I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Filed my last claim during COVID in 2021 and now the system is completely stuck at the SSN screen. It's been 4 days of trying and I'm starting to panic about my rent payment. One thing I discovered is that you can also try reaching out through the PA CareerLink offices - they sometimes have direct lines to UC staff that bypass the main phone system. The office locator is on the PA.gov website. I'm planning to visit mine tomorrow morning since calling hasn't worked at all. Also, does anyone know if there's a specific time during the week when the phone lines are less busy? I've been trying random times throughout the day but maybe there's a pattern to when you're more likely to get through? This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss. Hoping we can all get this resolved soon! 🤞

I'm having this EXACT same problem! Filed for COVID unemployment in 2020 and now the system completely freezes when I enter my SSN for a new claim. Been trying for over a week with no success. Based on what everyone's saying here, it definitely sounds like a database issue with old COVID claims. I'm going to try the CareerLink office approach - there's one about 45 minutes from me but it might be worth the drive if I can actually talk to someone in person. Has anyone had success with the early morning calling strategy? I've been calling randomly throughout the day but maybe timing matters. I'm also going to start documenting everything like @Sarah Ali suggested - screenshots, call attempts, dates, etc. in case I need to prove I've been trying to file since my layoff date. This is so frustrating when you're already stressed about losing your job. At least it's reassuring to know this is a known technical issue and not something I'm doing wrong! Hopefully PA gets their system sorted out soon.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Just got laid off two weeks ago and the PA UC system feels like it was designed by someone who actively hates unemployed people. The most frustrating part for me has been the "work search" requirements - they want you to apply to jobs AND do additional activities, but nowhere does it clearly explain what counts as an "activity." I've been panicking that I'm doing it wrong and will get my benefits cut off. Also, can someone explain why they need to know my high school graduation year? And my spouse's social security number even though we file taxes separately? It feels like they're collecting way more personal info than necessary just to make the process more intimidating. Reading everyone's tips here is honestly the most helpful info I've found anywhere. The official PA UC website is useless - it's like they wrote the FAQ section specifically to confuse people more. Thank you all for sharing your experiences!

I just went through this exact same frustration a few months ago! The PA UC system is absolutely maddening, especially when you're already stressed about being unemployed. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: For the BYB date (Benefit Year Beginning) - this is crucial because it starts your 52-week clock. You MUST file all your weekly claims within this period, even if you find work and stop claiming for a while. If you don't use all your benefits within that year, they're gone. The repetitive questions are indeed designed to catch inconsistencies, but here's the key: answer them exactly the same way every single time. I started keeping a little notepad with my standard answers to avoid accidentally contradicting myself. For work search, keep detailed records: company name, position, date applied, how you applied (online, email, in person), and contact person if available. PA requires 2 job applications plus 1 additional work search activity per week. Activities can include updating your LinkedIn, attending virtual job fairs, or even visiting CareerLink's resource center. One tip that saved me: file your weekly claims on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings instead of Sunday/Monday when everyone else is trying. The system is much more stable then. The whole process is definitely designed to discourage people, but stick with it - you've earned these benefits through your previous work!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped Grant with this issue! I'm a new member here and was dealing with the exact same PDF problem with my determination letter. Reading through all the solutions you provided gave me hope that this could be fixed. I tried the Chrome settings change that Sofia suggested first, and it actually worked for me! Changed the PDF settings to download instead of opening in browser, and now I can access my documents. For anyone else who might be reading this later - definitely try that Chrome fix before calling, it might save you hours on hold. This community is amazing for helping each other navigate these frustrating UC system issues. Thanks again everyone!

As someone who just joined this community after dealing with my own UC nightmare, I wanted to add another potential solution that worked for me when I had the PDF issue last month. I found that using an incognito/private browsing window sometimes bypasses whatever caching or cookie issues are preventing the PDFs from loading. Something about the way PA UC's system handles sessions gets confused with regular browsing data. Just open an incognito window, log into your UC account fresh, and try accessing the documents again. Also, if you're on mobile, try switching to desktop if possible - their mobile site seems even more broken than the regular one when it comes to document access. The whole system is frustrating but don't give up! Your appeal rights are too important. Really appreciate seeing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these technical disasters. Grant, hope your hearing went well!

I had this exact same problem last week! What finally worked for me was switching to Edge like @Jade Lopez suggested, but I also had to completely sign out of the UC portal, restart my browser, and then sign back in. The combination of using Edge + fresh login session seemed to do the trick. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might be interfering - I had to disable my password manager temporarily. Hope this helps someone else avoid the headache I went through!

I just dealt with this exact issue yesterday! What worked for me was a combination of a few things: First, I cleared my browser cache completely (not just cookies but the entire cache), then I switched to Edge and made sure to disable all browser extensions including ad blockers. The key thing that seemed to make the difference was accessing the portal during off-peak hours - I tried around 6:30 AM and the attachments opened right away. I think the server load during busy times might be making the attachment loading even more unstable than it already is. Also, for anyone still struggling, I found that some PDF attachments work better if you right-click and "Save As" instead of trying to open them directly in the browser. Good luck everyone - this system is definitely frustrating but don't give up!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently in week 2 of my claim being under review and just saw a job posting that looks perfect for me. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much confidence about applying - it sounds like even if I get hired before my claim is approved, I'll still receive the backpay for the weeks I was legitimately unemployed. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1. Keep filing weekly certifications no matter what - even after starting work 2. Report work start date and wages accurately when the time comes 3. The backpay will come through as a lump sum once the claim is finally approved 4. Document everything for your records It's honestly ridiculous how common this timing issue is with PA UC's slow processing, but at least there's a clear path forward. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance you need but can never find on the official websites! Going to submit that job application with confidence now! 🤞

I'm dealing with almost the same exact situation right now! Week 4 of "under review" status and I have two interviews lined up this week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was really worried that finding work before my claim gets approved would somehow mess up my eligibility for those weeks I was actually unemployed. The consistent advice about continuing to file weekly certifications even after starting work is so valuable. I definitely would have assumed I should stop filing once I got a job, which apparently would have been a huge mistake based on what everyone's shared here. It's honestly crazy how broken PA UC's processing system is that this timing issue happens to so many people. But at least now I know what to expect and can move forward with job hunting without stressing about losing out on benefits I'm legitimately entitled to. Thanks for asking this question @Omar Hassan - this thread is going to help so many people in similar situations! 🙏