UPDATE: I finally got in! System is working now but super slow. For anyone still trying, be patient after you enter your PIN - it took almost 3 minutes for the next screen to load but it eventually did. Make sure you don't refresh or you'll have to start over!

For future reference, the best times to file your weekly claim are usually Tuesday or Wednesday mornings between 9-11am. The system has the least traffic then. Sundays and Mondays are always nightmares because everyone tries to file as soon as the week opens up. Also, if you ever can't file online, remember you can use the PA UC phone filing system at 888-255-4728, though it's pretty tedious to use.

if u cant get thru to PA UC try calling right at 8am when they open. thats how i finally got someone. or try at like 2:57pm when most people probably given up for the day

As a follow-up on your situation - pregnancy is protected under PA's unemployment rules. You are still considered "able and available" for work unless there's a specific medical restriction. If your claim is being held up because of your pregnancy (which would be discrimination), you should contact the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission as well as the UC appeals office. In terms of immediate financial assistance while waiting, have you contacted local community action agencies? Many have emergency rental/utility assistance programs that don't use the same income calculations as state programs and can help bridge the gap while your UC claim is processing.

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!

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 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.