hey just wonderin did u ever get that direct deposit setup?? way better than checks trust me

If your employer is challenging a layoff vs. quit determination and you already won at the examiner level, you're in a strong position. The burden of proof shifts to them during the appeal. Make sure you have written documentation of the layoff if possible (emails, texts, termination letter, etc). Also, in my experience, many employers file appeals automatically but then don't show up for the hearing - if that happens, you basically win by default. And yes, your benefits WILL continue during this process, that's the law in PA.

i forgot to ask, did u check ur determination letter carefully?? sometimes they deny ppl for dumb technical reasons like u answered a question wrong or didnt report some tiny income. might be easier to fix that than fight about the separation if thats actually the problem

One more important tip - when you file your appeal (do it online if possible), clearly explain the specific facts that disprove the job abandonment claim. Don't just say "I disagree" or "This is unfair." For example: "I appeal this determination because I did NOT abandon my position. I provided written two-week notice on [date], worked all scheduled shifts through my final day on [date], and even trained my replacement. My manager [name] acknowledged my notice and final day. I have text messages and witness testimony to verify these facts." This approach immediately focuses the referee on the key dispute. Good luck with your appeal!

I just got through to someone!!! They said there was a system-wide issue with direct deposits in the last batch and about 15% of claimants were affected. They're sending checks to everyone who was impacted. The person said checks are being mailed in batches and most should arrive within 7-14 days but they always say 3-4 weeks just in case of postal delays. Hope this helps people here!

UPDATE: My check arrived today - exactly 11 days after the status changed to processed! Much faster than the 3-4 weeks they quoted. For anyone else dealing with this, make sure your address is up to date in the system. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice and support!

One thing that really helped me during my 10 week wait was tracking small victories. Every job application I submitted, every networking call I made, every time I learned a new skill on YouTube - I wrote it down in a journal. It helped me see I was still moving forward even when UC was stalled. Also, be sure you're checking your spam/junk email folders! My ID verification request went to spam and I missed it for 3 weeks which delayed everything. And don't forget to check your dashboard for any Action Items - sometimes they don't send emails about those at all.

@OP - After I used that Claimyr service I mentioned, the agent told me my issue was that my former employer had contested my claim saying I quit (I was laid off). Once I explained what happened, the agent was able to make notes in the system and escalate it for review. The payments started 3 days later. Do you know if your employer might be contesting your claim?

I had this happen to me with a retail job last year! One thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure you keep doing your job search activities that week too. Even though you worked 8.5 hours, you still need to complete your work search activities (applying to jobs, etc.) and record them for that week. I forgot to do this once when I worked part-time and almost got disqualified.

Regarding your question about how many hours would disqualify you - there's no specific hour limit. It's based on your earnings compared to your weekly benefit amount (WBA) plus the partial benefit credit (PBC). You can work as many or as few hours as offered, but if your gross earnings exceed your WBA + PBC for that week, you wouldn't receive benefits for that specific week. Your claim remains open though. With your $487 WBA, your PBC is approximately $146 (30% of your WBA), so you could earn up to $633 in a week and still receive some UC payment. At minimum wage, that's about 57 hours, but obviously fewer hours at a higher wage.