ok so i read all this advice and here's what I think you should do: 1. Apply for new claim about a week before current one ends 2. Keep doing weekly claims without missing any 3. Have your job offer letter ready to upload 4. Try to get thru on phone using that service someone mentioned 5. Maybe ask new job for ANY hours they can give before official start That's what I'd do anyway. good luck!

Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I'm going to file a new claim about a week before my current benefits end, keep all my documentation ready, try to get some partial hours from my new employer if possible, and use Claimyr to actually talk to someone if I hit any roadblocks. Will update if I run into any issues others might benefit from knowing about!

Just wanted to follow up on this thread - for those dealing with employer issues, this is exactly why PA requires the work search activities while you wait for determination. Even though it feels pointless when you're not getting paid yet, you need to be doing and documenting your work search activities (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc.) every week during this waiting period. If you don't do this and then get approved, they could deny payment for weeks where you didn't complete and document your work search requirements. Make sure you're logging into the system and recording at least two work search activities each week.

my neighbor works for uc she says they super backlogged right now bc of some computer upgrade thing so everything taking longer than normal

This is a classic case of miscommunication during a PA UC call. I've been through this exact situation and have helped several others navigate it too. Here's what you need to know: 1. File those appeals immediately as others have said - there's a 15-day deadline from each determination letter 2. In your appeals, be very specific about what was actually said in the conversation - if you mentioned anything about job prospects, interviews, or potential opportunities, the agent may have misinterpreted this as job acceptance 3. When you do reach someone by phone, ask them to review the call notes and clarify that you are still unemployed and conducting active work search 4. Request that they send an urgent correction to the claims examiner 5. Most importantly, keep certifying every week as if nothing happened The good news is that these administrative errors can absolutely be corrected, and when they are, you'll receive all back payments for the weeks incorrectly disqualified. The bad news is that it does take time - typically 2-3 weeks if you're persistent.

UPDATE: I finally managed to speak with someone at PA UC this afternoon! I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got through in about 30 minutes instead of endless busy signals. The representative was actually helpful and could see exactly what happened. The previous agent had coded my account with status code 'JA' (Job Acceptance) instead of 'JS' (Job Search) after I mentioned an upcoming interview. She's submitted an urgent correction request to have my claim reviewed and the disqualifications removed. She said it should be fixed within 3-5 business days and all my weeks will be reprocessed. I still submitted the formal appeals just in case, but she said this might resolve before the appeals even get processed. Thanks everyone for your help! What a nightmare this system is.

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?

One thing to keep in mind: while your claim is under supervisor review, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims! A lot of people make the mistake of stopping their weekly certifications while waiting for a determination, but you need to keep filing to get all your back weeks once approved.

this is why the whole system is a joke. u literally need to get politicians involved just to get what ur owed. such a broken process.