I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of exhausting UC benefits while still actively job searching is absolutely devastating, especially with kids and a mortgage to worry about. Reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to add a few thoughts that might help: Have you considered reaching out to medical billing companies that specialize in workers' compensation or personal injury law firms? These are often overlooked niches that pay well and value experienced billers. Companies like MedRisk or CorVel frequently hire remote workers, and PI law firms often need billers who understand medical terminology. Also, while you're applying for emergency assistance, check if your mortgage servicer participates in any federal forbearance programs - even outside of the COVID programs, some lenders have hardship options that can pause or reduce payments temporarily. One thing that helped me during a similar period was setting up Google alerts for "medical billing jobs Pittsburgh" and "remote medical billing" - sometimes positions get posted on smaller company websites that don't show up on the major job boards. The fact that you're getting zero callbacks with 8+ years of experience really drives home how broken the current job market is. This absolutely isn't a reflection of your skills or work ethic. Keep pushing forward and don't hesitate to lean on every resource available - you and your family deserve that support. You're going to get through this! ❤️

I'm really sorry you're facing this situation - hitting that 26-week wall is absolutely terrifying, especially with kids and a mortgage depending on you. Reading through this thread, I'm struck by how many people are dealing with the same nightmare right now. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - have you checked if any local credit unions offer emergency hardship loans? Some of them have programs specifically for people who've exhausted unemployment benefits and are actively job searching. The rates are usually much better than payday loans or credit cards, and they sometimes work with you on flexible repayment terms. Also, for medical billing specifically, you might want to look into dental billing as well. A lot of dental practices are struggling to find experienced billers right now, and your medical background would transfer over pretty easily. The billing software is different but the fundamental skills are the same. Don't give up hope - your 8+ years of experience is valuable, and this job market is just brutal right now. The fact that you're getting zero callbacks says everything about the current economy and nothing about your qualifications. Keep fighting, and please don't hesitate to use every resource available to you. You and your family deserve that support! 💪

Great to see this got resolved! For future reference, I've also found that using an incognito/private browsing window can help with these ID.me verification loops since it eliminates any cached data conflicts between the two systems. The 24-hour waiting period mentioned by @Harmony Love is crucial - PA's system architecture apparently needs that time to properly sync the verification status between ID.me and their UC database. Definitely bookmark that official troubleshooting page too, it's surprisingly comprehensive once you find it!

Just wanted to add another potential solution that worked for me when I had a similar loop issue last year. If you're still having problems after trying the browser/cache clearing methods, check if you have any VPN or ad blockers running. ID.me is really sensitive to these and will sometimes reject the verification if it detects them. I had to disable my VPN completely and whitelist both the PA UC site and ID.me in my ad blocker settings. Also, make sure you're doing the verification during business hours (9am-5pm EST) as their system seems more stable then. The weekend/evening servers can be glitchy and cause these loops more frequently.

update?? did u ever get this fixed? im having the same issue now and worried

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been stuck in that work history loop for 4 days and it's driving me crazy. The system just won't save anything I enter. I saw you mentioned Claimyr - is that a legitimate service? I'm hesitant to use third-party services for unemployment stuff but I'm getting desperate. Also wondering if anyone knows roughly how much they charge? At this point I'd rather pay something than waste more days trying to get through on my own.

UPDATE: Finally got through to UC this morning! Called at 7:58am and used the 1-2-1 options as suggested. Only had to wait about 20 minutes on hold. The agent was super helpful and updated my wage information right away. She said it shouldn't delay my claim processing at all since they were still working on the initial review. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Awesome update! So glad you got through and were able to fix everything. This is really helpful for others who might be in the same situation. The 7:58am call time and 1-2-1 menu options seem to be the winning combination. Thanks for sharing what worked - it gives hope to everyone else dealing with PA UC phone system frustrations!

I work in HR and deal with partial unemployment situations regularly. Everyone here has given you solid advice! Just to reinforce the key points: definitely file this Sunday, report your gross wages for Thursday/Friday, and yes your claim stays active for the full benefit year. One small tip I'd add - when you're entering your work hours, be as precise as possible. If you worked 8 hours Thursday and 7 hours Friday, enter exactly that rather than rounding. The PA system uses these details for their calculations and accuracy helps avoid any future issues. Also, since your boss said they're hoping to bring you back full-time "soon," keep filing weekly until that actually happens - don't stop based on promises of future full-time work. You're doing the right thing by being cautious about not messing anything up!

I had a very similar experience last spring when my restaurant called me back for just weekends after being completely laid off. Here's what worked for me: definitely file this Sunday and report your Thursday/Friday earnings exactly as everyone said. But one thing I'd add - if you're unsure about any specific questions on the weekly claim form, you can always call the PA UC line right after you submit it to clarify anything. I did that my first week back and the rep was actually helpful in confirming I'd done everything correctly. Also, keep track of your benefit balance - you can see how much you have left in your claim when you file online. Since you're only working 2 days, you'll likely still get some partial benefits, which helps stretch your total benefit amount over a longer period. The system really is designed to help people transition back to full employment, so don't worry about "gaming" it - you're using it exactly as intended!