FINAL UPDATE: My claim was approved! Took 12 days total and I already got my first payment via direct deposit. For anyone in the same situation, here's what worked for me: 1. I uploaded the text from my boss about the closure right away 2. I took photos of the closed restaurant with the sign in the window 3. I called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above when I saw an "employer contact" issue 4. The agent was able to verify everything and push my claim through They did count most of my tips in the calculation (the ones reported on tax returns), and my weekly benefit amount is actually pretty decent. Now I just need to keep up with the weekly claims and job search requirements while I find a new bartending job. Thanks again to everyone who helped!

Congrats on getting it sorted out! Your experience is super helpful for others going through the same thing. Quick question - when you called using Claimyr, about how long did it take them to get you connected to an actual UC agent? I'm dealing with a similar employer contact issue and have been trying to get through for days with no luck.

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.

This is such helpful information! I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need it someday. The fact that there are two separate portals for different types of overpayments is something they really should make clearer on the main website. It's crazy how many hoops people have to jump through just to pay money back to the state. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's clear the system is confusing but at least there are ways to handle it online instead of risking lost mail.

Just wanted to add another tip for anyone dealing with this - if you're having trouble finding your PUA claim number that you need for the separate portal, check your old emails from 2020-2021. I found mine in the original PUA approval email. It's formatted differently than the regular UC claim number (starts with different letters). Also, if you can't find it anywhere in your emails, you can call the PUA-specific hotline at 855-284-8545 - it's separate from the regular UC line and usually has shorter wait times. They can look up your PUA claim number with just your SSN and DOB.

Congrats Vincent on finally getting through! Your success story gives me hope. I've been stuck at 11 weeks now with the same "processing" message. Filed in late January with UC income of about $8,200. Going to try the 8:30am calling strategy tomorrow morning. Did the agent give you any sense of how backed up they are right now? Also wondering if anyone knows - once they approve the refund, how long does it typically take for the direct deposit to hit your account?

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed in mid-January with UC income of about $5,800 and still stuck at "processing" after 12 weeks. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the UC income was causing these delays. I've been calling randomly throughout the day but now I'll try the 8:30am strategy. It's so frustrating that they don't just tell you upfront that returns with unemployment benefits take longer to process. The lack of transparency is worse than the actual wait time! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare.

One other option to consider: PA UC has regional career centers where you can sometimes get in-person help with claims. You can find your nearest one here: https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/. Call ahead to confirm they can help with UC issues and what documentation to bring. In-person is sometimes faster than phone or email.

I feel your pain - the PA UC system is absolutely brutal right now. I went through the same nightmare 2 months ago. Here's what finally worked for me: I combined several approaches at once. First, I contacted my state rep (like others mentioned) AND also tried calling the Philadelphia UC service center directly at 215-560-7885 instead of the main number - sometimes different offices have shorter wait times. I also kept trying the online messaging system every few days with slightly different wording. What really pushed it over the edge was when I started documenting everything - dates I called, times I waited, screenshot of error messages - and mentioned in my state rep contact that I was keeping records for potential legal action. Suddenly things started moving. Don't give up, but definitely try multiple channels simultaneously rather than just one approach.