Update: I FINALLY got through this morning!! Used that Claimyr service and got connected within an hour. Turns out there was an issue with how I reported my freelance earnings (just like someone here suggested). The rep cleared it up and said my payments should resume with the next cycle. They're also releasing the payments that were held. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it resolved! I've been lurking here for a while dealing with my own UC issues and this thread has been super helpful. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know that these problems can actually get fixed once you reach the right person. Definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I got the exhaustion email yesterday at week 25 and immediately panicked thinking I'd lost my last week of benefits. But reading everyone's experiences here really helps - sounds like it's just their terrible automated system sending scary emails way too early. I've been locked out of my account for 3 days now after too many PIN reset attempts (why is their system so sensitive?!). Going to try the 7:58am calling strategy with the 1-3-1 button sequence tomorrow morning. Really appreciate everyone sharing their success stories and tips - it gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved without losing my mind! The PA UC system is seriously the worst designed website I've ever encountered.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Got the exhaustion email at week 24 and have been locked out for 2 days straight. It's so frustrating that their system sends these panic-inducing emails when you still have weeks left - like why not just say "approaching end of benefit year" instead of "EXHAUSTION"?? 😤 Reading through everyone's experiences here is such a relief though. Definitely trying the 7:58am call with 1-3-1 tomorrow morning. I've been calling in the afternoons and getting nowhere fast. Also had no idea about filing by phone while locked out - that's a game changer since I was worried about missing this week's certification. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and success stories, this community is seriously keeping me sane right now!

This thread is super helpful! I'm also new to PA UC and got my Money Network card last week but haven't had any payments yet. Reading through everyone's experiences really helps set expectations. One question - do you all get email notifications when UC processes a payment, or do you just have to keep checking the portal? I've been obsessively refreshing my claim status hoping to see some movement on my back weeks. The waiting is honestly the worst part of this whole process!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been on PA UC for about 8 months now - the Money Network card timing becomes pretty predictable once you get used to it. For regular weekly benefits, I usually certify on Sunday and see the funds hit my card by Wednesday morning. But for back pay like what you experienced, it's almost always that Friday-to-Monday timeline everyone mentioned. One thing that really helped me was setting up the Money Network mobile app notifications AND linking my regular bank account for transfers. Even though the transfer takes 2-3 business days, at least you can get the money off that card and into your real account without fees. The card itself is fine for emergencies but I prefer having my UC money in my regular checking account for bill pay and everything else. Hope your situation stays stable going forward - the stress of waiting for overdue payments is brutal when you're already dealing with unemployment!

This is why the system is BROKEN!!! Forcing union tradespeople to apply for random jobs we're never going to take just to check boxes. What a waste of everyone's time including the employers who get these applications. Pure bureaucratic nonsense.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got disqualified last week for the same registration issue. I'm a Local 26 member and nobody at the union office mentioned this requirement when I filed my initial claim back in February. Filed my appeal on Friday and just got confirmation they received it today. One thing I learned from calling the UC office (took me 3 hours of redial) is that they're processing appeals in the order they're received, and the average wait time is 21-28 business days right now. The rep told me to keep filing my weekly claims and make sure I'm doing my 2 job applications + 1 work search activity each week even during the appeal. She also mentioned that having your union documentation already submitted with the appeal (which sounds like you did) typically helps speed up the actual decision once they review your case. Fingers crossed we both get good news soon!

I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago - got fired from a warehouse job for missing 7 days over 6 weeks, but most were for legitimate reasons (had pneumonia with doctor documentation, plus a couple days for car issues). Here's what I learned: PA UC absolutely does consider the circumstances of your absences, not just the number. Your doctor's notes for the flu are HUGE - that's documented medical necessity, which PA specifically excludes from willful misconduct. The car breakdowns are trickier, but the fact that you called 2+ hours ahead and the alternative transportation costs show you weren't being careless. I was initially denied (like most people), but won on appeal after about 4 months total. The hearing referee specifically asked about my documentation and efforts to notify my employer. Having everything organized - doctor's notes, text screenshots, even a breakdown of why public transit wasn't feasible - made all the difference. My advice: File ASAP, expect the initial denial, and start preparing for your appeal right away. Keep job searching (PA requires it), and don't let the initial "no" discourage you. With 3 out of 5 absences being documented medical reasons, you're in a much stronger position than you might think. The system is frustrating but it does work for people with legitimate cases like yours.

I was in almost exactly your situation last year - fired from a restaurant job for attendance issues, but most of my absences were legitimate. Here's what I wish I had known: Your case actually sounds pretty strong! Having doctor's notes for 3 out of 5 absences is a major advantage. PA UC specifically excludes documented medical reasons from "willful misconduct," so those flu days with doctor's notes should work heavily in your favor. For the car breakdown days, the key factors that helped me were: - Giving advance notice (which you did with 2+ hours) - Showing that alternative transportation was unreasonably expensive or time-consuming - Demonstrating this wasn't a pattern of irresponsible behavior I'd recommend documenting everything NOW before you file: 1. Organize those doctor's notes with dates 2. Screenshot any texts you sent to your manager about the absences 3. Maybe research/document the actual Uber costs vs. your daily wage to show it was financially impossible 4. Look up bus routes/times to show the 2+ hour commute wasn't feasible I was initially denied (super common for attendance cases) but won on appeal after about 3 months. The hearing referee was really interested in my documentation and the fact that I had made good faith efforts to notify my employer and find solutions. File your claim this week if you haven't already, keep job searching, and don't get discouraged by an initial denial. With your medical documentation, you have a much better shot than you think. The waiting period sucks, but if you win, you'll get all the back pay from when you first filed.