 28 hours to 14 suddenly last month. I filed for partial benefits and got approved, but wanted to share a few things I learned: 1. File online at www.uc.pa.gov - don't waste time trying to call, the website actually works well for partial claims 2. When they ask about reason for separation, select "lack of work" not "quit" or "fired" 3. Keep screenshots of your old schedule vs new schedule if possible 4. Yes, your employer gets notified but in my experience they expect it when they cut hours this drastically One thing that surprised me - I still had to do the work search requirements even though I'm still employed part-time. Make sure you're prepared for that! The good news is I got my first partial payment within 3 weeks of filing. Hang in there, this is definitely a valid claim and you shouldn't feel bad about filing for benefits you're entitled to.