I just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago! I completely understand the panic you're feeling right now - when I saw that disqualification message, my heart just sank. I missed both RESEA deadlines because I was dealing with a sick parent and honestly just completely dropped the ball on keeping track of the dates. Here's my experience and timeline: - Spent the first week calling randomly throughout the day with zero success - Switched to the 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy after seeing advice online - this is KEY! - Got through on day 9 of the early morning approach (literally called at 8:00:00 on the dot and hit redial for 10 minutes straight) - Representative was actually pretty compassionate and immediately rescheduled me for workshops the following week - Completed both workshops (they were more helpful than I expected for updating my resume and interview skills) - Benefits were restored exactly 18 days after completing the workshops Total time from disqualification to restoration: about 6 weeks. No backpay as expected, but I survived by doing some gig work to cover essentials. The most important things: KEEP filing weekly claims even though they show disqualified, be persistent with that early morning calling (set your alarm for 7:58 AM!), and don't lose hope. The system is painfully slow but it does work eventually. You're going to get through this! 💪 Also want to echo what others said about documenting everything - I kept notes of every call attempt and it seemed to help when I finally reached someone.

I'm currently going through this same nightmare right now! Missed both RESEA deadlines about 2 weeks ago and have been following all the amazing advice in this thread. It's been such a relief to find a community of people who understand exactly what we're dealing with instead of just panicking alone. I've been religiously trying that 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy that @Malik Robinson, @Gabriel Ruiz, @Kai Santiago and so many others have vouched for. Still no luck getting through after 12 days of attempts, but seeing that some people took up to 9 days gives me hope to keep pushing! The busy signals are absolutely maddening but this thread has taught me that persistence really is key. I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service that @Andre Laurent mentioned too - multiple people here have confirmed it works and honestly $20 seems like pocket change compared to weeks of lost benefits. Has anyone tried both the early morning calling AND Claimyr? Wondering if I should just bite the bullet now or give the free calling a few more days. The 3-6 week timeline everyone's reporting is definitely scary financially, but having realistic expectations from all your experiences has been so much better than just wondering in the dark. Already started doing some gig work to cover essentials based on @Kai Santiago's survival strategy. Thank you to everyone who's shared their detailed timelines and tips - this thread has literally kept me sane during what would otherwise be complete panic mode! 🙏

Any update on your situation? Did you file the waiver yet?

Glad to see you're taking action! I went through something similar a few years ago and the key thing that helped me was getting everything documented properly. Since you mentioned it's about freelance work reporting, make sure you have copies of ALL your 1099s, bank deposits, and any correspondence you had with UC about reporting that income. Sometimes they have the dates wrong or misinterpret when the income was actually earned vs when it was reported. The non-fault classification is huge - that means they're acknowledging you weren't trying to deceive them. With non-fault overpayments, they're much more likely to approve waivers, especially if you can show genuine financial hardship. One thing I learned is to keep detailed records of every phone call, form submission, and letter. Get confirmation numbers for everything. The $25/month payment plan was smart - shows good faith while protecting you from garnishment. Best of luck with the waiver process!

This thread has been an absolute goldmine of information! I'm so grateful I stumbled across it because I just started my UC claim two weeks ago and had no clue about any of these CareerLink registration nuances. Reading through everyone's experiences with that "Register for Work" button has probably saved me from the exact same panic you all went through. It's honestly appalling how poorly designed PA's system is - the fact that creating an account, building a profile, and applying for jobs ISN'T the same as "registering for work" is completely counterintuitive. I'm going to log into my CareerLink account tonight and proactively complete that registration process using Javier's excellent step-by-step guide. I'll definitely take screenshots of everything too, based on all the great advice here. It's such a relief to have this community knowledge because PA's official guidance is basically useless for understanding these hidden requirements. Thank you everyone for turning your frustrating experiences into helpful solutions for the rest of us!

Just wanted to jump in and say this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with this exact same CareerLink registration issue right now - got the notice yesterday and was completely panicking because I was sure I had done everything right. Like so many others here, I created my account, filled out my profile completely, and have been applying for jobs for weeks. But clearly I missed that "Register for Work" button that everyone's talking about! It's honestly mind-blowing how confusing PA's system is - they really should make it crystal clear that account creation and job applications are separate from the actual work registration process. I'm definitely going to follow Javier's step-by-step instructions tonight and make sure to screenshot everything. This community is such a lifesaver when dealing with PA's bureaucratic maze - the fact that we all have to help each other figure out what should be basic, clearly explained requirements is both frustrating and amazing. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I had my PA UC phone appeal about 6 months ago and went through the same confusion! Here's what worked for me: I uploaded all my documents through the portal 5 days before the hearing, then called the appeals office the next day to confirm they received them. It took about 20 tries to get through (typical PA UC phone system), but the representative was able to confirm my documents were in the system and attached to my case. During the actual hearing, the referee had clearly reviewed everything beforehand and referenced my evidence by page number. My biggest tip is to organize your documents with clear labels and page numbers before uploading - it makes the hearing flow much smoother when the referee says "looking at your document labeled 'Layoff Notice Email.'" The whole process was less intimidating than I expected, and having that confirmation call really put my mind at ease. You'll do great!

I'm going through my first PA UC appeal hearing too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to upload my documents to the portal at least 5 days early and take screenshots as proof. @Dominique Adams your warning about the system glitch is exactly why I'm glad I found this discussion - I'll definitely call to confirm receipt even if it takes 20+ tries like @Andrew Pinnock mentioned. One thing I'm curious about - for those who won their appeals, how long did it take to get the decision after the hearing? I'm trying to plan my finances around when benefits might resume. Also, did anyone here have success using that Claimyr service @Marilyn Dixon mentioned to get through to UC reps faster? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making this whole process feel much less overwhelming!

Just went through this exact same situation last week! I also accidentally clicked "yes" to being absent from work when I meant "no" - it's so easy to make that mistake when you're rushing through the weekly cert. I was freaking out too because I really needed that payment. Here's what worked for me: I called the main PA UC number (1-888-313-7284) first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00am and got through after about 45 minutes of waiting. The rep was actually really understanding and said it happens all the time. She fixed it right there on the call and told me my payment would only be delayed by 1-2 business days instead of the usual week processing time. The key is calling as early as possible and being ready to explain exactly what happened. Don't panic - they can definitely fix this for you!

I made this exact mistake about 6 months ago and totally understand the panic! The good news is that PA UC reps deal with these certification errors constantly and they're usually pretty quick to fix them once you get someone on the phone. A few things that helped me: 1) Call right at 8am when they open - you'll avoid the worst of the busy signals, 2) Have your SSN, confirmation number from the weekly cert, and the specific date you filed ready before you call, 3) Be prepared to clearly explain "I accidentally selected 'yes' to being absent from work when I meant to select 'no'" - they hear this a lot and know exactly what to do. My payment was only delayed by 2 business days after they fixed it. Also, keep filing your future weekly certifications on time even while this gets sorted out. You've got this!