Good news - if your position was eliminated, that's a clear qualification for benefits in Pennsylvania. In this case, I suspect your claim might be caught in the routine backlog rather than a specific issue. One thing to try: send a message through the PA UC portal's messaging system specifically asking what's causing the delay and requesting expedited processing due to financial hardship. Sometimes this can flag your claim for review. Keep filing those weekly certifications so when it does resolve, you'll get all backpay owed.

Good advice above. If the portal message doesn't get results in 3-4 days, I'd seriously consider using Claimyr or contacting your state rep. When I used Claimyr, I finally got someone who explained exactly what was happening with my claim. The peace of mind alone was worth it after weeks of silence. Sometimes these claims get stuck in digital limbo and just need a human to push them along.

hey i kno this is completely off topic but did anyone have to do the ID.me verification? they sent me a link but when i try to do the video call verification thing it keeps saying no agents available and i'm worried my claim will be disqualified if i don't complete it soon

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at UC this morning! The rep explained that because my claim was backdated for 13 weeks, the total amount was too large for a single payment, so they're sending the first portion as a paper check. She said it was mailed on Monday and should arrive by the end of this week. The remaining payments will come via direct deposit once the check portion is processed. She also mentioned that the system sometimes defaults to paper checks for first-time claimants as a security measure. For anyone else dealing with this issue - keep checking your mail and be patient! Will update when my check arrives.

One more thing - if you're able to get your hearing changed to phone, make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception when they call. Have all your documents spread out where you can see them. Take notes during the other party's testimony so you can address any inaccuracies. And most importantly, speak clearly and answer only what is asked without volunteering extra information that might hurt your case.

just wondering did u get thru to them yet?? let us know what happens!!

I had this exact situation last month! Pay date on Saturday, money actually hit my account Monday afternoon. I have Citizens Bank too. Some of my friends with credit unions get it faster though.

Just a tip for future reference - try to budget assuming your payment will arrive 2-3 business days after the pay date shows in the system. That way you'll have some buffer for rent and other bills. The PA UC payment system is reliable but not particularly fast. Also, make sure you're completing your work search activities each week (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc.) and documenting them properly. They can hold up payments if they audit your work search and find issues.

Wait so is this different from Trade Adjustment Assistance? My brother got some kind of extension but I think it was because his job went overseas? Anyone know if that's still available?

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I guess I need to accept that the 26 weeks is all I'll get and plan accordingly. I'll focus more on my job search and maybe look into some training programs through CareerLink as suggested. Definitely disappointing, but at least now I know not to count on any extensions.

When I had problems with my UC claim I went to my state representative's office and they helped me. They have special contacts at unemployment and can sometimes get things fixed faster than you can on your own. Might be worth a try if the phone calls don't work out.

Quick update - I just remembered something important! When I had this issue they told me I still needed to keep filing my weekly claims for EVERY week even though they were showing as disqualified!!! Don't stop filing or you could lose those weeks permanently!

does anybody know if u can get unemployment again if u find a job but then lose it after like a month? would that reset everything?

Quick update on benefit extensions - I just attended a PA CareerLink webinar yesterday, and they mentioned that while there are no automatic extensions, there are a couple of specific programs that might help in certain situations: 1. Training extension - If you enroll in an approved training program, you might qualify for additional weeks 2. Shared Work Program - Some employers are using this instead of layoffs, where you work reduced hours but get partial UC benefits 3. Industry-specific grants - Certain industries (especially manufacturing and healthcare) have special funding for retraining None of these are automatic extensions like we saw during COVID, but they're worth investigating based on your specific situation.

my cousin's roomate works at the unemployment office and he says they deny everybody the first time just to see if people will fight it or not!!! the whole system is rigged

just want to say congrats on winning! thats a huge relief I bet. my friend had something similar happen and she said the money showed up exactly 25 days after the board decision. hang in there!

My brother in law waited like 2 months for his appeal desicion so a month isnt that bad honestly

UPDATE: Got my decision letter today - APPROVED! It took exactly 5 weeks and 2 days after my hearing. Thanks everyone for your advice and support during the wait. The letter says I should see payments within 7-10 business days for all my back weeks. Such a relief!

Anyone else get conflicting info from different UC reps? One told me backdating was impossible after 2 weeks and another said 4 weeks. Can't get straight answers from this system ever

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know that I managed to backdate my claims for the past 4 weeks and my dashboard is now showing 'payment in progress' status! The rep I spoke with (finally got through) confirmed that all my backdated weeks were accepted. They said I should see the money in my account by next Tuesday. Thanks to everyone who helped explain this confusing process!