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Help! Someone filed a fraudulent unemployment claim using my identity last year, and I just received a 1099-G form showing $6,200 in PA benefits paid out with NO taxes withheld. I've already reported the fraud to the PA UC office and they confirmed it wasn't me receiving those payments. But tax season is here and I'm freaking out - do I still have to claim this 'income' on my tax return even though I never received a penny? Has anyone dealt with this identity theft situation before? What documentation do I need for the IRS to prove I wasn't the one collecting these benefits?
Has anyone else gotten their backpay split into separate deposits? I just checked my Money Network card this morning and noticed they paid me my back unemployment, but weirdly they split it into 2 different payments showing up on different days? One payment hit yesterday ($1475) and the second one ($1823) just posted today. Is this normal or should I be worried something's wrong with my claim? Been waiting almost 5 weeks for these back payments to process and don't want any more delays!
For everyone worried about overpayments - while they do happen, split payments themselves are not a sign of an error. But it's always good practice to verify your benefit payment history matches your records of weeks claimed. Keep all your weekly filing confirmations and payment transaction records just in case. The UC system does process multiple weeks in batches sometimes, especially after resolving an issue that held up multiple payments.
i got paid three different days last time they owed me back pay. first payment came on tuesday, second on thursday, third the next monday. made no sense but i got all my money eventually. the lady at careerlink told me its just how there system processes sometimes and not to worry but keep records of everything
I'm at my wit's end with PA unemployment! My reviewer called about 3 weeks ago saying I was approved for 16 weeks of backpay totaling around $2,700. I was SO relieved after waiting for months! But when I check my payment dashboard, EVERY SINGLE payment shows $0.00 paid to me. I've been filing my weekly claims like clockwork (including yesterday). The kicker? Just got TWO letters in today's mail claiming I OWE THEM $190.45 for April and another $190.45 for May as overpayments!!! How can I possibly owe money when I haven't received a single dollar from them?? They're saying I owe money back that I never even got in the first place! Is the system completely broken or is someone playing a cruel joke? Has anyone dealt with this twilight zone scenario before? I'm seriously considering hiring a lawyer because this makes absolutely no sense.
my friend had his tax return taken last yr cuz he didnt appeal a notice he never even got!! be careful with these people they will take ur $$ and ask questions never
UPDATE: I got through to someone at PA UC! For anyone experiencing this issue, here's what I learned: This is happening because of a system update they did in April 2025. When a claim is retroactively approved for backpay, the computer sometimes generates overpayment notices by mistake because it sees a status change and incorrectly processes it as an overpayment. The representative said they're aware of the issue and working on a fix, but in the meantime, everyone affected needs to: 1. File appeals for all overpayment notices 2. Ask specifically for a "dual status correction" 3. Request that your case be flagged for the "April 2025 backpay glitch" Apparently they have a special team handling these cases now due to the volume of problems. Hope this helps someone!
Thank you for sharing this! I'm going to specifically mention the "dual status correction" and "April 2025 backpay glitch" when I talk to them. How did you finally get through to someone? I've been calling constantly.
I just got fired from my job last week (not my fault, they were cutting staff). When HR handed me my termination letter, they also gave me some unemployment paperwork and said I should file right away. I've never been through this before - does getting unemployment papers directly from my employer mean they're not going to fight my claim? Or is this just standard procedure and I could still get denied? Just filed my initial claim yesterday and I'm super anxious about whether I'll actually get benefits. Anyone been in a similar situation?
omg this happened to me too but then I waited 6 weeks with nothing lol. sometimes they give you the papers but then fight it anyway. crossing my fingers for you tho!!!
Based on what you've shared, you have a strong case for approval. "Position elimination due to departmental restructuring" is a clear non-fault reason. The fact that there were performance discussions in the past isn't disqualifying unless they can show you were fired specifically for misconduct or rule violations. Here's what to expect: 1. Initial "pending" status with "open issue" is normal 2. Your employer has 7 days to respond to your claim 3. If they don't contest, you could be approved in 2-3 weeks 4. If they do contest, you'll get a notice for a fact-finding interview 5. After the severance period, make sure you complete all weekly certifications 6. Document your job search activities (PA requires at least one per week) Stay positive - based on what you've shared, you'll likely be approved!
I'm super confused about my UC situation. I originally took a leave of absence in January and my supervisor specifically told me to file for unemployment and that they 'wouldn't contest it.' So I did, but my claim has been sitting as 'under review' for almost 3 weeks now. I messaged HR about returning from leave last week and got a response saying I've been officially 'laid off' due to 'lack of work' which should definitely make me eligible! Is there any way to update or revise my existing claim to reflect this new information instead of starting over? I'm worried if I file a new claim it'll look suspicious, but my current one seems stuck. Has anyone dealt with something similar? I really need these benefits to start coming through soon!
My cousin works at the unemployment office (not in PA tho) and she says they always look at leave of absence claims with extra suspicion so definitely get that updated to layoff status asap!!!
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the UC office! I used the Claimyr service someone suggested here and got connected in about 30 minutes. The agent was super helpful and immediately updated my separation reason from "leave of absence" to "lack of work" based on the HR email I uploaded. She said my claim should be processed within 3-5 business days and all my weekly certifications will be paid once it's approved. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
That's great news! Makes me happy when someone actually gets help from this broken system. Let us know when the money hits your account!
Aaliyah Reed
my neighbors cousin had this happen and the irs audited him anyway even after he got the corrected form just sayin be prepared for that possibility they dont always communicate between agencies
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Benjamin Johnson
While it's true that audits can happen, if you have proper documentation showing you reported the fraud and received a corrected 1099-G, you'll be fine. Always keep copies of your correspondence with PA UC and the corrected form for at least 3 years after filing.
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