Congrats on getting your first payment! This is really helpful info for others going through the same thing. I'm still waiting on my first transaction number to show up - been filing for about 2 weeks now. Did you have to do anything special or did it just automatically appear after your 3rd week of filing? I'm getting a bit anxious since I haven't seen any movement on my account yet.

For anyone still waiting on their first transaction number - I just wanted to share my timeline to help ease some anxiety. I filed for 4 weeks before my first transaction number appeared, and then it took 3 business days for the money to hit my account (a bit longer than the typical 2 days everyone mentions). Turns out there was an additional identity verification step that delayed my first payment, but I never got notified about it. I only found out when I called. After that first payment though, everything has been smooth - transaction numbers appear the day after I file and money comes within 2 days like clockwork. So if you're past the 3-week mark with no transaction number, it might be worth calling to see if there's any verification step holding things up. Don't lose hope!

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation right now (domestic dispute arrest, charges likely being dismissed) and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful. What I'm taking away is that the initial denial is almost expected, but the appeal process is where cases like ours actually get decided fairly. One question for those who've been through appeals - how long did you have to wait between filing the appeal and actually getting the hearing scheduled? I'm trying to budget for how long I might be without any income while this gets sorted out. Also, has anyone had success getting temporary assistance while waiting for UC appeals to process? I know there are other programs but not sure if applying for those affects your UC case at all.

I'm a social worker who helps people navigate the UC system regularly. Based on what you've described, you should absolutely file your claim immediately - don't wait for your court hearing. Here's why: The fact that your mother called on day 2 to notify your employer is actually significant. PA UC recognizes that detained individuals cannot reasonably be expected to call themselves, so third-party notification by family members can demonstrate good faith effort to maintain employment. Your 14-month employment history with no issues is another strong point in your favor. This shows the incident was truly an aberration, not a pattern of misconduct. When you file, be factual but concise about the separation reason. Something like: "Terminated for absence during brief detention; charges being dismissed due to misunderstanding." Yes, you'll likely face an initial denial, but don't let that discourage you. The appeals process is specifically designed for nuanced situations like yours where circumstances matter more than strict rule application. I've seen similar cases succeed on appeal when properly documented and presented. Start gathering everything now: court documents showing dismissal, your employment records, documentation of your mother's call to the employer, and begin tracking your job search efforts immediately. All of this will be valuable if you need to appeal.

This thread is so helpful! I'm in week 8 of "under review" status and just got a job offer yesterday that I need to respond to by Friday. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me the confidence to accept the position without worrying about losing my unemployment benefits for the weeks I was legitimately out of work. The advice about continuing to file weekly certifications even after starting work is crucial - I honestly had no idea that was necessary and probably would have stopped filing once I started the new job. It's clear from all the stories shared here that this would have been a huge mistake that could have cost me weeks of backpay. It's incredibly frustrating that PA UC's processing is so slow that this timing issue seems to affect most people, but at least now I know what to expect. The fact that so many people here eventually received their full backpay as a lump sum gives me peace of mind about accepting this job offer. Going to accept the position and keep filing my weekly certifications religiously, reporting my work accurately when I start. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this kind of practical guidance is impossible to find on the official UC website! 🙏

I'm in week 3 of waiting for my PA UC claim to be reviewed and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I was starting to panic about potentially finding work before my claim gets approved, but reading everyone's experiences here shows that this timing issue is actually super common with PA UC's slow processing. The consistent advice about continuing to file weekly certifications even after starting work is something I never would have known without reading this thread. I was definitely planning to stop filing once I got a job, which apparently would have been a huge mistake that could have cost me my backpay. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how many people have dealt with this exact situation. The fact that everyone eventually got their full backpay for the weeks they were legitimately unemployed gives me confidence to keep pursuing job opportunities without worrying about losing benefits I'm entitled to. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance you can't get from the official UC website. Going to keep filing religiously and document everything carefully!

This thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm dealing with this exact same glitch right now - filed my PA UC claim about 3 weeks ago, first weekly certification went perfectly, and today when I tried to do my second certification, I got that same terrifying "reopen claim" message. My employer responded to the claim just 4 days ago, which seems to match the timing pattern everyone else is describing. I was literally about to panic and click through the reopen process when I stumbled across this discussion. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief - it's clear this is a widespread system bug affecting new claimants around the 2-3 week mark, not something we did wrong. The consistent advice here to call PA UC first before reopening seems spot-on. @Genevieve Cavalier thank you so much for following up with your resolution - knowing that the agent was able to fix it quickly gives me confidence that this really is just a system glitch that can be resolved easily once you reach the right person. It's honestly frustrating that PA hasn't issued any official guidance about this known issue. People are already stressed from job loss and then the system throws these scary messages that could potentially mess up benefits if you follow the wrong advice. Thank goodness for community forums like this! Planning to call the UC office first thing tomorrow morning. If I can't get through, I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service that multiple people have recommended. Will update once I get it resolved!

This thread is absolutely amazing - it's like a comprehensive guide for handling this specific PA UC glitch! I'm currently dealing with the exact same issue right now. Filed my claim about 19 days ago, completed my first weekly certification without any problems, and today when I tried to do my second certification, I got hit with that same "reopen claim" message that everyone's describing. My employer just responded to my claim 2 days ago, which perfectly fits the timing pattern that so many people have identified here. I was completely panicking and about to click through the reopen process thinking I had somehow messed up my claim, but finding this discussion literally saved me from what sounds like it would have been weeks of unnecessary delays. The fact that so many people are experiencing identical issues at almost the exact same timeframes really proves this is a widespread system bug, not user error. It's honestly incredible that PA UC hasn't issued any official communication about this known glitch - people shouldn't have to stumble across community forums to avoid making costly mistakes with their unemployment benefits. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm definitely calling the UC office tomorrow morning before touching that reopen button. If I can't get through on the regular lines, I'll try that Claimyr service that multiple people have recommended with good results. @Genevieve Cavalier thank you so much for updating everyone on your resolution - knowing that calling got it fixed quickly and your payments are back on track gives me real hope! This community support makes such a difference when dealing with confusing government systems during an already stressful time. Will definitely update once I get this sorted out!

I'm so sorry you're facing this situation - the anxiety of hitting that 26-week cutoff is just crushing, especially with a family depending on you. I've been reading through all the amazing advice in this thread and wanted to add a couple more resources that helped me when I was in a similar spot: 1. Check if your area has any "One-Stop Career Centers" - they're federally funded and sometimes have emergency assistance funds or connections to employers that regular job sites don't. The staff there often know which local companies are actually hiring vs just posting fake job ads. 2. For medical billing, consider reaching out to physical therapy clinics and chiropractor offices directly - they're often understaffed in billing and might be willing to hire someone part-time or as a contractor even if they're not actively recruiting. 3. If you have any old contacts from your 8 years in medical billing, now is the time to reach out. I know it feels awkward, but people in the industry understand how tough things are right now. A former coworker or supervisor might know about openings that aren't posted yet. 4. Look into your local Area Agency on Aging - even if you're not a senior, they sometimes administer emergency assistance programs for all ages and often move faster than other agencies. You're clearly doing everything right and this job market is just brutal right now. The fact that you're getting zero callbacks with 8+ years of experience shows this is about the market, not your qualifications. Keep fighting - you've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of exhausting UC benefits while still actively job searching is absolutely devastating, especially with kids and a mortgage to worry about. Reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to add a few thoughts that might help: Have you considered reaching out to medical billing companies that specialize in workers' compensation or personal injury law firms? These are often overlooked niches that pay well and value experienced billers. Companies like MedRisk or CorVel frequently hire remote workers, and PI law firms often need billers who understand medical terminology. Also, while you're applying for emergency assistance, check if your mortgage servicer participates in any federal forbearance programs - even outside of the COVID programs, some lenders have hardship options that can pause or reduce payments temporarily. One thing that helped me during a similar period was setting up Google alerts for "medical billing jobs Pittsburgh" and "remote medical billing" - sometimes positions get posted on smaller company websites that don't show up on the major job boards. The fact that you're getting zero callbacks with 8+ years of experience really drives home how broken the current job market is. This absolutely isn't a reflection of your skills or work ethic. Keep pushing forward and don't hesitate to lean on every resource available - you and your family deserve that support. You're going to get through this! ❤️