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After reading about your benefit year transition issue, I definitely recommend calling early in the week (Monday or Tuesday) and early in the morning right when they open. The claims overlap team that another user mentioned is usually less busy during those times. Also, prepare all your information before calling - your claim ID numbers for both claims, the exact dates of your benefit year end, and the dates of any pending payments. Having this ready will help them resolve it much faster once you do connect.
I've been through this exact scenario multiple times unfortunately. What really helped me was documenting everything - the time I called, how long I waited, the agent's name if they gave it, and exactly what happened. When I finally got through to someone who could help, having that timeline made them take my situation more seriously. Also, if you do get disconnected again "due to an emergency," ask for a reference number for your call before they hang up. Most agents can give you one quickly and it helps prove you actually connected when you call back. The system is definitely frustrating but don't give up!
Update: I FINALLY got through to someone this morning! For anyone with a similar problem - I called the alternative number (888-313-7284) at exactly 7:59am and selected option 1 then 3 for payment issues like someone suggested here. The agent explained that my claim was put on hold for recalculation because of my part-time work. She lifted the hold and I should be able to file again starting Sunday. She also said I'll be able to file for the missed week once the system updates (24-48 hours). My weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on my part-time earnings, but at least I'll get something. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great news! Make sure you keep track of the dates for any weeks you need to backdate claims for. And remember to keep doing your work search activities every week, even during weeks where filing is interrupted. Glad you got it resolved!
That's such great news that you got through and got it resolved! For anyone else dealing with this issue - I had a very similar experience last year. The key things I learned: 1) Always call right when they open at 8am, 2) The payment issues line really does have shorter wait times, and 3) Make sure to ask specifically about backdating any missed weeks when you talk to the agent. Also, once your claim is back to normal, they'll recalculate your weekly benefit based on your part-time earnings using a formula - basically they subtract your weekly earnings from your full benefit amount, so you'll still get partial benefits as long as you're not earning more than your full weekly benefit amount. Keep all your pay stubs because they might ask for them later to verify your reported earnings!
FINAL UPDATE: The UC office called me back today. They fixed the issue on their end and said it was caused by a database error during their system update. They found 37 accounts total that had this problem and they've fixed them all now. They also said they're sending formal notification letters to everyone affected, including the people whose info was in my account. They apologized a bunch and said they're implementing new testing procedures before future updates. The rep also mentioned they're going to review my claim personally to make sure nothing else was affected. Thanks again everyone for your help with this! Definitely scary to see other people's info but at least they took it seriously once I finally reached them.
This is good news, though concerning that it affected 37 accounts. Make sure to keep that case number and the name of who you spoke with. If you notice ANY issues with your claim in the next few months, reference this incident specifically. Glad you got resolution!
Wow, thanks for sharing this whole experience and keeping us updated! This is actually really helpful to know about. I've been having some weird glitches with my account lately (nothing this serious) but now I'm wondering if they're related to the same system issues you encountered. It's honestly pretty scary that 37 people were affected by this data breach. Makes me want to check my account more carefully to make sure everything looks right. Did they give you any advice on what to watch out for going forward, or any way to verify that your account is secure now? Also really glad that Claimyr service worked out for you - I've been struggling to get through on the phone for weeks about a different issue and might have to try that route myself.
Hey! I'm new here but this whole thread has been super helpful - I had no idea this kind of thing could even happen with the UC system. @c6da548b9fab Emily, did they give you any specific things to look for to make sure your account stays secure? I'm paranoid now and want to double-check mine. Also, for anyone else reading this, should we be checking our accounts more regularly after hearing about this? This seems like something that could happen again if they're having ongoing IT issues.
In Pennsylvania, you should definitely file your weekly claim as usual on Sunday and report the training hours you worked, even though you haven't received payment yet. PA unemployment requires you to report work when it's performed, not when you get paid. Here's what you need to do: - File your claim as normal on Sunday - Report that you worked (say "yes" when asked if you worked) - Report all 40 hours that you worked in training - Report the gross amount you expect to earn (before taxes) - Answer "no" if asked if you've returned to full-time work permanently For the week you report these earnings, your UC benefits will likely be reduced or eliminated depending on how much you earned. However, this only affects that specific week. Since you're not continuing with this job, you can resume normal UC claims the following week. When you file the next week, you'll indicate that you're no longer working there. Be prepared to explain that the commute was too far if asked. This is generally considered a valid reason for leaving a position, especially during a trial/training period. One thing to note: if your earnings from the training exceed 40% of your weekly benefit rate, your benefits will be reduced. If they exceed your weekly benefit rate plus the partial benefit credit (typically 30% of your weekly benefit), you won't receive benefits for that week, but this won't affect future weeks. If you have any specific questions about your situation, I'd recommend calling the PA UC service center directly at 1-888-313-7284 for guidance tailored to your claim.
@Lena Kowalski I am thinking about filing and saying I was unavailable for work this week. That should result in no payment for the week, I don’t do anything wrong, and next week I resume collecting as normal. Either that or just skip this week entirely but I don’t know if that’s an option, I also don’t want the claim to close..
@Matt Hopkins Don t'say you were unavailable for work if you actually worked! That would be providing false information, which could get you in serious trouble with PA UC and potentially result in penalties or having to pay back benefits. You absolutely cannot skip filing - that will definitely cause your claim to close and create bigger headaches. You must file every week to keep your claim active. Here s'what I d'honestly recommend: File your claim, report the work and expected earnings truthfully. When it comes to separation reason, focus on the fact that this was temporary training that didn t'lead to permanent employment due to logistical issues commute (distance .)Many training programs don t'result in permanent placement - that s'normal. The unemployment office deals with short-term work situations constantly. Being honest about working one week of training and it not working out due to distance is much less problematic than providing false information or skipping claims. Just file truthfully, report the income, and resume normal claims next week. You re'overthinking this - one week of reported work won t'derail your benefits if you handle it properly.
Lara Woods
I'd like to add that once your claim is approved, you should receive backpay for all eligible weeks you've certified for. Make sure you've been filing your weekly certifications even while waiting for approval. \n\nAlso, prepare documentation before calling:\n- Your Social Security number\n- Your PIN\n- Employment history details (last day worked, reason for separation)\n- Any correspondence reference numbers\n\nHaving this information ready will make the call more efficient and increase your chances of resolution during a single call.
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Liam Sullivan
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in early March and still stuck "under review" with zero explanation. It's so stressful not knowing what's wrong or how long it'll take. Reading through all these responses is really helpful though - sounds like getting through to an actual person is the key. I'm definitely going to try calling early morning this week and if that doesn't work, I'll look into that Claimyr service. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it helps to know we're not alone in this mess of a system!
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Freya Pedersen
•@191ca46ae9ab Hang in there! I'm dealing with the same frustrating situation - filed mid-March and still under review with no clear answers. What really helped me was reading through all the advice here about getting through to an actual representative. The online portal is basically useless for figuring out what's actually wrong with our claims. I'm planning to try calling first thing Monday morning, and if that doesn't work I'll definitely give Claimyr a shot. At least we know we're not alone in this - seems like tons of people are stuck in the same limbo right now. Keep filing those weekly claims though, that's what everyone says is important for getting backpay once this gets sorted out!
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