I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! Got laid off from my healthcare job last month after working there for 6 months, immediately applied for UC, and boom - "monetarily ineligible." I was so confused because I'd been working full-time and paying into the system. After reading everyone's experiences here, I realize it's because they're looking at that weird base period timeframe instead of my actual recent work history. I had a gap in employment before this job while I was finishing school, so the quarters they're examining probably show little to no income. Already filed my appeal yesterday using the advice from this thread - specifically requested alternate base period consideration and included all my recent pay stubs plus a timeline. The 15-day deadline is no joke, so I didn't want to wait around trying to get someone on the phone first. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how common this issue is. The PA UC system really needs to be clearer about these base period rules upfront instead of leaving people panicking when they get these confusing determinations. Fingers crossed the appeal process works out - will definitely update here once I hear back!

Just went through this exact same thing a few months ago! Got the "monetarily ineligible" notice after working at a retail chain for 7 months and I was completely baffled. The whole base period system is so confusing - they don't explain anywhere that they're looking at specific quarters from over a year ago instead of your recent work. Filed my appeal requesting the alternate base period and got approved in about 4 weeks. The key things that helped me: 1) Filed the appeal immediately (don't wait around), 2) Put "REQUEST ALTERNATE BASE PERIOD CONSIDERATION" right at the top in bold, 3) Included every single pay stub from my recent job, and 4) Wrote a simple timeline showing my work history. With your $3,800/month for 5 months, you should definitely qualify under the alternate base period. That's around $19k which is way above the minimum threshold. Don't stress too much about the phone calls - the written appeal is what really matters. Just make sure you get it submitted before that 15-day deadline! The backpay situation is real too - when I got approved, they sent me a lump sum for all the weeks I had been waiting. Hang in there, this system is frustrating but it does work once you know how to navigate it!

I just wanted to add another perspective for anyone else who might find this thread later - I had a similar "quashed as moot" situation but mine took a bit longer to resolve. Even though my status changed to eligible, there was still a small delay because they had to process several weeks of backpay. Don't panic if you don't see money immediately! Also, make sure to save that referee decision letter - I needed mine later when I was doing my taxes to show the dates my benefits were approved. The whole PA UC system really needs better communication, but it sounds like yours worked out exactly as it should. Keep us posted on when your payments start coming through!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with something similar right now - got denied initially because my employer claimed misconduct, but I have documentation proving otherwise. Filed my appeal two weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting for my hearing date. Reading all these responses gives me hope that maybe they'll review the evidence I submitted and resolve it before the hearing like they did for you. The PA UC appeals process is so nerve-wracking when you're already dealing with job loss stress. Thanks everyone for breaking down what "quashed as moot" actually means - I'll know what to look for if I get a similar letter!

I was actually able to get through to UC yesterday! I used that call service someone mentioned and got connected pretty quickly. The agent was super helpful and put detailed notes in my file explaining the situation. She said it was good I submitted the form with

That's great news that you got through and got it sorted out! For anyone else dealing with this - documentation is absolutely key. Always keep screenshots of any communications with your employer about your employment status. PA UC really does try to catch people on technicalities with these forms, but if you have proof that the employer initiated the separation (like Caleb's text message), you should be fine. The system is definitely frustrating but it sounds like you handled it the right way by being persistent and getting an agent to document everything properly.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately here for the same reason as everyone else - dealing with an NDNH investigation that just appeared on my dashboard yesterday! Reading through all these experiences has been both incredibly helpful and absolutely terrifying. Like so many others here, I worked across state lines (had a 3-month position in New Jersey before my current PA job ended) and was completely transparent about everything on my application. @Connor Gallagher - thank you SO much for explaining what NDNH actually means and providing those detailed steps for the expedited determination request! I had absolutely no clue what any of this meant when it first showed up on my dashboard. I'm definitely submitting that request first thing tomorrow since I clearly cannot afford to wait 4+ months like some people have been. What's really striking me is how many honest, rule-following people are getting stuck in this exact same nightmare. It's so frustrating that being truthful about our work history seems to be precisely what's triggering these endless delays! The financial anxiety is already setting in even though I'm barely 24 hours into this process. To everyone who's been waiting since last year - I'm really hoping you all get your resolutions and back payments soon. This system is clearly broken when people are losing housing and having utilities shut off while waiting for benefits they legally earned. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess, even though none of us should have to go through it!

I'm brand new to this community but unfortunately here for the exact same reason as everyone else - my NDNH investigation just showed up on my dashboard this morning and I'm already feeling anxious after reading through all these experiences! Like so many others here, I had work in multiple states (worked a temporary assignment in New York last summer before my PA job that ended in February) and was completely honest about everything when I filed my claim. @Connor Gallagher - thank you for the incredibly detailed explanation of what NDNH actually stands for and those steps for the expedited determination request! I had zero clue what any of this meant when it first appeared. I'm definitely going to submit that expedited request today since I absolutely cannot afford to wait 4+ months like some people here have been enduring. It's both comforting and terrifying to see how many honest applicants are stuck in this identical situation. The fact that being transparent about our work history appears to be exactly what's triggering these month-long delays is incredibly frustrating! I've already started keeping detailed records of everything and will make sure to certify every week while waiting. To everyone who's been stuck in this limbo since last year - I'm really hoping you all get your determinations and back payments very soon. This whole system is clearly broken when people are having their utilities shut off and losing housing while waiting for benefits they rightfully earned. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it helps tremendously to know we're not alone in navigating this nightmare!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! I was on PA UC and needed about $15k for emergency dental work that couldn't wait. After doing tons of research (wish I had found this thread back then!), I ended up doing a 401k loan and it was absolutely the right choice. A few things I learned that might help others: 1. My plan administrator (TIAA) had a "personal financial hardship" loan category specifically for situations like unemployment - the interest rate was actually lower than their standard loan rate 2. They let me defer the first payment for 60 days, which gave me breathing room to figure out the manual payment setup 3. When I eventually found work 4 months later, transitioning back to payroll deduction was seamless The peace of mind was worth everything - no tax penalties, no UC complications, and I was essentially paying myself back. Plus having my health sorted out definitely helped during job interviews! One tip: if you're considering this route, ask your plan administrator about any "grace period" options for the first payment. Some plans offer this for hardship loans and it can really help with cash flow while you're getting everything set up.

This thread is absolutely incredible - probably one of the most comprehensive discussions I've seen about 401k options while on UC! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I need about $18k for some major car repairs/replacement to keep job searching effectively. After reading through everyone's experiences, the 401k loan route seems like the clear winner if your plan allows it. The tax savings alone are huge - avoiding that 10% early withdrawal penalty plus regular income taxes could easily save someone $5k-7k on a $20k withdrawal. What really stands out to me is how proactive communication seems to be key, whether you go the loan or withdrawal route. @Ava Kim's approach of sending documentation through the UC portal before they even ask questions is brilliant, and @Luca Bianchi's tip about asking for a grace period on the first payment is something I never would have thought to request. One question for anyone who's been through this - did any of you have issues with your bank flagging the large deposits? I know some banks have their own reporting requirements for large transactions, and I'm wondering if that created any additional complications beyond the UC side of things. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical advice you can't find in official handbooks!