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.

As a new business owner, I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I have an employee who agreed to work weekends during the interview process but now says they can't work Saturdays because they "need personal time." It's so frustrating because I specifically asked about weekend availability before hiring them. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea about the importance of written policies and documentation. Does anyone know if there's a template or example of a good availability policy I could use as a starting point? I want to make sure I cover all the bases before this becomes a bigger problem.

I've been lurking in this community for a while as a new small business owner and finally decided to jump in because this hits so close to home! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation at my coffee shop. I hired three part-timers specifically for weekend morning rushes, made it crystal clear during interviews that Saturday/Sunday availability was non-negotiable, and now two of them are saying they can't work weekends anymore because of "lifestyle changes." It's incredibly frustrating because I'm scrambling to cover shifts that were supposed to be reliably staffed. After reading all these responses, I realize I made the same mistake many of us small business owners make - not having written policies in place from the start. I'm definitely going to implement a formal availability policy ASAP. One question though - for those who've been through UC hearings, do the representatives actually understand the challenges small businesses face, or do they tend to side with employees regardless of the circumstances? I'm worried about getting hit with UC claims when I eventually have to let these people go.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same confusion last year! The PA UC system really needs to clarify their messaging because that initial letter is so misleading. You definitely did all the right steps - getting the specific recall date from HR and uploading it to the dashboard was perfect. One small tip from my experience: screenshot your dashboard showing that you uploaded the recall letter, and also screenshot your CareerLink registration confirmation. I had an issue where UC claimed they never received my documentation (even though I uploaded it correctly), and having those screenshots saved me weeks of back-and-forth. The system can be glitchy sometimes. Also, don't be surprised if your first weekly certification after uploading still asks for work search activities - it took about 10 days for my exemption to fully kick in. Just keep filing as normal and the prompts should disappear once they process everything. Sounds like you're way ahead of most people who don't realize this stuff until it's too late!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - got laid off temporarily but have a recall date in August. The initial UC letter scared me because I thought I was doing something wrong by not job searching, but now I understand the difference between CareerLink registration (required for everyone) and work search activities (exempted with valid recall date). For anyone else reading this, here's what I learned from everyone's experiences: 1) Register with CareerLink no matter what, 2) Get a letter from your employer with the SPECIFIC recall date (not "approximately" or "around"), 3) Upload it to your UC dashboard under "Provide Additional Documentation", 4) Take screenshots of everything for your records, and 5) Be patient - it can take up to 10 days for the exemption to process in the system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially about the system glitches and documentation issues. It's clear PA UC needs to fix their communication because this confusion seems to happen to a lot of people!

Good advice above. If the portal message doesn't get results in 3-4 days, I'd seriously consider using Claimyr or contacting your state rep. When I used Claimyr, I finally got someone who explained exactly what was happening with my claim. The peace of mind alone was worth it after weeks of silence. Sometimes these claims get stuck in digital limbo and just need a human to push them along.

I'm in week 7 of review status after getting my monetary redetermination letter! This is absolutely maddening - I've been doing everything right, filing weekly, checking for messages constantly, and still nothing. My savings are completely depleted at this point. I tried calling 15+ times this week alone and either get busy signals or sit on hold for 2+ hours before getting disconnected. The system is clearly broken when people who qualify for benefits have to wait months just to get basic answers. Going to try the state rep route next - hopefully someone in government actually cares that we're struggling out here while bureaucracy moves at a snail's pace.