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UPDATE: The problem was my new spam blocker app! I checked the settings and it was blocking all messages from 5-6 digit numbers as potential scams. I whitelisted the PA UC number and instantly got 4 verification texts all at once. Thank you all for the help!!
This is such a helpful thread! I've been having the same issue for the past month and couldn't figure out why my verification texts stopped coming through. Just checked my phone settings and sure enough, I had enabled spam protection that was blocking short codes. Going to whitelist 91875 right now. You all just saved me from potentially missing more payments - thank you!
So glad this thread helped you too! It's crazy how many people probably miss payments because of spam blockers without realizing it. The PA UC system really should send out warnings about this when people first sign up. Maybe we should all contact them to suggest adding a notice about whitelisting their number during the registration process?
One important thing I forgot to mention - while your protest is being reviewed, double-check that all your employers from the base year reported your wages correctly to PA. Sometimes the issue isn't with UC but with employer reporting. You can verify this by contacting your previous employers' HR departments and confirming they submitted the proper quarterly wage reports to the state. Also, make sure you're still meeting the work search requirements during this time! The wage protest doesn't exempt you from the job search activities.
That's really good advice about checking with my employers directly. I hadn't thought of that! And yes, I've been keeping up with the work search requirements - applying to jobs and documenting everything in my dashboard. Just hoping this gets resolved soon so I can actually pay my rent next month. Thank you for all the help!
Hey there! I went through a similar wage protest situation about 4 months ago. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, but hang in there! In my case, it took about 5 weeks from the "under review" status to getting the corrected determination. One thing that really helped speed things up for me was submitting a detailed cover letter with my wage documentation explaining exactly which employers and time periods were missing, along with the total dollar amounts. I also included copies of my W-2s AND paystubs for each missing quarter. Make sure everything is crystal clear - don't make them guess what you're claiming. The good news is that once they approve your protest, you'll get all the backpay in one lump sum. I got an extra $3,200 when mine was finally processed! Just keep filing your weekly claims religiously during this time - you don't want to miss any weeks that you're entitled to the higher benefit amount for.
That's really encouraging to hear! $3,200 is exactly the kind of difference I'm expecting too. I love the idea about including a detailed cover letter - I just submitted the paystubs but didn't explain the gaps clearly. Do you think it's worth resubmitting with a better explanation letter now, or should I wait to see if they process what I already sent? I'm at the 3-week mark so maybe I should give it another week or two before adding more documentation?
i dont get why ur stressing so much. just go to the hearing and tell the truth. if you didn't do anything wrong you'll be fine. i've been through 3 of these hearings and won each time. the refs are actually pretty fair.
The issue isn't about telling the truth - I'm happy to do that. The problem is my severe anxiety about being in the same room with my former employer who was emotionally abusive. That's why I'm asking specifically about phone options.
I went through something very similar about 6 months ago - toxic boss, documented everything, won the first appeal, then she filed for reconsideration. The good news is that since you already won once with substantial evidence, you're in a strong position. Here's what worked for me: - Called the UC office immediately and requested a phone hearing due to "workplace harassment trauma" - they approved it same day - Organized all my emails chronologically and made a simple timeline - Practiced explaining the situation calmly in 2-3 minutes max - Had a friend listen to me rehearse so I wouldn't ramble during the hearing The reconsideration hearing was actually shorter than the original appeal because the referee already had the full case file. I just had to reaffirm my previous testimony and answer a few follow-up questions. Won again and my ex-boss finally gave up. You've got this! The documentation you mentioned is your strongest asset. Don't let her intimidate you into not participating - she's clearly hoping you'll just give up.
This is incredibly helpful and reassuring - thank you so much for sharing your experience! The fact that you went through almost the exact same situation and won twice gives me hope. I really like your idea about practicing with a friend beforehand. I tend to get flustered and ramble when I'm nervous, so rehearsing will definitely help me stay focused. Did you have to resubmit all your email evidence for the reconsideration hearing, or did they already have everything from the first appeal? And how long did the whole reconsideration process take from when she filed to when you got the final decision?
Yes, attending networking events specifically focused on employment opportunities does count as a work search activity in PA. The senior job networking group would qualify. Regarding your severance agreement, you should have it ready during your initial application. There will be questions about severance during the application process, and you may need to provide the agreement either during the initial filing or shortly after. Remember that even though you're 68, you're still eligible for your full benefit entitlement. Your claim isn't affected by your age, only by your work history, earnings, and current part-time income.
As someone who just went through a similar situation at 62, I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me: 1) File online early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) - the system seems to work better then and you're less likely to get kicked out mid-application 2) Have your last employer's info ready including their UC account number if you can find it (sometimes on your final paystub) 3) When they ask about your reason for separation, be very clear it was a layoff/reduction in force, not resignation 4) For the work search requirement - I found that applying through company websites directly counted better than just using job boards like Indeed. They seem to prefer when you can provide specific company contact info The partial benefits calculation worked out better for me than I expected. Even though my part-time job was only bringing in about $300/week, I was still getting a decent partial UC payment that made a real difference. Good luck with your application! The process is confusing but once you get through the initial filing it gets more routine.
This is really helpful advice! I especially appreciate the tip about filing early in the morning - I had no idea the system worked better at certain times. Quick question: when you mention having the employer's UC account number, where exactly would I find that on my paystub? I'm looking at my final one now but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Also, did you have any issues with them questioning your layoff vs resignation? I'm a bit worried since I technically had the option to take a lower-paying position but chose the severance instead.
Lucas Adams
I spent 2 hours looking for my case ID last week!!! It's NOT on the dashboard like some ppl are saying. The case ID is ONLY on the actual determination letter they mail you or that shows up in your correspondence inbox. Don't waste time looking anywhere else! And make sure you're looking at the right letter - each issue gets its own case ID so if you have multiple issues you'll have multiple case IDs!!
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Mila Walker
•Thanks for the heads up! I just checked my correspondence and found a letter about my claim being under review with a B-number on it. I'm guessing that's what I need. Appreciate everyone's help with this!
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Andre Laurent
Just went through this exact same thing last month! The terminology is so confusing - I called 5 times and got different answers each time. What finally worked for me was logging into my account, going to "Correspondence" and looking for ANY letter that mentioned my specific issue (like delayed payments, eligibility review, etc.). The Case ID will be right at the top of that letter starting with "B". If you haven't gotten any determination letters yet, try calling with just your Claim ID from the dashboard - sometimes that's all they actually need depending on what you're calling about. Good luck getting through!
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Liam Fitzgerald
•This is super helpful! I'm dealing with the same confusion right now. It's so frustrating that they use different terminology and each rep seems to want different numbers. I'm going to try your method of checking the Correspondence section first before calling again. Did you find that the reps were more helpful once you had the right Case ID, or were the wait times still brutal even with all the correct info?
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