my card took like 12 days to come after my payment date so dont panic if it doesnt show up right away

I went through this exact same situation last month! The envelope is super plain and generic looking - white envelope with "Money Network" and a Tennessee return address. No mention of PA unemployment anywhere on the outside. I almost threw mine away because it looked like a credit card offer! Pro tip: Once you get it and activate it, download the Money Network app right away. You can check your balance, transfer money to your bank account (takes about 2-3 business days), and even set up text alerts for when new payments are added. The transfer feature was a lifesaver for me since I prefer having everything in my regular checking account. Also, don't stress too much about the timing - mine took about 8 business days to arrive after my payment date. Hang in there, you're almost at the finish line after that long wait!

btw has anybody heard if PA is still backed up with claims? friend of mine waited like 3 months last year for benefits to start

I'm in a similar situation at my retail job - went from 28 hours to 14 suddenly last month. I filed for partial benefits and got approved, but wanted to share a few things I learned: 1. File online at www.uc.pa.gov - don't waste time trying to call, the website actually works well for partial claims 2. When they ask about reason for separation, select "lack of work" not "quit" or "fired" 3. Keep screenshots of your old schedule vs new schedule if possible 4. Yes, your employer gets notified but in my experience they expect it when they cut hours this drastically One thing that surprised me - I still had to do the work search requirements even though I'm still employed part-time. Make sure you're prepared for that! The good news is I got my first partial payment within 3 weeks of filing. Hang in there, this is definitely a valid claim and you shouldn't feel bad about filing for benefits you're entitled to.

And make SURE when you register that you verify your email right away!!! I didn't see the verification email (it went to spam) and my whole account got locked for like 10 days and I couldn't do my work search activities properly. Such a nightmare dealing with PA unemployment!!

Just went through this exact process last month! Here's what worked for me: Register as "Individual seeking Employment" first, then once that's set up, go back and add your UC claim connection. The system won't let you do both at once for some reason. For work search activities, I keep a simple notebook with columns for date, activity type, employer/website, and any contact info. Virtual job fairs definitely count - I attended one through PA CareerLink and it counted toward my weekly requirement. Also, pro tip: set up job alerts on multiple sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and PA CareerLink itself. Responding to those alerts can count as work search activity too. The key is just documenting everything you do job-search related. Good luck with your claim!

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you - warehouse job, about 2 months in, supervisor keeps moving the goalposts on performance metrics. It's so stressful not knowing if you'll have income next week! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring though. The key thing I'm taking away is that it's really about your TOTAL work history during the base year, not how long you've been at the current job. Since you worked retail for 10 months before this, you should definitely meet the earnings requirements. One thing that's helped me cope with the stress is focusing on what I can control - I've started keeping detailed notes about every conversation with my supervisor and every time they change expectations. Even if nothing bad happens, at least I feel more prepared. Also wanted to mention - if you're feeling anxious about this whole situation, you're not alone! The uncertainty is really hard to deal with, but at least now we both have a much better understanding of how the system actually works. Fingers crossed things improve for both of us, but if not, we'll be ready.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been through the PA UC system twice in the past few years. All the advice here is spot-on, but I wanted to add one more thing that saved me a lot of headaches: when you file your initial claim, be VERY detailed in the "reason for separation" section. Don't just put "fired for performance" - explain the whole situation about constantly changing expectations, lack of clear training, etc. I made the mistake on my first claim of being too brief and it led to weeks of back-and-forth with investigators. The second time I was much more thorough upfront and the process went much smoother. Also, if you have any witnesses to conversations about the changing standards (coworkers, etc.), mention that in your application too. One last tip: if you do file and get an open issue, try calling UC first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM. I've had better luck getting through then versus later in the week. The whole system is frustrating but it does work if you're persistent and prepared. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's absolutely maddening! Filed my claim in early February after getting laid off from my accounting job, and immediately got hit with the "eligibility review - prior benefits" status. I received PUA in 2020 when my previous employer had to cut hours due to COVID restrictions, but I've been working full-time since late 2020 and paying into the UC system like everyone else. What's so frustrating is that they're essentially penalizing us for using a federal program that THEY told us to use during a national emergency. I've made over 180 calls in the past month and haven't gotten through to a single person - the phone system just hangs up on you after 45 minutes of holding. I finally tried Claimyr after seeing so many recommendations here and actually got through to an agent in about 25 minutes! She confirmed this is happening to thousands of people and said to keep filing weekly claims no matter what. She also mentioned that people with clear work history between their PUA and current claim usually get processed faster. It's been 6 weeks now and I'm running out of savings fast. My landlord is being understanding but that won't last forever. The worst part is explaining to creditors that I can't pay because the state thinks using unemployment during COVID somehow makes me suspicious for needing it again during a legitimate layoff. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - at least we know we're not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Going to keep filing weekly and hope this gets resolved soon. Stay strong everyone!

This is happening to me too and it's completely insane! Filed my claim three weeks ago after being laid off from my warehouse job, and immediately got stuck in this "PUA comparison review" because I received benefits in 2020 when my previous job shut down during lockdowns. What makes this even more frustrating is that I worked steadily from 2021-2024, paid into the system, and earned my quarters fair and square. Now they're treating my legitimate use of a federal program during a PANDEMIC like some kind of red flag? It's like they're punishing us for following government guidance during the worst crisis in decades. I've been calling every single day and can't get through - the phone system is completely broken. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to try Claimyr since so many people have had success with it. Also going to contact my state rep's office like @Sophia Clark suggested. The financial stress is unreal - I'm already behind on my car payment and my landlord is starting to ask questions. It's humiliating having to explain that I can't pay bills because the state thinks using unemployment during COVID somehow makes me suspicious. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - at least I know I'm not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Going to keep filing my weekly claims and document everything. We shouldn't have to go through this but we'll get through it together!