Pennsylvania Unemployment
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PA UC denied my claim after ex-employer falsely claimed I was on paid PTO instead of medical leave - need advice!
I'm beyond frustrated with this whole situation. I had to have surgery back in February and requested time off through proper channels at my workplace. My supervisor denied my leave request even though I provided all the medical documentation. Since they wouldn't approve the time I needed for recovery, I was forced to resign from my position. Now I'm dealing with PA unemployment and my former employer has completely twisted the story! They told UC that I was actually receiving PTO during my absence, which is a COMPLETE LIE. I never got a single day of paid time off. Now my claim is being held up because of this false information. Has anyone dealt with an employer lying to unemployment before? What can I do to prove they're making this up? I have my resignation letter and medical records, but will that be enough? I'm worried about paying bills while this gets sorted out.
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PA UC weekly claims during job training - pay once a month starts March
I just got hired by a tour company that starts official operations in March 2025. They're having me do paid training this weekend, but then I won't actually start the regular job until March. The weird thing is they only do payroll once a month because they're small and have rotating staff (they said weekly payroll costs too much). My question is - do I keep filing my weekly PA UC claims after the training but before my official start date in March? I don't want to commit fraud but also don't want to lose benefits when I'm not getting regular income yet. Will the one-time training payment affect my benefits for that week only? I'm so confused about how to report this!
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whats this tour company if u dont mind me asking? my cousin is looking for work like that
It's a small company called Heritage Walking Tours that does specialized history tours. They're only hiring 3 new guides right now and the positions are filled, but they said they'll be expanding in summer 2025 if your cousin is still looking then!
One other important thing to remember - if your training pay is significant, it might put you over the partial benefit threshold for that week. For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $400 and your partial benefit credit is $100, then earning more than $500 in a week would make you ineligible for benefits that specific week. But you would still be eligible for the following weeks when you have no earnings until your job officially starts in March. Just make sure to answer all weekly claim questions honestly. Better to have one week without benefits than to risk an overpayment issue later on.
Thank you for explaining this! My weekly benefit is $320, and the training only pays $150, so I should still get partial benefits that week. I'll definitely report everything accurately - not worth the risk of dealing with overpayment issues down the road.
PA UC backpay approved by phone rep - when will payment actually hit my account?
So after 8 weeks of fighting with PA UC, I FINALLY got through to an actual human on the phone today! The rep reviewed my claim (which had been stuck in limbo with an 'open issue' since February) and approved it on the spot. She said I'm getting all my backpay from the past 2 months! I'm so relieved but also still worried because I've been burned before... Once a claim is approved by phone, how long until the money actually hits my Money Network card? Rep said 'next week' but wasn't specific. Anyone have recent experience with this? I've got rent due soon and need to know if I can count on this or need to beg my landlord for another extension.
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wait so is this regular UC or PUA? cuz those r different payment systems i think
PUA ended in 2021. All current claims would be regular UC, Extended Benefits, or UCFE (for federal employees). The payment timeline is the same for all current programs though - typically 2-3 business days after approval.
PA UC employer verification timeline - been waiting 3 weeks with no update
Hi everyone, I got laid off from my warehouse job 3 weeks ago and filed for PA unemployment right away. My claim shows 'pending' status with a note that says they're waiting to verify my job separation with my former employer. It's been 3 weeks already and nothing has changed. How long does this typically take? My former HR person confirmed they received something from UC but said they sent their response back over a week ago. Is there anything I can do to speed this up? Bills are piling up and I'm getting seriously worried. Thanks for any advice!
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my wifes claim took exactly 26 days in february when she got laid off. they never contacted her once during the entire time, just suddenly got an email saying she was approved. make sure ur checking the portal everyday because sometimes they dont even notify you when things change
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'm on day 22 now, so it sounds like I'm still within the normal timeframe (even though it feels like forever!). I'm going to keep filing my weekly claims and if nothing changes by next week, I'll try using that Claimyr service to get through to someone at UC. Really appreciate all your help and suggestions - this waiting game is so stressful when bills are due!
That sounds like a good plan. Just make sure you're completing and documenting your required work search activities each week (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc.). The last thing you want is to finally get approved and then discover you're missing some of those requirements. Good luck!
Would former PA UC reps offering filing, IDme, and appeal assistance be worth paying for?
Just curious what people think - would you pay for help with your PA unemployment claim from someone who actually used to work for the system? I'm thinking about situations like complicated appeals, IDme verification issues, or filing problems that seem impossible to solve. The regular phone lines are ALWAYS busy, and my friend waited 7 weeks just to get an issue resolved. Seems like there could be value in having someone who knows the system inside out to guide you through it. What would be a fair price for something like that? Would it even be legal for former reps to help people this way?
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I filed for unemployment back in January and made a small mistake on my application. Couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Finally got my neighbor's daughter (who used to work at UC) to look at my paperwork and she immediately spotted the issue and told me how to fix it. Saved me weeks of waiting! I bought her dinner as thanks but would've paid actual money if needed. Sometimes you just need someone who knows what all those weird codes and terms mean.
That's exactly the kind of situation I was thinking about. Glad it worked out for you! It's helpful to hear about real-world examples where this kind of expertise made a difference.
I think the bottom line is: would this service help people get benefits they're LEGALLY entitled to but might miss out on due to confusion, mistakes, or system complexity? If yes, then it seems valuable and ethical. If it's about helping people game the system or get benefits they don't qualify for, that's a hard no. Based on my experience with PA UC (three claims over the past 5 years), I think most people just need help understanding the process and avoiding simple mistakes that can cause weeks of delays. If former reps can provide that service at a reasonable price, I'd support it.
That makes so much sense! I don't want to do anything wrong or illegal, I just want help figuring out why my claim keeps saying "pending" and nobody will answer the phone! I would definitely pay for someone to just help me understand what's happening!!
Lena Schultz
Yes! A doctor's statement would be extremely valuable evidence. Ideally, it should confirm: 1. The medical necessity of the surgery 2. Why it couldn't be postponed 3. The required recovery time 4. Any work restrictions during recovery This documentation directly supports your claim that you had a necessitous and compelling reason to leave employment. Have your doctor address it "To Whom It May Concern" and make it as specific as possible about your particular situation. General notes are less helpful than statements that directly address the circumstances of your unemployment claim.
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Philip Cowan
OP listen to this person! Medical documentation is THE key to winning these appeals. My case dragged on for months until I finally got my surgeon to write a detailed letter explaining everything. After that, they reversed the decision in like 2 weeks. The system is designed to wear you down so you'll give up. DON'T GIVE UP!
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Melina Haruko
wait i'm confused abt something... if you had a surgery and your employer denied time off, couldn't you have filed for FMLA instead of quitting? doesn't that protect your job? not criticizing just wondering if that was an option
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Kara Yoshida
AuthorThat's actually a good question. I wasn't eligible for FMLA because I'd only been at the company for 9 months, and you need to be employed for 12 months to qualify. Otherwise I definitely would have gone that route!
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Lena Schultz
This is an important distinction for your case. Make sure to mention your FMLA ineligibility in your appeal. It further strengthens your argument that you had no alternative but to resign, as you lacked access to federally protected medical leave.
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