Same thing happened to me around 8am this morning! I was panicking because I've never had to deal with a system outage on my filing day before. Really glad to see from the comments that the system is back up and running now. Just successfully filed my claim after reading everyone's advice about trying different browsers. The Firefox tip from Ava really worked for me too - Chrome kept timing out but Firefox went right through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and keeping each other updated throughout the day!

Just went through the same thing this morning! Was so stressed when I kept getting that maintenance message around 7am. Tried again around 4pm after reading all these helpful comments and got right through. For anyone still having trouble, I also had to switch from Safari to Edge to get it to work properly. It's such a relief to know this is a common issue and that PA UC extends the deadlines when their system goes down. This community is amazing - saved me from a total panic attack today! Hope everyone was able to get their claims filed successfully.

To summarize what everyone has correctly pointed out: When filing weekly claims in PA, you report gross wages for work performed during that specific week (Sunday-Saturday), regardless of when you get paid for that work. Since you didn't work any days this week, you would report 0 days worked and $0 earnings, even though you're receiving a final paycheck for work done in previous weeks. You should be eligible for full benefits for this week. Just make sure you continue filing every week, complete your work search activities (you need to do at least 2 per week), and keep documentation of your job applications.

Just wanted to add - keep ALL your documentation from this final paycheck (pay stub, etc.) in case PA UC ever asks for it later during an audit or review. Even though you're reporting it correctly by not including it in this week's claim, having that paper trail showing the dates you actually worked vs when you got paid could save you headaches down the road. I learned this the hard way when they requested 6 months of documentation during a routine review. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling later!

Just wanted to share some additional tips that helped me during my recent PA UC appeal hearing in February 2025. Beyond the great documentation advice everyone's given, I'd recommend practicing explaining your work search activities out loud beforehand. The referee will likely ask you to walk through specific weeks where they claim you didn't meet requirements, so being able to clearly articulate what you did and when really helps your case. Also, if you used any staffing agencies or attended job fairs during your search period, make sure to document those too - they often count toward your work search requirements but people forget to mention them. I brought business cards from recruiters I spoke with and it really strengthened my case. One more thing - if you're feeling overwhelmed by the hearing process, remember that the referee's job is to determine if you followed the rules, not to judge you personally. Stay calm, stick to the facts, and let your documentation speak for itself. The whole system can feel intimidating but most people who come prepared with good records end up winning their appeals. You've got this!

Adding my voice to this discussion as someone who just went through the PA UC appeal process in March 2025! Filed my appeal for a work search denial on March 3rd and got my hearing scheduled for April 2nd - so exactly 4 weeks, which aligns with what most people are reporting here. One thing I want to emphasize that hasn't been mentioned much - if you applied for jobs through company websites that don't send confirmation emails, try to take screenshots right after you submit your application showing the "application submitted" or "thank you" page. I learned this the hard way when I realized I had applied to several companies but had no proof beyond my own notes. Also, the hearing notice will include a phone number for the hearing - test calling it a day or two before your scheduled time to make sure you can get through. Mine had some technical issues but the referee's office was really helpful in resolving it when I called ahead. The whole process is definitely stressful but reading everyone's success stories here gives me confidence that being prepared really does make the difference. Keep your chin up!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been helping family members with PA UC issues - the ID.me phone number change problem is ridiculously common and their system design is just awful for this scenario. A few additional tips that have worked for people I've helped: 1. If the trusted referee video chat keeps timing out, try using a different device entirely (phone vs computer) - sometimes their system has compatibility issues 2. Make sure your husband's name on ALL documents matches EXACTLY how it appears in the PA UC system (including middle initials, hyphens, etc.) 3. If you're still getting nowhere, document everything with screenshots and timestamps - this helps when you eventually get a human on the phone The fact that rent is due and you're dealing with this stress is just heartbreaking. The whole system is broken and puts people in impossible situations. Really hoping the solutions others shared work for you! Keep us posted on how it goes.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this ID.me nightmare - it's absolutely infuriating when you're already stressed about finances! I went through something very similar with my own PA UC claim about 6 months ago when I switched phone carriers. What finally worked for me was a combination of what others have mentioned: I had to go directly through ID.me's website (not the PA UC portal) and use their account recovery process. But here's the key thing that nobody told me initially - you have to completely log out of any existing ID.me sessions first and clear your browser cache before starting the recovery process. Also, when you do the video verification call, have your husband hold his ID next to his face during the call - I know it sounds silly but the rep specifically asked me to do that and said it helps their system match everything up properly. The waiting is the worst part, but once you get through to an actual human (whether through ID.me's video chat or PA UC), they can usually resolve it pretty quickly. Fingers crossed the recovery process works for you - please update us when you get it sorted out!

Just to follow up on this thread - the program most likely to help you is called "Training Benefits" (sometimes called "Section 30") through PA CareerLink. PMP certification typically takes 3-6 months which fits within their guidelines. The approval process usually takes 2-3 weeks if you have all your documentation ready. You'll need: - Details about the PMP training provider - Cost breakdown - Length of training - Your recent work history showing relevance to the training - Evidence that PMP certification will improve your job prospects If approved, you won't have to do the weekly work search activities, but you'll still need to file your weekly certification claims. Also important - while in approved training, you can sometimes get an extension beyond your regular benefit year if needed to complete the program.

That's awesome news @Jade Lopez! Really glad you got connected with the right people. Keep us posted on how your appointment goes - I'm sure others here would benefit from hearing about the actual application process. One tip from my experience with PA CareerLink: bring multiple copies of everything they ask for. They have a habit of "losing" paperwork and it's way easier to just hand over another copy than to reschedule and start over. Also, if they give you any pushback about PMP certification being "too expensive" or not directly related to your previous job, emphasize how project management skills are transferable across industries - especially since you were already doing project coordination work. Good luck with the process! Fingers crossed you get approved quickly.