For anyone else reading this who's stuck waiting on an appeal - here's exactly what you should do in this order: 1. Try reaching UC directly (using the service mentioned or by calling repeatedly) 2. Contact your state representative's office 3. If neither of those work within a week, contact your STATE SENATOR too (they often have even more pull) 4. If you're truly desperate and it's been over 8 weeks, you can also try contacting the UC Board of Review directly at 717-787-5122 The system is frustrating but there ARE ways to navigate it. Don't give up!

I'm so glad you got through to someone and got answers! This whole thread has been super helpful - I've been lurking here for weeks dealing with my own stuck appeal (filed in September, also separation determination). Just tried the Claimyr service this morning and actually got connected to a UC agent within 20 minutes! Turns out my employer never responded to their request for information, so my case was just sitting there waiting. The agent said they'll send another notice to my employer and if they don't respond within 10 days, they'll move forward with just my side of the story. Sometimes you just need to talk to the right person who can actually look into your specific case!

good luck!!! and yeah def let us know how it goes cuz im in a similar boat with my BYE coming in January

Just wanted to add something that might help - when you file your new claim, they might ask you to provide documentation of your work separation from the shipping company (like a layoff letter or termination notice). I'd recommend gathering those documents now before your BYE date so you're not scrambling to find them later. Also, since you mentioned the holidays are coming up, keep in mind that UC offices have reduced hours during holiday weeks which could delay processing. The earlier you can file after 12/4, the better. I learned this the hard way when I filed right before Thanksgiving one year and had to wait an extra week just because of the holiday schedule. One more thing - if your new weekly benefit amount does change significantly, you can always appeal the determination if you think they calculated something wrong. Just make sure to keep all your pay stubs from that 5-month period at the shipping company as proof of your earnings.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. Just to make sure I understand: 1. I can earn up to 30% of my WBA ($146.10) without losing any benefits 2. After that, they reduce my payment dollar for dollar 3. I'm completely ineligible if I earn more than $633.10 that week 4. I still need to do my work search activities regardless 5. I need to report my gross earnings for the WEEK I WORKED I think I'll take the work since it's only for a few days - my supervisor said it would be around $350-400 total. That means I'd still get some UC money that week too. I'll make sure to keep detailed records of exactly what days I work and how much I earn.

Just want to add one more thing that helped me when I was in a similar situation - keep really good records of everything! I made a simple spreadsheet tracking the dates I worked, hours, and gross pay for each day. Also saved all my pay stubs and took screenshots of my weekly certifications. When I had to deal with a question from UC about my partial work weeks later, having all that documentation made it so much easier to prove I reported everything correctly. Better to be over-prepared than sorry!

One more question - have you tried contacting Pennsylvania Unemployment through their social media channels? Sometimes their Twitter team can help escalate issues. It's not widely known but they do have staff monitoring those channels.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation and it's beyond frustrating! My claim has been stuck for 5 weeks now with zero communication from UC. I contacted my state rep 10 days ago and they said they'd reach out immediately, but like you, I haven't seen any movement or even gotten an acknowledgment email from UC. Reading through these comments is both helpful and depressing - it sounds like we're all stuck in the same broken system. I'm definitely going to try that documentation approach someone mentioned and follow up with my rep tomorrow since I haven't gotten that confirmation email either. Has anyone had luck with the PA UC Facebook page? I noticed they sometimes respond to comments there faster than other channels. Might be worth a shot along with Twitter. Hang in there - it sounds like persistence eventually pays off, even though the timeline is ridiculously long.

UPDATE: Success! I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested above and actually got through to a PA UC representative. After explaining the situation, she transferred me to the claims correction department. They confirmed I had accidentally filed for benefits during months I was employed. The good news is they're processing an adjustment to my claim RIGHT NOW to correct the dates, and I should receive benefits for May-present within 5-7 business days! No waiting until October! Make sure you're super clear about your employment dates when filing, folks. One mistake can cause months of delays!

Wow, what a relief to see your update! This is such a perfect example of why it's so important to actually get the right department on the phone. I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where my claim has been "under review" for weeks with no clear explanation. Your story gives me hope that there might be a simple fix if I can just get through to the right people. Thanks for sharing the step-by-step process - asking specifically for "claims correction department" and requesting an "adjustment correction" seems like the key. Definitely going to try the Claimyr service too since the regular phone lines have been impossible for me.