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I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been super helpful! I was working as a graphic designer for 8 years before getting laid off in December. Started doing some freelance logo design work in February (maybe 12-15 hours a week) and reported my first $300 payment to UC. Got the same "ineligible due to self-employment" determination. What really bothers me is that I'm making about 20% of what I used to earn, but they're treating it like I have a full-time business. I'm spending way more time applying for regular jobs than doing freelance work, but apparently that doesn't matter to them. I'm going to follow the advice here and appeal with documentation of my job search activities. Has anyone had success arguing that their freelance work is in the same field as their previous employment and is just a way to maintain skills while job hunting? I'm wondering if that angle might help since I'm not branching out into a completely new business area. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's frustrating but at least I know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing system!

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That's actually a really good angle to pursue! I think arguing that your freelance work is skills maintenance in your field while job searching could definitely strengthen your appeal. You could frame it as staying current with industry trends and keeping your portfolio updated rather than starting a new business venture. Make sure to emphasize that you're using the freelance work to demonstrate continued expertise to potential employers - like being able to show recent work samples in interviews. Document any job applications where you specifically mentioned recent freelance projects as evidence of your current skills. The more you can tie the freelance work back to your job search strategy rather than business development, the better your chances. Also keep detailed records of time spent - if you're doing 12-15 hours of freelance versus 30+ hours of job searching, that ratio really supports your case that seeking permanent employment is your primary focus. Good luck with your appeal!

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I'm going through something very similar right now and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I was laid off from my accounting job in February and started doing some part-time bookkeeping for small businesses to make ends meet. Just got the same "ineligible due to self-employment" letter even though I'm only working about 10 hours a week and making maybe $400/month. The most frustrating part is that I've been diligently reporting every penny I earn, thinking I was doing the right thing. Meanwhile I'm spending 40+ hours a week applying for full-time positions and going to interviews. The UC system seems to punish honesty and people trying to responsibly transition back to work. Reading about everyone's appeal strategies gives me hope though. I'm definitely going to document my job search activities more thoroughly and emphasize the temporary nature of my bookkeeping work. The idea about framing it as skills maintenance rather than starting a business is brilliant - I'll use that approach too. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops to prove we're genuinely looking for work when we're already struggling financially. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - at least we know we're not fighting this battle alone!

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I'm so sorry you're going through this too! It really is frustrating how the system penalizes people for being honest and trying to make responsible financial decisions while job searching. Your situation sounds almost identical to mine - reporting everything properly and spending way more time on job applications than the actual side work. One thing that might help your appeal case is to calculate and document the actual hourly breakdown. Like if you're doing 10 hours of bookkeeping versus 40 hours of job searching per week, that's a really compelling 4:1 ratio showing where your priorities truly are. Also, since you're doing bookkeeping which is directly related to your accounting background, you can definitely use the "skills maintenance" angle that others mentioned. Have you considered reaching out to any of your former colleagues or networking contacts? Sometimes they can provide written statements about your active job search efforts, which could be additional evidence for your appeal. The more documentation you have showing this is temporary bridge work while actively seeking permanent employment, the stronger your case will be. Hang in there - based on what others have shared, there's definitely hope if you put together a solid appeal with good documentation!

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This is such a great outcome! I'm dealing with a similar "special project scheme system" issue right now and your story gives me hope. It's really helpful to know that part-time income reporting can trigger these reviews - I also reported some freelance work recently so that might be what flagged mine too. The 7:55am calling strategy seems to be the real key here. I've been calling randomly throughout the day with no luck, but I'll try the early morning approach tomorrow. Thanks for sharing all the details about your resolution - it's so reassuring to hear that once you get through, they can actually fix these issues pretty quickly!

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Ev Luca

I'm so glad this thread exists! I'm also dealing with the same "special project scheme system" issue right now and reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful. Like you, I've been calling at random times with no success, but after seeing multiple people mention the early morning strategy, I'm definitely going to try calling at 7:55am tomorrow. It's reassuring to know that these issues can actually be resolved relatively quickly once you get through to someone - sometimes it feels like you're stuck in limbo forever! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips.

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Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate unemployment issues, and we see "special project scheme system" flags pretty regularly. A few additional tips that might help others in this situation: 1. If you can't get through by phone, definitely send a message through the PA UC dashboard message center as someone mentioned earlier. Include your SSN, claim number, and a brief description of the issue. 2. Contact your state representative's office - they often have direct lines to UC staff and can help escalate urgent cases, especially if you're facing eviction or utility shutoffs. 3. Keep detailed records of all your call attempts, including dates and times. This documentation can be helpful if you need to file an appeal later. The system is definitely frustrating, but please don't give up! Most of these "special project" reviews do get resolved once they're actually looked at by a human examiner. Wishing everyone dealing with this issue the best of luck getting through!

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This is incredibly helpful advice! I had no idea you could contact your state representative's office for UC issues - that could be a game changer for people who are facing immediate financial hardship like eviction or utility shutoffs. The documentation tip is also really smart, especially since these situations can sometimes drag on for weeks. Thanks for sharing these additional resources - it's great to have someone with nonprofit experience weighing in with practical solutions beyond just the standard "keep calling" advice!

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I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now and this thread has been such a source of relief! Got terminated about 3 weeks ago for attendance issues - I was dealing with some serious family health crises where I had to help care for my mom who was going through cancer treatment, plus I was having my own mental health struggles trying to cope with everything. Like literally everyone else here, I started with both "discharge other" and "rule violation" on my claim, and just this morning I noticed the "rule violation" status completely vanished from my dashboard! I've been refreshing the page constantly trying to figure out if it's a glitch or what it means, and finding this discussion has honestly given me the first real hope I've had in weeks. My situation is identical to what everyone's describing - absolutely no formal write-ups or warnings, no progressive discipline process whatsoever, just me calling my supervisor whenever I couldn't make it and explaining the family situation. They knew what I was going through with my mom's treatment but never gave me any official documentation or chances to work out accommodations before just letting me go. The stress has been absolutely unbearable - trying to support my mom through chemo while worrying about how I'm going to pay my own bills next month. But seeing person after person share their success stories after this exact same status change is literally keeping me from having a complete breakdown. I've been filing my weekly claims even though I was 100% convinced I'd be denied. Thank you all for being so open and supportive - this community has been more helpful than anything else during this nightmare. It's amazing how much better it feels knowing we're all going through this together and looking out for each other! 🙏

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Your situation sounds incredibly difficult - caring for your mom during cancer treatment while dealing with your own mental health struggles and now unemployment stress is just overwhelming. But honestly, family caregiving responsibilities during serious illness like cancer treatment are exactly the kinds of circumstances that PA UC should absolutely consider as beyond your reasonable control. The fact that your "rule violation" status disappeared this morning is such an encouraging sign based on everything everyone has shared in this thread! The pattern is so consistent - it really seems like when UC determines that attendance issues don't qualify as willful misconduct (especially with legitimate family medical emergencies and no progressive discipline), that status just gets removed from the system. I can't even imagine trying to support your mom through chemo while worrying about your own financial survival. That level of stress would break anyone. But your case has all the same positive factors everyone else has mentioned: no formal warnings, legitimate family health crisis you communicated about, and now that promising status change that keeps leading to approvals. Keep filing those weekly claims because when that backpay comes through, it's going to provide some much-needed relief during an already incredibly challenging time. This whole community has been such a blessing for support - we're all rooting for each other through this confusing process. Based on everything shared here, I really believe you're going to get the positive news you need soon. Sending you and your mom so much strength! 💙

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I'm going through something incredibly similar right now and this thread has been such a lifeline! Got terminated about 6 weeks ago for attendance issues related to my daughter's special needs - she has autism and sometimes has meltdowns or medical appointments that require me to stay home or leave work early. Just like everyone else here, I initially had both "discharge other" and "rule violation" showing on my claim. The "rule violation" status disappeared from my dashboard about a week ago and I've been obsessively checking to see what it means! Finding this thread with so many people sharing almost identical experiences and positive outcomes is honestly the first time I've felt like I can breathe in over a month. My situation follows the exact same pattern as everyone - no formal write-ups at all, no progressive discipline, just me calling my supervisor to explain when I needed to handle something with my daughter. They knew about her special needs because I'd mentioned it several times, but everything was just verbal communication with no formal accommodation process or warnings before they terminated me. The financial pressure is absolutely crushing - I'm a single parent and was already stretched thin before losing my job. Special needs kids come with extra expenses and now I'm terrified about how I'm going to manage everything. But reading all these success stories where people got approved after this same status change is giving me real hope for the first time in weeks. I've been filing my weekly claims religiously even though I was convinced I'd be denied. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - this community support is everything when you're navigating this alone. It's incredible how much stronger we all feel knowing we're going through this together! 🙏

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I'm in a similar boat but only at 3 weeks so far - this thread is both terrifying and reassuring! It's crazy how many people are dealing with these exact same delays. I had no idea about the early morning calling trick or the state rep option, so thank you everyone for sharing your experiences. Quick question for those who got through - did they give you a reference number or case number when you called? I want to make sure I have everything documented properly when I try calling tomorrow morning. Also, for anyone who contacted their state rep, how long did it take them to get back to you? Trying to decide if I should do both approaches simultaneously or try one first. This community has been more helpful than any official PA UC resource!

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When I finally got through, they did give me a reference number for the call - definitely ask for one! I also got the rep's ID number which was helpful for follow-up. As for the state rep approach, mine got back to me within 2 business days, so I'd say definitely try both simultaneously. The more pressure points you create in the system, the better your chances of getting movement. My state rep's office was actually able to get information faster than calling UC directly, so don't hesitate to reach out to them right away. The constituent services staff deal with UC issues all the time and know exactly who to contact. Good luck with the 7:59am calling tomorrow - you're still early in the process compared to some of us, so stay hopeful!

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Reading through all these experiences really hits home - I'm currently at 4 weeks in review myself and was starting to lose hope. It's both frustrating and oddly comforting to see so many others dealing with the exact same PA UC delays right now. The specific advice here has been invaluable - I had no idea about the 7:59am calling trick, contacting state reps, or the formal complaint process through the Bureau of UC Benefits Quality Control. For anyone just starting to deal with this nightmare, based on what I'm seeing here, my takeaway is: 1) Start the early morning calling routine immediately, 2) Contact your state rep's office ASAP (don't wait weeks like some of us did), 3) Document everything, and 4) Keep doing your weekly certifications religiously. The system is clearly overwhelmed but people ARE getting through eventually with full backpay. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories and creating this supportive community. When the official system fails us, at least we have each other to navigate this mess together. I'll definitely update if I make any progress with my own claim!

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I've been dealing with this exact situation for the past two weeks and finally got some resolution! Missed both RESEA deadlines due to a family emergency and have been following all the advice from this thread religiously. The 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy that @Malik Robinson, @Gabriel Ruiz, and others mentioned ACTUALLY WORKS - but it took me 8 days of trying before I finally got through. The key really is calling at exactly 8:00:00 AM (not a second before or after) and hitting redial constantly for the first 5-10 minutes. When I finally reached someone, they were surprisingly understanding about my situation. Got rescheduled for workshops next Tuesday and Thursday. The representative confirmed it'll be about 10-14 days after completing the workshops for benefits to be restored, with no backpay for the disqualified weeks. For anyone still struggling to get through - don't give up on that early morning strategy! I was about to try the Claimyr service that @Andre Laurent mentioned, but persistence with the 8:00 AM calls finally paid off. Also definitely keep filing those weekly claims even though they show as disqualified. This thread has been a lifesaver for managing expectations and staying sane through this process. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it makes such a difference knowing you're not alone in this! 🙏

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@AstroAce This is such an encouraging update! I've been following this thread since the beginning and it's amazing to see so many people successfully getting through this process. Your 8-day persistence with the 8:00 AM calling strategy really shows that it works - even when it takes longer than expected. I'm currently on day 5 of trying the same approach after missing my RESEA deadline last week, and your success gives me hope to keep pushing through those busy signals. It's so reassuring to hear that the representatives are actually understanding when you finally reach them. The 10-14 day timeline after completing workshops seems pretty consistent with what others have reported too. Going to keep that alarm set for 7:58 AM and stay persistent! Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - this community support has been incredible for navigating such a stressful situation. 💪

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I went through this exact situation about 2 months ago and I know how overwhelming it feels right now! Reading through all the experiences shared here, it looks like you've gotten some really solid advice. I missed both RESEA deadlines due to a miscommunication about dates and went through that same panic when my benefits got suspended. Here's what ultimately worked for me: - The 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy that @Malik Robinson and others mentioned is LEGIT - it took me 6 days but I finally got through - When I reached someone, I was honest about missing the deadlines but focused on wanting to complete requirements immediately - Got rescheduled for workshops the next week, completed them without issues - Benefits were restored exactly 16 days after completing the workshops Total timeline: about 5 weeks from disqualification to getting benefits back. The financial stress was brutal but manageable once I knew what to expect. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - when you do get through, ask the representative to email you confirmation of your workshop dates. Having that written record saved me from any confusion later. Hang in there @Aisha Abdullah - this thread shows that tons of people have successfully navigated this process. The system is frustratingly slow but it does work eventually! 🙏

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