I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my claim 2 weeks ago and have been stuck with an "active issue" status with absolutely no explanation what's wrong! The stress of not knowing while bills keep coming is unreal. This thread has been so incredibly helpful though - way more useful than anything on the official PA UC website. I'm definitely going to try that 7:59 AM calling strategy everyone keeps mentioning since I've gotten nothing but busy signals during regular hours. Also going to reach out to my state rep's office based on all the success stories shared here. @Nora Bennett - congratulations on finally getting through and finding out about the employer contest! That gives me so much hope that persistence really does pay off eventually. I'm going to start keeping a detailed log of all my calling attempts and get all my employment documentation organized so I'm ready when I finally break through. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're worried about rent and utilities, but reading everyone's stories here helps me feel less alone in dealing with this broken system. Thanks everyone for sharing real advice that actually works!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare - filed my claim 5 weeks ago and still showing "active issue" with zero explanation! The complete lack of communication from PA UC is absolutely maddening. This thread has been more helpful than hours of searching their useless website. I'm definitely going to try that 7:59 AM calling strategy everyone swears by since regular hours have been nothing but busy signals. Also planning to contact my state rep's office after seeing multiple success stories here. @Nora Bennett - so glad you finally got answers about the employer contest! Your update gives me hope that all this persistence will eventually pay off. I've been checking email obsessively but clearly need to start watching physical mail too based on what others have shared. Going to gather all my employment docs tonight so I'm ready when I finally break through. The financial stress while waiting is brutal, but seeing everyone's back pay success stories keeps me going. Thanks for creating this thread - knowing we're not alone in this broken system really helps!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I've been on partial UC benefits for about 3 months now while working part-time retail, and I was actually stressing about a similar situation coming up next week. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so much more helpful than the confusing official PA UC website. It's reassuring to see that so many people have dealt with missed work days, vacation conflicts, and varying schedules without their claims getting completely messed up. The consistent advice about being honest when filing and continuing to file weekly even for $0 weeks really makes sense. I was overthinking everything and worried that one mistake would ruin months of benefits, but it sounds like the system is actually designed to handle these normal work-life situations. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's exactly what newcomers like me need to hear!

I've been collecting partial UC benefits for about 5 months now while working part-time, and I wanted to add my voice to the chorus of reassurance here! Everyone is giving you excellent advice. I actually had a very similar situation where I had to take a vacation day that conflicted with my work schedule, and I was absolutely panicking about it potentially closing my claim. But just like everyone else has said, as long as you keep filing weekly and are honest about your situation, your claim stays open even if you get $0 for that particular week. The PA system really is designed to handle these common scenarios that part-time workers face. When I filed for my vacation week, I reported it honestly, got denied benefits for that week, but then everything went back to normal the following week when I had regular hours again. The most important thing is that weekly filing - that's what keeps your claim active throughout your benefit year. You're definitely doing everything right by asking questions and planning to be truthful when you file!

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!

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!