Just wanted to add that I went through this exact same situation last month with my Amazon Flex earnings. Made $89 one week and they held my benefits for 16 days! What finally worked for me was not just calling, but also sending a message through the online portal explaining that I was only doing gig work to supplement income while actively job searching, and that I remained available for full-time employment. I included my work schedule (only worked 5 hours total that week) and mentioned that I had applied to 8 jobs that same week. The combination of the online message plus calling and requesting the earnings verification interview got it resolved much faster. Also, pro tip - if you're doing gig work, try to keep it under 10-15 hours per week and document everything. They seem to be more concerned about people who might be treating gig work as their primary income source rather than temporary supplemental income while job hunting.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now with my Lyft earnings. Made $94 last week and reported it honestly, and now I'm on day 6 of "pending review" with no communication from PA UC about when it might be resolved. It's so frustrating because like everyone else here, I'm actively job searching (applied to 9 positions last week alone) and only doing rideshare to pay for gas and groceries while I look for full-time work. The fact that trying to be responsible and earn a little money while job hunting actually causes MORE problems with the system is just backwards. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and specifically ask for an "earnings verification interview" - thanks to everyone who shared that tip! It's ridiculous that we have to become experts in their internal processes just to get our benefits released. Grace, so glad you got yours resolved - gives me hope that mine will get sorted out too!

I've been on PA UC for about 6 months now and can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying about transaction numbers! Once you see that transaction number, it's basically a done deal - the payment is coming within 1-2 business days. Since your payment date shows 3/15 (Saturday) and you already have the transaction number, you should see it by Monday or Tuesday morning for sure. Money Network processes these overnight, so I always check first thing in the morning rather than throughout the day. The transaction number means PA UC has successfully processed and sent your payment - the delay is just the normal banking/card processing time. I know the waiting is nerve-wracking when you have bills due, but try not to stress too much. Save that transaction number just in case you need to reference it later, but honestly once you have it, you're in good shape!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Got my transaction number yesterday for my payment dated 3/14 and have been anxiously checking my Money Network card ever since. Reading through everyone's responses here is incredibly reassuring - it sounds like that 1-2 business day timeline after seeing the transaction number is really consistent. I'm only in my third month of PA UC benefits so I'm still getting used to the timing of everything. What really helps is understanding that the transaction number means the state has already processed and sent the payment, and the delay is just normal Money Network processing time. I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong, but now I know to just be patient and check tomorrow morning instead of constantly refreshing. This community is seriously so helpful for navigating the PA UC system - thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines!

I'm new to this community but currently going through the exact same situation! Lost my job 9 weeks ago but only filed my PA UC claim 3 weeks ago because my former manager told me during my termination meeting that I was being let go for "not meeting expectations" and strongly implied I wouldn't qualify for benefits. After weeks of struggling financially and doing my own research, I realized I should have filed immediately regardless of what she said. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea you could request backdating while your main claim is still under review! I'm definitely going to submit my backdating request through the messaging system today based on everyone's success stories here. It's so frustrating how many employers seem to give misleading information that causes people to delay filing when they're actually eligible. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - this thread is providing way more useful information than the official PA UC website ever has! I'll make sure to update with my results to help others in similar situations.

I'm new to this community but currently dealing with a backdating situation that's very similar to what you described, Malik. Lost my job 8 weeks ago but didn't file until 2 weeks ago because my employer made it sound like I was terminated for cause and wouldn't be eligible. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea you could submit a backdating request while your main claim is still under review! The messaging system approach seems like the way to go based on everyone's success stories here, especially compared to all the phone system horror stories. It's really encouraging to see how many people have successfully gotten their PA UC claims backdated when they had good cause like being misinformed about eligibility. Your situation of being told you might not qualify definitely sounds like legitimate good cause based on what others have shared. I'm planning to submit my backdating request through the messaging system this week. Thanks for posting this question - this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding this confusing process! Hope you get good news on both your main claim and backdating request soon.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation at my cleaning service job where my hours fluctuate based on client bookings. I had no idea you could keep filing weekly even during high-earning weeks to avoid the reopening hassle. That's such a game-changer! I've been going through the stop-and-start cycle with my claim for months thinking I was doing the right thing. The system really isn't built for workers with variable income. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - especially the tip about calling right when they open and asking for a "claim date adjustment." Saving this thread for sure!

This thread is a goldmine of information! I'm in a similar boat working at a coffee shop where my hours depend on seasonal traffic and staff availability. Some weeks I get my full 28 hours, other weeks I'm lucky to hit 15. I made the same mistake of closing my claim during busy periods thinking it was the "honest" thing to do, only to face the reopening nightmare when things slowed down. The advice about keeping your claim active and just reporting earnings weekly is brilliant - I had no idea that was even allowed! It makes so much sense though, especially for those of us in service industries where schedules are unpredictable. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy if I run into issues, and that tip about asking specifically for a "claim date adjustment" is super helpful. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's clear the UC system has some serious flaws when it comes to handling modern work situations, but at least we can help each other navigate around them!

Update: For anyone reading this thread in the future, PA UC has specific rules about what constitutes "good cause" for a late appeal. According to the PA Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, technical difficulties with the filing system can qualify as good cause if properly documented. Here's what they typically look for: 1. Evidence of attempts to file (dates, times) 2. Evidence of system errors or outages 3. Prompt action once the filing system became available 4. Consistency in your explanation If you prevail on the timeliness issue, the referee will then schedule a separate hearing on the merits of your case (the employer dispute).

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing that saved me was being extremely detailed in my late appeal explanation. I listed every single date and time I attempted to access the system, described the exact error messages I received, and included my phone's call log showing all my attempts to reach them. What really helped my case was that I also contacted my state representative's office for assistance. They were able to confirm that there were documented system issues during the period I was trying to file. Sometimes having that third-party verification makes all the difference. Don't give up - the system errors are a legitimate reason for missing the deadline. Just make sure you file that late appeal ASAP with as much detail as possible about your attempts to file on time.