Not to hijack this thread, but I've been trying to reach PA UC for THREE DAYS to ask this exact question and can't get through. Always busy signals or disconnects after waiting forever. Has anyone used that Claimyr service? I saw it mentioned on another thread - something about getting you through to a real person? Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

To summarize for anyone else in this situation: 1. You CAN and SHOULD file for the week before you start working, even if you accepted a job offer during that week 2. You only report work and earnings once you actually START the job 3. You must continue doing your work search activities until your first day of work 4. On the week you start working, you'll report your hours and earnings 5. If you earned more than your weekly benefit amount in your first work week, that will be your last eligible week Congratulations on the new job!

I didn't use Cashapp but I had my UC payments going to my Venmo debit card last year. Same thing happened - said "total payment" but nothing showed up. I called PA UC and they said the payment was returned because Venmo rejected it. Had to switch to a regular bank. Might be same issue with Cashapp?

Just checking back - has your payment arrived yet? If not, I would definitely try to contact PA UC directly. While "total payment" status usually means things are processing normally, there's always the possibility of a technical issue that needs to be addressed, especially with non-traditional banking options like CashApp.

anyone notice that we cant use the site during tax season too? happens every year right when everyone needs their 1099s

For anyone still having trouble: Per the PA UC Twitter account (@PaUCSupport), they're experiencing some technical difficulties with the login system today. They recommend using the UC Connect mobile app as an alternative method for filing weekly claims until the website issues are resolved. The estimated fix time is 5pm today.

btw make sure he keeps good records of every job search activity even if it seems pointless. PA randomly audits claims and they will ask for proof. my buddy got hit with an overpayment of $4,200 because he couldn't prove he did his job searches for like 6 weeks.

One important point I haven't seen mentioned: There are multiple types of qualifying work search activities, not just job applications. For someone with a return date, the easiest options might be: 1. Creating or updating profiles on employment websites (PA CareerLink, Indeed, etc.) - this counts as one activity per site, but you can only claim each site once during your benefit year 2. Taking a civil service test or job skills test 3. Participating in a job search seminar or workshop (many are available online through CareerLink) These activities often require less commitment than actual job applications while still satisfying the requirements. Just make sure he documents dates, times, and specific details of each activity.

Update: I finally got through to someone at UC by using the Claimyr service that someone suggested. The representative confirmed that my monetary determination was correct ($487/week), and the second email was automatically triggered because they're verifying my identity documents. She said this won't affect my eligibility based on wages, but might delay payments until the ID verification is complete. She also confirmed I should absolutely be filing my weekly claims starting immediately! Thanks everyone for your help figuring this out.

My sister works for the unemployment office (not in PA though). She says their systems are ancient and often send out emails in the wrong order or duplicate notifications. The important thing is what your dashboard shows. If it shows a weekly benefit amount, you're at least monetarily eligible. But yeah deffinetly File weekly claims! Otherwise when everythings fixed youll have lost all those weeks.

Ugh, I feel your pain! I literally just went through this exact same situation last month. It took 12 days from when they told me an examiner was reviewing my claim until I got my determination letter. But then another 9 days until I actually received my first payment (approved retroactively). So frustrating!!! Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the determination - that was something I almost forgot to do!

If you're approaching financial hardship while waiting, you should also know that PA UC has an "emergency" designation that can be applied in certain cases. Call and specifically ask if your claim qualifies for expedited review due to financial hardship. You may need to provide evidence of imminent housing instability or utility shutoff notices, but it can speed up the process significantly in genuine hardship cases. Additionally, make sure you've uploaded any requested documents to your dashboard. Missing documentation is the #1 cause of delayed determinations.

One more thing to consider - have you checked with your employer about whether this is truly a layoff or if it's considered a "shutdown"? Sometimes employers code these differently, and that can affect eligibility. If they're calling it a shutdown rather than a temporary layoff, you might need to have them clarify the status with UC. Also, was your position classified as seasonal or permanent? That can make a difference too.

UPDATE: I finally got through to PA UC this morning! Used the Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked - got connected to a rep in about 25 minutes instead of dealing with busy signals all day. The agent confirmed what many of you said about the base year issue, but she was able to apply the alternative base year calculation which included my recent wages. I'm now ELIGIBLE! The weekly benefit amount isn't huge but it's definitely better than nothing. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions - this community really saved me from a financial disaster!

Has anyone noticed that the PA UC system ALWAYS seems to update slower when it means they have to PAY US, but if they think we owe THEM money the system updates instantly?? Just saying...

UPDATE: You guys were right! I checked my portal this morning and ALL my claims now show 'In Progress' including the 2025 ones! Looks like it just took about 4 days for everything to update in their system. Thanks everyone for your help and keeping me from panicking unnecessarily!

Just wanted to add - make sure when you request the backdating, you specifically mention that your inability to file was due to "technical issues with the IDme verification system." This is considered a valid reason for backdating under PA UC guidelines. Also, when you do get through to someone, ask them to document in your file that you've been attempting to contact them about this issue. This creates a record showing you've been proactive about resolving the problem, which can help if there are any further delays.

UPDATE: I tried the Claimyr service that someone mentioned here, and I actually got through to PA UC this morning! The rep was able to see in their system that I had multiple failed IDme verification attempts before my successful one. She submitted the backdating request while I was on the phone and said it should be processed within 3-5 business days. She also confirmed that my waiting week will automatically adjust to the new first week of my claim once the backdating is approved. Thank you all for your help and suggestions! I'll update again once everything is finalized.

I waited 4 weeks for my review to complete then got disqualified because they said I didn't provide enough job search evidence even though I applied to 15 jobs! Now I'm in appeals which is ANOTHER 6-8 week wait they told me. The whole system is broken!!!

Update: I finally got through to someone at UC! Called right at 7:55am when they opened and only waited about 45 minutes. The rep told me my claim was flagged because my employer reported a slightly different last day than I did (I put my last physical day at work, they put the date of my final paycheck). She fixed it right there and said I should see movement within 3-5 business days. Thanks everyone for the advice!