I'm dealing with something similar right now - been pending for 3 weeks because my former employer isn't responding to UC's calls either. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money to pay bills! From what I've read in this thread, it sounds like most people eventually get approved when the employer doesn't respond, but the waiting is brutal. I'm going to try some of the suggestions here like calling early morning and asking for a status escalation. Hang in there - sounds like you're doing everything right by filing weekly and staying on top of it!

I'm in almost the exact same boat - my claim has been pending for 3 weeks now and my former employer isn't returning any calls from UC either. Reading through all these responses gives me some hope that it will eventually get resolved! I'm definitely going to try calling at 7:55am tomorrow morning and ask specifically for a "status escalation due to non-responsive employer" like some people mentioned. It's so frustrating that we have to stress about paying rent while waiting for employers who won't even pick up the phone. At least it sounds like most people do get approved eventually when the employer doesn't respond - just wish it didn't take so long! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in this.

I'm currently experiencing this exact same situation! Filed my first weekly certification on Monday and have been seeing "In Progress" since Tuesday. Reading through this entire thread has been such a relief - I was starting to panic that something was wrong with my claim since it's been over 48 hours now. William's update showing that his status changed to an actual payment date after 3 business days is really encouraging, and it's clear from everyone's responses that this is totally normal for first-time filers. I also chose direct deposit, so hopefully that'll help speed things up once the payment processes. What really stands out to me is how many people mentioned that "In Progress" is actually a positive sign - it means your certification was accepted and you're just in the payment queue. I was worried it meant there was some hidden issue they weren't telling me about. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences. This community has been invaluable for understanding what's normal vs. what's actually cause for concern. I'll try to be patient and stop checking my dashboard every few hours (though let's be honest, I'll probably still check it way too often)!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now too! Just filed my first weekly certification on Tuesday and saw "In Progress" pop up on my dashboard today. I was immediately worried that something was wrong, but reading through William's original post and all these responses has been incredibly reassuring. It's so helpful to see the consistent timeline everyone's describing - 2-4 business days for first payments to go from "In Progress" to showing an actual payment date. William's update that his processed normally after 3 days really gives me hope that mine will follow the same pattern. I also chose direct deposit, so fingers crossed that helps speed things up once it gets to the payment stage. This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding that "In Progress" is actually a good sign rather than an error. Without this community, I probably would have been calling PA UC in a panic thinking I messed something up on my certification. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it really helps us newcomers feel less anxious about the whole process!

This whole thread is super helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I'm waiting on back payments but mine shows a pay date for next Tuesday. Based on everyone's experience here, sounds like I should expect to see the funds Wednesday morning at the earliest. It's reassuring to know that when it shows "paid" status, the money is actually on its way. The waiting game is definitely nerve-wracking when you're counting on those funds, but at least now I have realistic expectations for timing.

I just went through this exact same thing last week! Had a Friday pay date and was refreshing my bank app all weekend like crazy. The money showed up Monday morning around 7:30am. One thing I learned is that some banks will actually show pending deposits in your account over the weekend even if they don't officially post until Monday - might be worth checking if your bank has that feature. It at least gives you peace of mind that it's coming. The "paid" status on the UC dashboard is definitely the key indicator that everything went through properly on their end.

@Fatima Al-Maktoum Yes, absolutely count client consultations and project planning calls as billable work time that needs to be reported to PA UC! Those discovery sessions are legitimate work activities - you're providing professional consultation services, gathering requirements, and planning the project scope. I learned this when I was doing freelance UX design while on benefits. For revisions beyond the original scope, it depends on how you handle them with your client. If you're charging for the extra revision work (which you should be!), then yes, that time gets reported to UC as well. If you're doing unlimited revisions as part of your flat project fee, you still need to report the time you spend on them since it's work you're performing. Here's what I recommend for design work: track ALL time spent on client-related activities - initial consultations, research, actual design work, revision calls, email communications about the project, even time spent uploading files or preparing deliverables. Use a time tracker like Toggl and create separate project entries for each client. Keep detailed notes like "Client X logo consultation - discussed brand vision and style preferences" or "Logo revisions round 2 - adjusted typography and color palette." This level of documentation saved me during a UC review when they wanted specifics about my work activities. The key is treating your freelance work like the legitimate business activity it is - every minute you spend serving your client is work time that should be tracked and reported!

I went through this exact situation last year with freelance copywriting work while on PA UC. The advice here is spot-on - definitely report your 1099 income in the week you perform the work, not when you get paid. One thing I'd add that really helped me: create a simple one-page "cheat sheet" with the key reporting rules and keep it next to your computer when filing weekly claims. Mine included reminders like "report gross earnings from work week," "40% calculation applies," "track daily hours," etc. It sounds basic but when you're stressed about getting it right, having those key points right in front of you prevents mistakes. Also, for web design work specifically, consider using screen recording software like Loom to occasionally record yourself working on projects. I know it sounds overkill, but having timestamped video proof of when you were actually designing can be incredibly valuable if PA UC ever questions your work timeline. The 15-20 hours at $30/hr you mentioned should work well with the partial benefit system - you'll likely keep a good portion of your UC benefits while earning that supplemental income. Just stay organized and honest with your reporting!

This entire thread has been such a valuable resource! As someone who's brand new to the PA UC system after being laid off two weeks ago, I was starting to panic about some confusing messages on my own dashboard. Emma's story perfectly illustrates what so many of us go through - it's reassuring to see that the "expect payment" message during weekly certification really is the key indicator to trust, even when other parts of the system show conflicting information. The fact that she got paid even with the open issue still showing on the dashboard is both frustrating and comforting at the same time. It really highlights how unreliable their dashboard can be for tracking actual claim status. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and insights - this community is already proving to be invaluable for navigating PA UC's confusing system!

This thread has been incredibly helpful to read through as someone who's relatively new to dealing with PA UC! Emma's experience really shows how confusing their system can be - it's both frustrating and reassuring to see that the dashboard can show conflicting information while payments still go through normally. The consensus here about trusting the "expect payment" message during weekly certification over other dashboard elements is such valuable advice. I've been dealing with some similar inconsistencies in my own account and was starting to worry, but seeing everyone's real experiences and Emma's positive outcome gives me much more confidence. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to share their actual experiences rather than just speculation - it makes navigating this whole system so much less stressful when you know others have been through the same thing!