


Ask the community...
wait what form did u get? was it a UC-1697A? cause that one is for the telephone hearng not in-person. some people go to the wrong place and miss their hearng completely. double-check ur notice!!
Update: I just checked and mine is form UC-1697A so it IS a telephone hearing! Thanks so much for pointing that out - I would have shown up in person for nothing! The hearing is next Thursday at 10:15am. I'm gathering all my documentation now. Will let everyone know how it goes afterward in case it helps someone else.
Good catch! For telephone hearings, make sure you have good reception, are in a quiet place, and have all your documents organized and in front of you. The referee will typically call you within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. If they're running late, stay by your phone - they will still call you. Good luck!
Just a tip - when your new payments do start, remember they might be a different amount than your old claim. My new benefit year amount dropped by almost $65/week because I had worked less in the base year. The calculator on the PA UC site was pretty accurate though if you want to estimate it.
One last thing - if your financial situation becomes dire during this gap, contact 211 (just dial 211 on your phone). They can connect you with emergency assistance programs in your area. Many counties have emergency rental assistance, utility payment help, and other crisis services specifically for situations like this. Don't wait until you're facing eviction or utility shutoff to reach out for help.
Quick update on Money Network cards since there's been some confusion: As of April 2025, PA UC has fully transitioned to the new Money Network card system. Any backpay related to claims filed after January 2025 will go to your card if that's your selected method. Pre-2025 claims might still follow the old system where larger amounts were sometimes sent as checks. This might explain why people have different experiences.
hey did u ever get ur money? im in the same boat now and want to know if its better to just select check instead of card
My first payment took exactly 5 business days after the payment date showed up in my portal. And I didn't even change any banking info. The PA UC system is just ridiculously slow! But the good news is once you get that first payment, the rest come like clockwork. Every week on the same day for me.
UPDATE: I was able to speak with a UC rep this morning (used Claimyr and got through in about 30 mins). They confirmed my payment is scheduled to be deposited tomorrow! The rep said changing the direct deposit info did cause a short verification hold, but since it's been processed now, I should see the funds by tomorrow afternoon. Such a relief - just in time to pay my landlord.
Avery Saint
Actually, I think there IS a minimum weekly benefit amount in PA - isn't it like $68 or something? So maybe you won't get that $11 after all? The system is probably just showing your remaining balance.
0 coins
Sarah Ali
•That's not quite right. The minimum weekly benefit amount of $68 applies to how your claim is initially calculated, not to your final payment. Your final payment can be for any amount less than your weekly benefit rate. The system will pay whatever remaining balance you have, even if it's just $1.
0 coins
Keith Davidson
By the way, make sure you're using your reference number when filing that final claim. I know it sounds obvious, but I accidentally used my old reference number from a previous benefit year when filing my last claim and it caused a huge mess. Double-check all your info before submitting!
0 coins
Megan D'Acosta
•Good point - I'll double check everything. With my luck, one wrong entry would probably delay things by weeks!
0 coins