I'm dealing with something very similar right now! My claim has been stuck on an "unsatisfactory performance" issue for about 4 weeks. My former employer claimed I was "chronically late" but I was never formally written up or given any warnings about attendance. It's so frustrating because I know they're probably just trying to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful - I had no idea that employers get so much time to respond while we have to jump through hoops immediately. I'm going to try calling and asking specifically for an examiner like @Ethan Brown suggested, and I'll also upload the few positive emails I have from my supervisor to show I was doing good work. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this mess!

I'm going through something very similar right now - 4 weeks stuck on an "attendance issue" even though I was never formally disciplined. What's really frustrating is that I keep hearing different timelines from different UC reps when I call. One told me employers have 10 days to respond, another said 21 days, and then someone else mentioned they can request extensions! It's like they make up the rules as they go along. I've been documenting every call I make with dates and what they tell me because the information is so inconsistent. At least from reading everyone's experiences here it seems like most people do eventually get approved when employers can't provide actual documentation. Definitely going to try asking for an examiner specifically next time I call - that seems to be the key based on what others have shared. This whole process is such a nightmare but it helps knowing we're all dealing with the same broken system.

Great news! This is actually a common issue that many people encounter - old claims creating problems with new ones. Glad you got it resolved. Make sure to print out or screenshot the determination letter when you get it for your records. PA UC sometimes has system glitches where documents disappear from your dashboard.

Wow, what a relief that you finally got through and resolved it! That's exactly why I always recommend people keep trying different approaches when the regular phone lines aren't working. The old claim issue is definitely something PA UC should flag better in their system - so many people get stuck on that without realizing it. Congrats on getting it sorted out, and hopefully your determination letter comes through quickly as promised. This whole thread will probably help other people who are dealing with similar delays!

I'm currently in week 9 of waiting for my employer dispute resolution and this thread has been incredibly helpful - both reassuring and eye-opening about how long this process can really take. The key takeaway I'm getting is that as long as we keep filing weekly claims, we won't lose those weeks if/when our claims get approved. That's huge relief because I was also worried about "using up" my 26 weeks while waiting. For anyone else going through this nightmare - I've started keeping a spreadsheet tracking every week I file, all my job search activities, and any communication attempts with PA UC. I also screenshot my dashboard weekly just in case there are any discrepancies later. One thing that's helped my sanity is setting a specific day each week to try calling (usually Tuesday mornings) instead of calling randomly throughout the week. Still can't get through most of the time, but at least I'm not driving myself crazy trying every day. The wait is absolutely brutal but seeing people eventually get their backpay after 11-17 weeks gives me hope. We just have to keep pushing through this broken system and not let them wear us down!

I'm currently on week 10 of waiting for my employer dispute to resolve, and this thread has been both a lifesaver and a reality check! Like many of you, I was panicking about potentially "losing" my 26 weeks while waiting for a decision, so it's huge relief to understand that the benefit year is actually 52 weeks and we'll get backpay for all properly filed weeks. My situation is similar - former employer is claiming I quit when I was actually terminated for "performance issues" (which conveniently happened right after I reported safety violations to OSHA). I have email documentation of the real reason, but PA UC is taking forever to review everything. I've been following a lot of the strategies mentioned here: filing every single week religiously, keeping detailed records of all work search activities, and trying to call on a set schedule (Wednesdays seem to work better for me than other days). Still haven't gotten through to a human yet though! The idea about contacting state representatives is definitely going on my list if I hit the 12-week mark. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to resort to political pressure just to get basic updates on our own claims, but here we are. Hang in there everyone - we've got this! The system is broken but we can't let them wear us down.

I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation - week 8 of "under review" status and absolutely no updates from PA UC. The financial stress is unreal, especially when you're watching bills pile up with no idea when (or if) you'll get approved. What's helped me stay somewhat sane is setting up a strict budget using whatever savings I have left and applying for emergency assistance programs in my area. I've also been documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots of my claim status, copies of all weekly filings, detailed work search logs - just in case there are any issues when they finally process it. The waiting is brutal but from everyone's experiences here, it seems like persistence pays off eventually. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - that backpay could be a lifesaver when it finally comes through. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the waiting is absolutely brutal when you're depending on these benefits. I went through something similar last year where my claim sat in "under review" for 6 weeks. What finally worked for me was calling the UC office repeatedly using a redial app on my phone starting at exactly 7:58 AM. It took about 45 minutes of constant redialing but I finally got through to someone who could see that my claim was flagged for income verification from a previous employer. Once I provided the documents they needed, it was approved within 3 days and I got all the backpay. Don't give up on calling - it's frustrating but sometimes that's the only way to find out what's actually holding up your claim. Also make sure to check if there are any document upload requests in your online portal that you might have missed. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what!

did u figure this out?? curious what happened with ur claim

So glad to see this worked out! Your situation is exactly why I always tell people in seasonal work to keep filing weekly - even when things get uncertain. The fact that you were honest about the childcare emergency and it was approved shows the system does work when you follow the proper procedures. Thanks for updating us on the outcome, it's really helpful for others who might face similar situations with their seasonal UC claims.