I just went through this same exact panic 2 weeks ago! Missing one week absolutely will NOT close your claim - I was so relieved when I found that out. Your claim stays active for the full 52-week benefit year, you just lose payment for that one missed week (which stinks but isn't the end of the world). The key is to file your certification for THIS week during your normal window. After my scare, I set up a recurring alarm on my phone for every Sunday at 8am with the message "UC FILING DAY!" I also started using a simple checklist app to track my work search activities throughout the week so I'm always ready when filing time comes. Don't stress too much - this happens to way more people than you'd think, especially when you're still getting used to the routine. Just make sure you file this Sunday and stay consistent going forward!

I totally understand your panic - I had the exact same reaction when I missed my weekly filing about a year ago! The good news is that missing ONE week definitely won't close your entire claim. Your claim stays active for the full 52-week benefit year, you just forfeit that one week's payment (frustrating but not devastating). What's important now is to make sure you file your certification for THIS week during your normal filing window. After my experience, I learned to treat weekly filing like paying rent - it's just a non-negotiable weekly responsibility. I set up a Sunday morning alarm at 7:30am that says "FILE UC NOW!" and I always do it before checking social media or doing anything else. Also keep a simple log of your work search activities throughout the week so you're never scrambling for information when filing time comes. You're going to be totally fine - just get back on track this Sunday and don't let it happen again!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare last year! My employer also tried to claim I quit when I was clearly laid off during downsizing. The whole process took about 3.5 weeks, but I got approved once they reviewed all my documentation. A few things that helped me: 1) I kept a detailed log of every interaction with my employer leading up to the layoff, 2) I saved screenshots of any company communications about restructuring, and 3) I contacted my former coworkers who were also laid off to see if they'd be willing to provide statements if needed (I didn't end up needing them but it was good to have as backup). The waiting is absolutely brutal especially when bills are due, but hang in there! Your documentation sounds solid and the fact that you have multiple pieces of evidence (termination letter, supervisor texts, company email) puts you in a really strong position. Also definitely keep filing those weekly claims - I almost forgot one week and it would have been a huge hassle to fix later. Rooting for you!

Just went through this exact situation 2 months ago! My employer also incorrectly reported that I quit when I was actually laid off during a company restructuring. The whole process was incredibly stressful, but I eventually got approved after about 3 weeks. A few things that really helped me: 1) I made sure to upload EVERY piece of documentation I could find - not just the obvious stuff like termination letters, but also any emails about the restructuring, calendar invites for layoff meetings, even photos of any paperwork they gave me during the exit process. 2) I wrote a detailed statement explaining exactly what happened, with dates and names of people involved. 3) Most importantly, I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though it felt pointless at the time. When I finally got approved, I received all the back pay for those weeks. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about money, but your documentation sounds really strong - termination letter + supervisor texts + company email should definitely work in your favor. Stay persistent and keep advocating for yourself!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been filing PA UC claims for over a year now - you're absolutely doing the right thing by asking for clarification on these questions! The "able and available" question is pretty straightforward once you understand what they're really asking. Think of it this way: if a potential employer called you right now and offered you a job that matches your skills and availability, could you say "yes, I can start Monday"? If the answer is yes, then you're able and available for work. This means you're not sick, not caring for family members full-time, not on vacation, not in school full-time preventing you from working, etc. The identity theft situation is totally separate from your weekly eligibility - don't let that mess with your head when answering the basic questions. The fraud review team handles that background stuff while you just need to honestly report your work availability each week. One more tip: PA UC sometimes asks if you've been "ready, willing, and able" to work - that's the same thing as "able and available." They just phrase it differently sometimes depending on which system you're using (phone vs online). Good luck getting everything sorted out!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help with your anxiety about the weekly certifications. When I was going through my own UC issues (not fraud-related, but still stressful), I found it helpful to think of the weekly questions as a simple checklist rather than a test I could fail. The "able and available" question is really just asking: "If someone offered you appropriate work this week, were there any days you couldn't have accepted it?" If you were physically able to work all 7 days and had no barriers preventing you from accepting a job offer, then YES is correct. Don't let the identity theft situation make you second-guess yourself on these basic eligibility questions. The fraud review process runs separately from your weekly certifications, and answering honestly about your work availability won't impact their investigation. You're being so thorough and careful about everything - that's exactly the right approach. Keep filing consistently and documenting everything. The stress will be worth it when you finally get your benefits sorted out!

This thread is absolutely amazing - thank you all for documenting these different methods! I'm a social worker who frequently helps clients navigate PA UC issues, and I'm definitely saving this for future reference. The variety of solutions people found here really highlights how broken and inconsistent the system is. The email search suggestion is genius - I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense since those weekly cert confirmations would have all the key details most agencies need. I'm going to start advising my clients to try multiple approaches simultaneously instead of waiting weeks for one method that might not even work. It's sad that we need to crowdsource solutions like this, but I'm grateful this community exists to help people figure out these bureaucratic mazes!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm bookmarking this for sure. I'm currently between jobs and know I'll probably need my claim records at some point for apartment applications or whatever comes up. It's crazy how something as basic as "show me my own employment history" turns into this whole detective mission. The email search tip is brilliant - I just checked and I have dozens of those weekly certification emails going back months with all the payment details right there. It's wild that the easiest solution might just be digging through your own inbox instead of fighting with their broken website. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just the official "submit a request and wait 2 weeks" nonsense they tell you!

I just went through this same situation a few weeks ago and can confirm what several others have mentioned - since you had those two partial payment weeks due to part-time work, you should absolutely be able to collect that remaining $420! Those partial weeks don't count toward your full 26-week limit, which is exactly why you still have money left in your balance. I was in almost the identical situation (had $380 remaining after my "26th" payment) and was able to file for two more weeks until my balance was exhausted. The key is filing before your benefit year ends on 2/9/2025 - after that date you lose access to any leftover funds no matter what. Go ahead and file this Sunday with confidence, the system should definitely let you through. PA UC is so confusing about explaining this stuff, but you're totally entitled to that money since you haven't truly exhausted your full benefit weeks yet!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually facing a similar situation right now - I'm at 24 weeks and still have about $800 left in my balance, but I had 3 weeks where I worked part-time and got reduced payments. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should be able to collect my remaining balance even after hitting my "26th" payment since those partial weeks don't count toward the full benefit limit. The PA UC system really needs to do a better job explaining this on their website - it's so stressful not knowing if you can access money that's literally sitting in your account! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through the exact same situation. It's reassuring to know the system will let you file as long as you're within your benefit year and haven't truly exhausted your full 26 weeks of benefits.