This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently dealing with my own PA UC situation - filed an appeal 5 weeks ago after being denied for "voluntary separation" when I was actually laid off due to company restructuring. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such an eye-opener about how the system really works vs what they tell you to expect. The biggest takeaway for me is that winning the appeal is literally just the beginning - you then have to fight the system all over again to actually get your payments released! It's mind-boggling that the system doesn't automatically process payments after a favorable decision. I'm definitely saving all the practical tips shared here: calling at 8 AM sharp to avoid brutal hold times (@Victoria Stark thank you for that!), having all documentation ready including decision letter reference numbers, asking specifically about other potential flags on the account, and most importantly - being proactive instead of waiting for the system to work automatically. @Nathaniel Stewart - congratulations on getting everything resolved and thank you for sharing your entire journey with updates! The fact that you got paid within 2-3 days of calling vs others waiting months really drives home how critical it is to call immediately after getting a favorable decision. This community is doing what PA UC should be doing - actually helping people navigate the process with real information instead of useless official timelines. Will definitely update with my own experience once I get through this maze!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm currently in week 3 of waiting for my appeal decision after being wrongfully denied for "misconduct" when I was actually terminated for taking FMLA leave (classic retaliation case). Reading everyone's experiences has completely changed my understanding of what happens AFTER you win an appeal - I had no idea the system doesn't automatically release payments even with a favorable decision! @Nathaniel Stewart congratulations on getting everything sorted out! Your timeline updates throughout this thread have been incredibly helpful. The fact that you got paid within 2-3 days of calling but your online status was still showing "appeal pending" really shows how disconnected their systems are from reality. I'm definitely going to use @Victoria Stark's 8 AM calling strategy and @Sofia Ramirez's advice about asking for other flags on the account. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become experts at navigating bureaucratic dysfunction just to get benefits we're entitled to, but this community has been a lifesaver for understanding the REAL process. One question for anyone who's been through this - did you find it helpful to mention specific case law or legal precedents when talking to the UC reps, or do they not really care about that stuff? My situation involves pretty clear FMLA retaliation so I'm wondering if that carries any extra weight when trying to get payments released. Thanks everyone for sharing your actual experiences instead of just the useless official timelines!

One more thing to check - have you completed the ID.me verification process? Starting in 2025, PA UC requires this additional identity verification step for all claimants. If you haven't done this yet, your payments will be held up regardless of eligibility. You should have received an email about this, but sometimes they go to spam folders.

I went through something very similar when I was laid off from my retail job in 2023. My claim was stuck in review for 7 weeks even though I had all my paperwork in order. What finally helped was filing a complaint with the PA Department of Labor & Industry's customer service department (separate from the UC phone line). You can do this online through their website. Within 3 days of filing the complaint, I got a call from a UC supervisor who was able to see that my former employer had never responded to their separation inquiry. They expedited my case and I had my benefits approved within the week. It's worth trying if you've been waiting this long - the complaint process forces them to actually look at your file instead of just letting it sit in the queue.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help everyone who's been confused about this! I called the PA UC office last week (after many attempts) and the agent clarified that when you're doing your weekly certification online, there's actually a specific section where you log your work search activities. What I learned is that you need to enter: - Date and details for each of your 2 job applications - Date and type of your additional work search activity (workshop, resume update, etc.) The agent told me that as long as you're entering something for the work search activity going forward, you should be fine. She said they understand the requirements weren't clearly explained initially and they're more concerned with current compliance than retroactively penalizing people who were genuinely confused. For anyone still worried about documentation, she recommended keeping a simple log with dates and activities, but said the main thing is just making sure you complete the certification fully each week. Hope this helps ease some anxiety!

As someone who just went through this exact same confusion a few weeks ago, I totally feel your panic! The PA UC website is honestly terrible at explaining this clearly. I had the same realization around week 6 that I was only doing job applications and completely missing the separate work search activity requirement. Here's what I've been doing since then that's worked really well: **Easy weekly work search activities:** - Taking PA CareerLink's free online workshops (usually 30-45 mins, you get a certificate) - Creating job alerts on different sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster - literally takes 2 minutes) - Updating your resume or LinkedIn profile (add a skill, tweak your summary) - Posting your resume to a new job board I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking: date, activity type, and proof (screenshot, confirmation email, certificate). Takes 5 minutes but gives me peace of mind. For your past weeks, honestly I wouldn't stress too much. The system seems inconsistent about audits, and several people here have said agents are understanding about the initial confusion. Just start doing it correctly now and document everything going forward. The PA CareerLink workshops have actually been surprisingly helpful for my job search too! You can find them under "Events" on their website. Hang in there - once you get into a routine with this it becomes automatic! 💪

I'm going through something similar right now - my balance is down to about $1,500 and I'm getting really anxious about what happens next. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and scary at the same time! The part about needing 6x your weekly benefit amount in W-2 wages to qualify for a new claim is news to me and honestly pretty alarming. I've been focused on finding a full-time job in my field but maybe I should start looking at temporary or part-time W-2 work just to build up those qualifying wages. Has anyone had luck with temp agencies for this kind of situation? I'm wondering if that might be a good way to get some W-2 income while still having flexibility for interviews.

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the 6x weekly benefit amount requirement for a new claim - that's absolutely crucial information that I wish was made clearer when you first file. @Amara Okafor, given what everyone's shared here, it sounds like your best bet might be to start looking for some part-time or temp W-2 work ASAP while you still have a few months left on your benefit year. Even if it's not in your ideal field, getting those qualifying wages could be the difference between having benefits when your year ends versus having nothing. The temp agency suggestion from @Amina Bah sounds really practical - you'd get the W-2 income you need while maintaining flexibility for job interviews in your field. Also definitely keep doing those weekly certifications even when your balance hits zero, as @Ava Martinez explained. This whole situation really highlights how confusing the UC system can be!

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm in almost the exact same boat - got laid off from my retail job 6 weeks ago and just accepted a position starting April 28th. Got the RESEA notice yesterday and immediately panicked thinking I'd lose my benefits right before starting work. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the UC-RESEA-EX form is definitely the way to go. I'm going to call first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM with my offer letter ready. The tip about getting email confirmation of submission is clutch - I've had PA UC "lose" paperwork before too. Quick question for those who've been through this - did anyone have issues because their new job is in a different field than their previous one? I'm going from retail to office admin work. Wondering if that complicates the exemption process at all or if they just care that you have a confirmed start date regardless of the type of work. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences! This community is way more helpful than trying to navigate the PA UC website maze.

I'm going through something similar right now! Got my RESEA notice last week even though I have a confirmed start date with a healthcare company on April 7th. Reading through this thread has been incredibly reassuring - I was convinced I was going to lose my benefits because I thought the work search exemption covered everything. The UC-RESEA-EX form sounds like exactly what I need. For those who successfully got the exemption, how detailed does the offer letter need to be? Mine has the start date, position, and company letterhead, but doesn't include salary info - is that okay or do they need more comprehensive documentation? Also, when you called at 8 AM, were you calling the main UC number or is there a specific RESEA coordinator line? I've been dreading trying to get through to anyone but sounds like the early morning strategy actually works! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread should honestly be pinned somewhere for future reference!