Honestly this is why I just apply to jobs directly thru indeed and linkedin instead of careerlink. Easier to track and screenshot everything. Careerlink is so clunky its like they designed it in 2005 and never updated it lol

I went through this exact same thing back in December and it was such a nightmare! The key thing that saved me was keeping a detailed spreadsheet of every single job application - date, company name, position, how I applied (Indeed, LinkedIn, company website, etc.), and any follow-up. When I finally got through to UC (took literally 47 phone calls over 2 weeks), the rep was able to reinstate my benefits retroactively because I had all the documentation. She actually told me that most people who call about this issue don't have proper records, so having everything organized in a spreadsheet made all the difference. Also, pro tip: when you're doing your weekly certification, the work search section is near the END of the process after all the other questions. I almost missed it the first few times because I thought I was done after reporting my earnings. Make sure you scroll all the way down and complete that section every single week! Hope you get this sorted out quickly - I know how stressful it is when your benefits just suddenly stop with no clear explanation.

does any1 else think its ridiculous they expect us to do all this just to get benefits WE EARNED through our jobs? careerlink workshops r mostly useless anyway & now we get punished for not doing them?? the whole system needs fixed

Just following up - has anyone heard back about your appeal yet? In my experience, these work search disqualification appeals are taking about 3-4 weeks to process currently.

Current processing times are typically 2-3 weeks for clean claims, though it varies. Here's what affects the timeline: 1. If your employer contests your unemployment reason 2. If there are eligibility questions or "open issues" 3. If you worked in multiple states during your base year 4. If the system flags anything unusual about your work history Keep filing your biweekly claims even while waiting for approval. If approved, you'll receive all eligible back weeks at once. You'll receive your payments on a Money Network debit card unless you set up direct deposit.

Just wanted to add - if you run into any issues with your application or need to make changes after submitting, don't panic! I had to call back about a week after filing because I realized I put the wrong end date for one of my previous jobs. It took forever to get through (literally 4 hours of redialing), but they were able to fix it without having to restart the whole application. Also, make sure you save/screenshot your confirmation number after submitting - you'll need it if you have to call about your claim later. The system sometimes has glitches and having that number helps the agents find your case faster.

That's such a relief to hear! Gives me hope that mine might resolve without me having to spend days trying to get through on the phone. I'll keep certifying weekly and hope for the best. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Hey Mei Lin! I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my job in Pittsburgh. The eligibility question issue is SO frustrating - I also couldn't find a clear "laid off" option and ended up selecting something that didn't quite fit. Here's what worked for me: I called the PA UC line using the callback feature on their website (avoid calling first thing Monday morning - huge wait times). When I finally got through, the agent explained that "lack of work" is actually the closest option to being laid off, even though it's not obvious. She said "other; restricted hours" can sometimes trigger additional review because it suggests you might still be partially employed. For CareerLink - don't stress too much about what it's tracking. I kept a simple Google Doc with columns for Date, Company, Position, Method (Indeed/LinkedIn/etc), and Status. Never got audited, but having that backup documentation gave me peace of mind. One tip: if your claim stays stuck for more than 2 weeks, definitely call. Sometimes these things need a human touch to get unstuck. Good luck and hang in there!

Update: I talked to my WIOA counselor and she was super helpful! Turns out this happens all the time. She's giving me a letter confirming my training program is approved and helping me with the appeal. She also suggested I try calling UC directly to speed things up since sometimes they can fix it right away once they see you're in approved training. Will keep you all posted on what happens. Thanks for all the advice!

I went through something similar when I was doing my HVAC certification through WIOA last year. The key thing that helped me was getting my counselor to send the UC-1599 form directly to UC rather than just giving it to me to submit. For some reason, when it comes from the WIOA office directly, it seems to carry more weight with the UC system. Also, if you do end up using one of those callback services like Claimyr that someone mentioned, make sure you have all your paperwork ready before the call - your WIOA enrollment letter, training schedule, and the dates you reported the training on your claims. The UC reps can usually fix it on the spot if they have all the info. Don't stress too much - this really is a common glitch in their system and once a human looks at your case, it should get resolved quickly. The CDL program is worth sticking with even through this hassle!