Just to be super clear for everyone reading this thread: PA UC requires 3 work search activities EVERY WEEK, and you have to report these activities when you file your weekly certification. Many people get disqualified because they did the activities but forgot to report them. And yes, they can and DO audit people randomly!

I went through the exact same thing last year! The key is definitely appealing ASAP and being super organized going forward. One thing that helped me was creating a weekly checklist to make sure I hit all 3 activities. I'd recommend mixing up your activities too - don't just apply for jobs. You can also attend virtual job fairs (CareerLink hosts them regularly), take online courses through PA CareerLink, or even contact employers directly about potential openings. The variety shows you're actively engaged in your job search. Also, when you do your appeal, be honest about the confusion but emphasize that you were genuinely trying to comply and will follow the rules correctly moving forward. Good luck!

i wish theyd just let us use paypal or venmo or cashapp for UC payments! would be SO much easier than all this paper check and card stuff! anyway DONT use those payday loan check cashing places they are HUGE ripoffs!!!

If you're stuck with paper checks for now, avoid the standalone check cashing places - they'll eat up your benefits with fees. Walmart is definitely your best bet at $4 per check. Some Kroger stores also cash government checks for around $5-7. Just bring valid ID and be prepared to wait in line at customer service. The Money Network card everyone's mentioning is absolutely worth switching to though - I made the change last year and it's been a game changer. No more rushing to cash checks before they expire!

I'm going through something similar right now - been waiting 10 weeks and just got told my case was "expedited" last week. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like the key things are: 1) Ask specifically what TYPE of review your claim is under, 2) Try to get transferred to a claims examiner (not just a regular rep), 3) Document everything including names of who you speak with, and 4) Don't give up on filing weekly even while waiting. I'm also going to look into contacting my state representative if this drags on much longer. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is more helpful than the actual UC system!

I just wanted to share some hope with everyone here - I was in a similar situation last year and it did eventually get resolved! I waited 15 weeks total (including 4 weeks after they said it was "expedited"). What finally worked for me was calling first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM and asking to speak with a claims examiner about a "review status inquiry." I also mentioned I was facing financial hardship due to the delay. The examiner found that my file had been sitting in the wrong queue and was able to process it immediately. Got my backpay for all 15 weeks within 3 days. I know it's incredibly stressful and feels hopeless, but keep fighting and don't let them brush you off with generic responses. Document everything and be persistent! @Yuki Kobayashi - based on your timeline, I'd definitely try the hardship prioritization route that @Zoe Stavros mentioned. Hang in there!

I'm going through something very similar right now! Got fired from my retail job after being arrested for possession charges (still pending). My employer is fighting my UC claim saying I violated their "drug-free workplace" policy even though the arrest happened at my apartment on my day off. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though. It sounds like the key is proving the arrest was completely unrelated to work and didn't affect your job performance. The fact that you have 3 years of perfect performance records is huge in your favor. One thing I learned from calling UC multiple times - they told me that even if your employer has a policy about criminal charges, PA law still requires the misconduct to be "willful" and work-related. Getting arrested off-duty for something that doesn't impact your job duties usually doesn't meet that standard. Keep us posted on how your hearing goes! I have mine scheduled for next month and your situation sounds almost identical to mine. We got this! 💪

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a stressful situation when you have kids depending on you. I went through something very similar about 18 months ago when I got arrested for a domestic dispute with my ex (charges were eventually dropped). My employer at a daycare center fired me immediately citing their "background check policy" even though I had been there 4 years with zero issues. The good news is that I won my UC case! Here are the key things that helped me: 1) I documented everything - saved all my performance reviews, attendance records, any positive feedback 2) I proved the arrest was completely unrelated to my job duties and happened during my personal time 3) I showed that other employees had been treated differently (one coworker had a DUI and kept their job) 4) I emphasized that I hadn't been convicted and the charges were still pending The referee ruled that while my employer could terminate me based on their policy, off-duty arrests that don't affect work performance aren't willful misconduct under PA law. The whole process took about 6 weeks from initial denial to getting benefits, but I got full back pay. Your 3-year perfect record is going to be your strongest weapon. Make sure you bring copies of everything to your hearing. And definitely keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - I almost lost weeks of benefits because I didn't know to keep filing during the appeal. You've got this! The law is actually on your side in these situations.

I feel for you so much - this exact same thing happened to me back in November! Mine was stuck on "assigned to examiner" for 6 weeks and I was losing my mind. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1. **Try the 833-255-7969 number instead of the main line** - it's specifically for claim status inquiries and I had better luck getting through on that one. 2. **Download an auto-redial app** - I used one called "Auto Redial" that kept calling for me while I did other things. Way less stressful than manually dialing 50+ times. 3. **Check for any pending correspondence** - Go to your dashboard and click on every single tab/section. Sometimes there's a questionnaire or document request buried in there that's not obvious. Mine had a "work search waiver" form I never saw that was holding everything up. 4. **Email your local UC office directly** - Each county has their own UC office with direct email addresses. Google "[your county] PA unemployment office email" and send them your claim details. The waiting is absolutely torture when you're stressed about money. I ended up getting approved on a random Tuesday with no warning - just checked my dashboard and suddenly it said "approved" with 6 weeks of backpay. Hang in there, it WILL happen! Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My claim has been "assigned to examiner" for 5 weeks after I got laid off from my retail management job in February. The stress of not knowing when (or if) it'll get approved is eating me alive, especially with bills piling up. Reading through everyone's suggestions here has been SO helpful though! I'm definitely going to try: - Contacting my state rep (never would have thought of that!) - Calling that 833-255-7969 number instead of the main line - Setting up an auto-redial app - Checking my dashboard more thoroughly for hidden forms It's somewhat comforting to know this is happening to so many people, even though the whole situation is completely messed up. The fact that everyone seems to eventually get approved with backpay is keeping me sane right now. @GalacticGuru hang in there - sounds like you're doing everything right by filing weekly and staying on top of it. Hopefully one of these strategies works for both of us soon! This community is a lifesaver for sharing real advice when the official system is so broken.