I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been on FMLA for 7 months due to a chronic condition and my employer is starting to make noises about my position. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about the "able and available" requirement. One thing I wanted to add is that if you do get approved for UC benefits, make sure you understand Pennsylvania's work search requirements. Even with medical restrictions, you'll still need to apply to jobs and document your search activities. I've been researching remote/work-from-home positions in case my situation goes the same direction as yours. Also, don't forget to ask your HR department about COBRA for health insurance continuation - losing your job means losing your employer health coverage, and with ongoing medical issues, you'll definitely want to keep that going even though it's expensive. Hope things work out for you! This whole system is so confusing when you're already dealing with health problems.

Just wanted to share my experience from last year - I was terminated after 9 months of medical leave for a spine injury. Initially got denied for UC because I couldn't lift over 10 pounds, but my appeal was successful after my doctor wrote a detailed letter explaining I could do desk work, customer service, data entry, etc. The key was being very specific about what I COULD do rather than focusing on what I couldn't. My doctor's letter listed specific job functions I was cleared for, and I had to show PA UC that I was actively applying for those types of positions. A few practical tips: - Get your medical documentation ready BEFORE you apply - Research job openings in your area that match your restrictions - Keep detailed records of every application you submit - Be prepared for the process to take 6-8 weeks with appeals Also, definitely look into your state's temporary disability programs and see if your employer offers any severance or extended benefits. Sometimes companies will provide a transition period especially for long-term employees. Wishing you the best - this situation is stressful enough without having to navigate the bureaucracy!

Pro tip from someone who's been dealing with PA UC for way too long - if you're planning to use your Money Network card regularly, I'd recommend setting up direct deposit to your regular bank account instead. You can do this through your PA UC dashboard under payment preferences. That way you don't have to worry about card issues, balance checks, or any of the technical problems people are mentioning. Takes like 2-3 business days to process but then your payments just go straight to your bank. Much less hassle in the long run!

For anyone still struggling with Money Network issues, here's what worked for me: I called PA UC directly at 888-313-7284 and asked them to help me reset my Money Network card access. They were able to unlock my account and walk me through setting up the online access properly. Took about 30 minutes total but saved me days of frustration trying to deal with Money Network's customer service. The PA UC reps seem to have more authority to fix card-related problems than the Money Network people do. Worth trying if you're stuck!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago - stuck claim for 7 weeks with no explanation. Here's what worked for me: I contacted both my state rep AND my state senator's offices on the same day. The senator's office got back to me first (within 3 days) and had my claim moving within a week. Don't feel bad about contacting multiple offices - they're used to it and they want to help. Also, when you contact them, mention that you're facing eviction/financial hardship - they prioritize those cases. Make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and the dates of your last few certifications ready when you call. Good luck - the system is broken but these offices really can cut through the red tape!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my claim has been stuck for about 4 weeks with just "pending" status. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm definitely going to try contacting both my state rep and senator like @Gabriel Freeman suggested. One question for those who've been through this process: did you find it helpful to document all your previous attempts to resolve the issue (like dates/times you called UC, screenshots of your claim status, etc.) when contacting your representatives? I've been keeping a log of all my failed attempts to get through to UC and wondering if that would be useful to include when I reach out to their offices.

I'm having the exact same issue right now! I've been searching for hours on CareerLink and getting nowhere. Reading through all these comments has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea I was supposed to go to the UC Dashboard first instead of CareerLink directly. Just to make sure I understand correctly: I need to go to www.uc.pa.gov (not CareerLink), log in with my regular weekly claim credentials, and then look for sections like "Messages," "Important Messages," "To Do," or "Action Required" to find the RESEA notification with the scheduling link, right? I'm on day 7 of my 14-day deadline and starting to panic, but it sounds like they're understanding about technical difficulties with their confusing system. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than anything I could find on the official websites! Going to try the UC Dashboard approach right now and hopefully finally get this scheduled. Will definitely screenshot the confirmation page if I manage to find it!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustration right now! Thank you all for the incredibly helpful advice - I was making the same mistake of searching endlessly on CareerLink instead of going to the UC Dashboard first. Just wanted to confirm what I'm understanding from all your comments: I need to log into www.uc.pa.gov with my regular weekly claim credentials, then look in sections like "Messages," "Important Messages," "To Do," or "Action Required" to find the RESEA notification with the scheduling link? I'm on day 6 of my 14-day deadline and was really starting to panic, but reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better. It's clear this system is confusing for everyone, not just me! Going to try the UC Dashboard approach right now. And I'll definitely take everyone's advice about screenshotting the confirmation page once I (hopefully) get it scheduled. This thread has been more helpful than hours of searching their official websites!

UPDATE: Transaction number appeared this morning! Only took 2 business days after the payment date showed up. Thanks for all the helpful comments - definitely reduced my anxiety. My Money Network card has been inactive for so long I had to call and reset the PIN, but everything's good to go now. This feels like a huge weight off my shoulders.

Congratulations on your successful appeal! 🎉 It sounds like everything is moving along perfectly - seeing both the payment date AND getting the transaction number within just 2 business days is exactly how it should work. Don't forget to check that your Money Network card is active and ready to receive the funds. Sometimes people forget their PINs after months of inactivity (sounds like you already handled that though!). You should see the money hit your card within the next 1-2 days. What a relief this must be after 6 weeks of fighting!