I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! I was working full-time as a warehouse supervisor while doing some freelance photography on weekends (maybe $300/month). I stopped taking photo gigs in early February when work got crazy busy, and then got unexpectedly laid off last week due to company downsizing. My claim just got flagged with "self-employment investigation" a few days ago and I was totally freaking out until I found this thread. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief - it sounds like this is just standard procedure rather than them looking for reasons to deny us. I have good documentation ready - emails declining new photo shoots, my last invoices from February, bank statements showing no photography income since then. Based on all these similar success stories, it seems like I just need to be patient and wait for whatever forms they send me. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking financially, but seeing so many people with nearly identical situations (stopped self-employment before layoff, minimal side income compared to main job) eventually get approved is really encouraging. Thanks to everyone for sharing - it helps so much to know we're all going through this together and that there's light at the end of the tunnel!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! I was working full-time as a retail manager while doing some freelance tutoring on the side (brought in about $180/month). I completely stopped the tutoring in mid-January when my store got busier during inventory season, and then got laid off in early March due to store closure. My claim has been stuck on "self-employment investigation" for about 10 days now. I was absolutely panicking thinking I'd be automatically denied until I found this thread - reading everyone's experiences has been such a lifesaver for my anxiety! It's clear this is just their standard verification process rather than them trying to find reasons to deny us. I have all my documentation ready - final text messages with parents saying I couldn't continue lessons, my last payment records from January, bank statements showing no tutoring income since then. Based on all these similar success stories, it sounds like I just need to be patient and wait for whatever questionnaire they send. The financial stress while waiting is definitely real, but seeing so many people with nearly identical situations (minimal side income, stopped before layoff, good documentation) eventually get approved gives me so much hope. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this process and that most people do get through it successfully!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! I submitted my weekly claim yesterday morning and just realized I forgot to report $73 in dog walking income from last week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I was completely panicking when I first discovered my mistake. It's incredible how many people have successfully navigated this by being proactive and honest about their errors. I'm definitely going to follow the proven strategy that everyone's recommending: calling every morning at 8:00 AM sharp while also sending a message through the dashboard as backup. The consistent mention of "voluntary disclosure" protection really gives me confidence that catching this early and being transparent about wanting to fix it will work in my favor. I've already started my detailed log of contact attempts and have all my information written out and ready to go. The fact that so many people have resolved similar amounts without any penalties by demonstrating good faith effort makes this whole situation feel much more manageable. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share such detailed experiences - this community support during such a stressful time is absolutely invaluable! I'll make sure to update once I finally get through to someone in case it helps the next person who finds themselves in this same situation.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just submitted my weekly claim yesterday and realized this morning that I forgot to report about $92 in photography work I did over the weekend. The panic hit immediately but reading through all these success stories has been incredibly calming. It's amazing to see how many people have navigated this successfully by being proactive and transparent. I'm definitely going to follow the proven approach everyone's sharing: calling every morning at 8:00 AM sharp while also sending a message through the dashboard as backup. The consistent emphasis on "voluntary disclosure" protection really gives me hope that catching this quickly and being upfront about wanting to correct it will work in my favor. I've already started my detailed contact log and have all my information organized and ready. The fact that so many people have resolved similar amounts without penalties by demonstrating good faith effort makes this feel much more manageable. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community support is invaluable during such a stressful situation! I'll definitely update once I get through to someone in case it helps the next person dealing with this.

I just wanted to chime in with my recent experience since it's so relevant! I was in almost exactly your situation about 2 months ago - got a job offer contingent on background check and drug screening, with about a 3 week timeline. I was terrified of making the wrong choice too! I ended up continuing to file my weekly claims and mentioning the contingent offer in the additional information section each week (as others have suggested here). The background check actually took 4 weeks instead of 3, so I was really glad I kept filing. When I finally started work, I reported my exact start date and everything went smoothly - no issues with UC at all. The anxiety during that waiting period was rough, but being transparent and following the rule about filing until you actually start earning wages was definitely the right call. Hang in there and congratulations on the offer!

I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! Got a job offer last week that's contingent on background check and drug test, with a potential start date in 2-3 weeks. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like the clear consensus is to keep filing weekly claims until you actually start working and earning wages. I've been so worried about doing the wrong thing, but everyone's experiences here show that being transparent about the contingent offer (by noting it in the additional information section) while continuing to file is the correct approach. It's really reassuring to see so many people who successfully navigated this exact situation! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's made me feel so much more confident about handling this properly.

I work as a paralegal at a law firm that handles employment cases, and I can confirm what others have said - family employment absolutely CAN qualify for PA UC benefits. The key legal standard is whether there was a legitimate employer-employee relationship. Based on your situation (3 years W-2 employment, proper tax withholding, genuine business downturn affecting multiple employees), you have a strong case. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. File immediately - don't wait. The review process for family employment claims typically adds 4-8 weeks, so start now. 2. Gather documentation: pay stubs, W-2s, any records showing the business decline (cancelled contracts, etc.) 3. Prepare your dad for a potential employer interview - they'll verify the layoff was business-related, not personal 4. Keep doing weekly certifications even during the review period The fact that other non-family employees were also laid off will really strengthen your case - it shows this wasn't just a scheme to get you benefits. PA UC sees those all the time and knows how to spot the difference between legitimate and fraudulent family employment claims. Don't let the extra scrutiny scare you off - you have every right to file if you were a legitimate employee!

I went through something very similar when I worked for my mom's catering business. After reading all these responses, I want to emphasize something important - KEEP DETAILED RECORDS of everything right now while it's fresh in your memory. Write down: - Exact dates of your layoff and when other employees were let go - Names of the cancelled projects/contracts that caused the downturn - Your regular work schedule and how it compared to other employees - Any conversations about the business struggles leading up to the layoff I wish I had done this because when they interviewed me 6 weeks later, some details were fuzzy and I could tell the investigator noticed. Luckily I still got approved, but having everything documented upfront would have made the process smoother. Also, if your dad gets nervous about official calls, maybe help him practice what he'll say about the business situation and your employment. The investigator will ask pretty straightforward questions, but being prepared will help him sound more confident and consistent with your story. You've got a solid case - just be thorough with your documentation and patient with the process!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I was approved in December and made the same mistake of not filing weekly certifications during the review period. Lost about 3 weeks of payments because of it. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the UC system to remind me of my filing deadlines. You can do this in your account settings under "Notifications." Also, if you're worried about rent/bills while waiting for payments, some local assistance programs can help bridge the gap - try contacting 211 for resources in your area. The whole system is frustrating but you'll get through it! Keep detailed records of everything - screenshots, confirmation numbers, dates you called, etc. It really helps if you need to escalate issues later.

For future reference, you can also check if your local library has free computer/internet access and staff who can help navigate the UC website if you're having technical issues at home. Many libraries also have job search resources and can help with resume building, which counts toward your work search requirements. I learned this the hard way when my laptop crashed right before a filing deadline - the librarian actually knew quite a bit about the UC system and helped me get my certification submitted on time. Also, if you're getting different information from UC reps (which seems super common based on these comments), ask to speak with a supervisor or request that they document the guidance in your file. Sometimes the inconsistency comes from newer reps who aren't fully trained, so escalating can help you get more accurate information.