did u try filing for partial bennefits during those 2 weeks of part time work? u might of qualified for something even while working a little

Update for anyone following this thread: The PA Department of Labor actually updated their guidance on this recently. Even if you don't meet the 6x earnings requirement, they're now automatically checking if you qualify under any special programs before issuing a denial. The key steps to follow are: 1. File your new application before your benefit year ends 2. Continue completing your weekly work search activities (minimum 3 per week) 3. If denied, appeal within the 15-day window if you believe there's been a mistake Also worth noting that the UC service center's phone hours changed recently - they're now open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. This might help with planning when to call.

UPDATE: I finally got through! Used the Claimyr service that @profile2 recommended and was connected with an agent in about 30 minutes. The issue with my claim was that they needed additional employment verification that wasn't clearly marked in my portal. The agent helped me upload the right documents and said my claim should be processed within 7-10 days. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! Been trying to get through for over 2 weeks now. Reading through all these suggestions is really helpful - I had no idea about the CareerLink offices or the state rep option. Going to try calling at 7:59am tomorrow and if that doesn't work, I'll check out that Claimyr service. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get basic help with our claims, but at least there are some workarounds. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences!

Just wanted to chime in with my recent experience since I'm also new to PA UC! I filed my first claim about 3 weeks ago after getting laid off from my manufacturing job. The weekly payment schedule everyone's describing is spot on - I file every Sunday night and consistently get my direct deposit on Wednesdays. One thing that really helped ease my anxiety was calling my bank to ask about their ACH processing times. They told me direct deposits from PA UC typically post between 6-8 AM on Wednesdays, so now I know exactly when to expect it instead of checking my account all day Tuesday wondering if something went wrong. Also, since you mentioned budgeting carefully - I found it helpful to treat my UC payments like a regular paycheck and immediately allocate the money when it hits. I use a simple budgeting app to divide it up for rent, utilities, groceries, etc. Makes the uncertainty feel more manageable when you have a clear plan for every dollar. The work search requirement seemed overwhelming at first, but keeping that notebook like others mentioned makes it pretty simple. I just jot down details right after applying somewhere so I don't forget later. Good luck with everything - this thread has been super helpful for all of us navigating this for the first time!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been through this process twice in PA! I was laid off from my HVAC job in 2019 and then again during COVID, so I've gotten pretty familiar with how the UC system works. You're absolutely right to go with direct deposit - it's so much more reliable than those prepaid cards. I always filed my weekly claims on Sunday nights (usually around 9 PM after getting the kids to bed) and consistently received my payments on Wednesday mornings. My bank is PNC and they typically post the deposits around 3 AM, so I'd wake up to the money being available. One thing I learned that might help with your budgeting: PA UC has a benefit calculator on their website where you can estimate your weekly payment amount based on your previous earnings. It's not 100% exact, but it gave me a pretty good ballpark figure to work with when planning my budget during unemployment. Really helped me figure out what expenses I could maintain and what I needed to cut back on. Also, since you're in construction, definitely check out the PA CareerLink website - they often have listings for construction jobs that aren't posted elsewhere, and attending their workshops counts toward your work search requirements. Two birds with one stone! The uncertainty is tough at first, but once you get into the routine of filing Sunday and expecting payment Wednesday, it becomes much more manageable. Hang in there!

This is unfortunately becoming way too common with PA UC lately. I've been helping people in my community navigate these issues and what you're describing - approved then suddenly disqualified with a "voluntary quit" determination when you were clearly laid off - is happening a lot. Here's what I'd recommend based on what I've seen work: 1. **Get your employer involved ASAP** - Call your former HR department and ask them to verify what separation reason they reported to UC. Sometimes there's a miscommunication or clerical error on their end. 2. **Document everything** - Screenshot that dashboard message, save your layoff letter, and gather any emails about the department closure. You'll need this for your appeal. 3. **File that appeal within 15 days** but also try to resolve it faster through direct contact. The appeal is your safety net. 4. **Use the "Request Escalation" option** when you call - most people don't know this exists. After getting through (try Claimyr if regular calling doesn't work), specifically ask for your case to be escalated to a senior examiner for review. The fact that 20 people were laid off should make this pretty straightforward to verify. Your employer likely has records of the mass layoff that UC can access. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - I've seen people lose months of benefits because they stopped filing during appeals. You've got good documentation so you should win this, it's just a matter of getting someone to actually look at your case properly.

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago - approved for UC benefits then suddenly hit with a "voluntary quit" disqualification even though I was clearly laid off due to company restructuring. It's incredibly frustrating and unfortunately more common than it should be. In my case, it turned out that when my employer submitted their response to the separation questionnaire, there was a coding error where they accidentally marked "quit" instead of "laid off" in their system. HR had to submit a correction form to UC, but it still took weeks to resolve even with clear documentation. A few things that helped me: - I got a written statement from my former supervisor confirming the layoff details - I requested a copy of the employer's response to UC (you can do this through a Right to Know request) - I kept detailed records of every phone call and interaction with UC The good news is that with 20 people being laid off, there should be plenty of documentation on your employer's end to support your case. Mass layoffs are usually well-documented for legal compliance reasons. Definitely keep filing your weekly claims during this process - I almost made the mistake of stopping and would have lost several weeks of back pay. The appeal process worked for me, but it took about 2 months total. Hang in there and don't give up - you have a strong case with proper layoff documentation!

This thread is incredibly informative! I'm actually about to file my first UC claim after being laid off from my manufacturing job two weeks ago, and I had absolutely no idea about the waiting week policy until reading everyone's experiences here. It's honestly shocking that PA doesn't mention this anywhere obvious during the application process - you'd think they'd at least include it in their FAQ or put a note during filing that says "Note: Your first week will be unpaid due to state waiting week requirements" or something like that. Reading about everyone's confusion when seeing that $0 payment really drives home how poorly communicated this policy is. It seems like literally every first-time filer goes through the same panic thinking they messed something up! I'm definitely going to bookmark that Claimyr service info in case I need help getting through to an agent, and I'll start documenting my work search activities right away even before my claim gets approved. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and tips here - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating PA's confusing system. It's unfortunate that we have to rely on each other to figure out basic policies that the state should be explaining clearly upfront!

This whole thread perfectly captures the frustration so many of us have experienced with PA's waiting week policy! I went through the exact same thing about 4 months ago - saw that $0 payment and immediately thought I had somehow screwed up my application. Spent an entire day researching and calling numbers trying to figure out what went wrong before finally learning it was just "normal." What really gets me is that this is such a predictable point of confusion for literally every first-time filer, yet PA does absolutely nothing to explain it clearly. It would take them 30 seconds to add a simple note during the certification process or in confirmation emails explaining "Your first week shows $0 due to PA's mandatory waiting week - this is normal and not an error." Instead, we all have to go through the same unnecessary stress and waste time trying to figure out if we messed something up. It's almost like they want people to be confused and potentially give up on their claims. Really glad this community exists to help people navigate these poorly explained policies! Congrats on getting through the approval process - 6 weeks is brutal but at least the backpay finally came through. Hope your job search goes well!