This is such an incredibly comprehensive troubleshooting thread! As someone who's been wrestling with the PA UC portal for the past few weeks, I'm bookmarking this entire conversation. The variety of solutions you all have shared is amazing - from the simple Shift+refresh fix to network switching, browser compatibility issues, and even the timing suggestions about accessing during off-peak hours. I've been using Chrome and having intermittent issues, so I'm definitely switching to Firefox based on multiple recommendations here. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become tech support experts just to access our benefits, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these problems. The fact that Dmitry got his messages working just in time for that ID.me deadline shows how crucial it is to have these workarounds documented. I'm going to try the text alert setup right away too - seems like a much better way to stay on top of important messages than constantly battling the portal. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource!

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same message issue for the past 3 days and was starting to panic that I'd miss something important. Reading through everyone's solutions gives me hope that I can actually fix this. I'm going to start with the Shift+refresh method that worked for Dmitry, and if that doesn't work I'll try switching to Firefox and clearing my browser data completely. The tip about accessing during off-peak hours is really smart too - I've been trying to check messages during lunch breaks when the servers are probably overloaded. It's honestly embarrassing that Pennsylvania's unemployment system is this broken, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other instead of just complaining. I'll report back on what ends up working for me in case it helps anyone else who finds this thread in the future!

This thread is absolutely fantastic - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! As someone who's been dealing with PA UC for the first time, I had no idea that open issues with continued payments were so common. Reading Ezra's successful resolution where it was just employer verification delay is incredibly reassuring, especially since that seems to be one of the most frequent causes. The practical advice throughout this thread is pure gold. I never would have known about Claimyr or thought to systematically document everything with screenshots. It's pretty telling that we have to rely on community wisdom like this because PA UC's official communication is so inadequate. What really stands out to me is the pattern that emerged - continued payments during an open issue often indicates routine verification rather than serious eligibility problems. That's such valuable insight that you'd never get from official sources. For anyone else reading this who might be dealing with a similar situation: definitely follow the advice here about keeping detailed records, trying alternative contact methods, and not panicking if payments continue. This community knowledge could save you a lot of stress and help you handle the situation much more effectively!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! Just hit week 2 of having an open issue while still receiving payments, and I was absolutely terrified until I found this thread. Ezra's update about it being employer verification delay is such a huge relief - that's probably what's happening with mine too since my previous employer has been super slow responding to everything. The advice about using Claimyr is a game changer - I've been calling PA UC every single day with zero luck. Definitely going to try that service this week. Also taking screenshots of everything right now like Ana suggested. It's honestly frustrating that we have to piece together how this system actually works through community discussions like this, but I'm so grateful everyone shared their real experiences. The pattern of continued payments often meaning routine verification rather than serious issues is incredibly reassuring. Will definitely keep filing my weekly claims and update if I get through to someone!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just filed my seasonal claim last week after my landscaping job ended for the winter, and was so confused when I saw it defaulted to the debit card. I've been collecting UC during off-seasons for 3 years and always used direct deposit before. It's really frustrating that they don't explain this anywhere in the application process - I only found out when I logged back in to check my claim status. Going to update my payment method tonight based on everyone's advice here. Really wish PA would fix this system to remember our preferences from previous claims instead of making us jump through these hoops every single year!

This is such a widespread issue that affects so many seasonal workers! I'm a roofer and have been dealing with this same frustrating cycle for 5 years now. What really gets me is that PA UC obviously knows most of their seasonal claimants prefer direct deposit since we've been using it for years, but they still force us to re-enter everything every single time we file a new claim. It's like they designed the system to be as inconvenient as possible. For anyone reading this who's new to seasonal unemployment - bookmark this thread! The advice here is gold. And seriously, PA needs to invest in updating this ancient system. Other states have figured out how to remember user preferences - why can't we?

Update: We were able to get through this morning! The system is now showing the reopened claim and we filed for last week (with the 4 hours reported). It's saying payment will be processed in 2-3 business days. Thanks everyone for your help!

Glad to hear you got it sorted out! For anyone else reading this thread - the key takeaway is that when reopening a UC claim in PA within the same benefit year, there's NO waiting week required. The system just needs time to process (usually overnight). Always report partial hours worked accurately when filing weekly certifications, and you'll get reduced benefits based on earnings. Don't panic if the payment info doesn't show immediately after reopening - that's totally normal!