I'm in a similar boat and feeling the stress too. Been waiting 18 days since filing and just got the "assigned to examiner" update yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! Based on what I'm seeing, it sounds like 1-2 weeks from assignment is the most common timeframe, though some people have waited longer. I'm going to follow the advice about answering all unknown calls and keeping my documents ready. Has anyone tried reaching out to their state representative's office? I'm wondering if that's worth doing now or if I should wait a bit longer since I'm not quite at the 3-week mark yet.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim 4 weeks ago and just got the "assigned to examiner" update 3 days ago. The financial stress is unreal - I've been living off credit cards and my landlord is starting to ask questions. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying at the same time. It sounds like the timeline varies wildly, but most people seem to hear back within 1-2 weeks of assignment. I've already updated my voicemail to be super brief and I'm answering every single call, even the obvious spam ones. Has anyone had luck with explaining financial hardship to speed things up? I'm worried about being too pushy but I'm also worried about losing my apartment.

Really glad to hear you got the 7-day extension and that your state rep is helping! That's fantastic progress. Just wanted to add - if you haven't already, make sure to document EVERYTHING about your case (dates you called, reference numbers, names of people you spoke with, etc.). Keep a written log because if there are any issues later, having that paper trail can be super helpful. Also, some food banks in PA can help with utility assistance too if you need additional resources. Fingers crossed your examiner contacts you soon!

Hey Scarlett, I just went through this exact situation about 3 months ago. Had an examiner assigned for a separation issue and was facing utility shutoffs too. Here's what helped me get through it: First, you're doing all the right things by calling 211 and your state rep - that's huge! The 7-day extension gives you some breathing room. For the examiner timeline, mine called exactly 9 business days after assignment. When they do call, make sure you answer - they usually only try a few times before moving on to the next case. Have all your documentation ready and be very clear about why leaving was necessary for you. Also, if you haven't already, check with your local Salvation Army or Catholic Charities - they often have emergency utility funds that are separate from what 211 offers. Sometimes you can stack assistance programs. One more thing - when the examiner does contact you, ask them directly if there's anything else you can provide to speed up the determination. Sometimes they'll tell you exactly what they need to make a quick decision. Hang in there! The waiting is the worst part but it sounds like you're being proactive with all the right steps.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this recently - I also filed by phone on a Thursday and was confused about the timing. The agent I spoke with wasn't super clear either, but I did file that first Sunday and it worked out fine. One tip that helped me: when you do log in on Sunday, the system will show you exactly which week you're certifying for, so you'll be able to confirm it's the right timeframe. Also, keep notes of when you file each week - I started a simple calendar reminder because it's easy to lose track of the Sunday deadline when you're dealing with job searching stress. Good luck with everything! The first few weeks are always the most confusing but it gets easier once you get into the routine.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Filed my initial claim on a Thursday and was totally confused about the timing. The agent I spoke with mentioned backdating but didn't really explain what that meant for my weekly filing schedule. You should definitely file THIS Sunday - don't wait! The backdating just means your benefit week started the previous Sunday, but you still need to certify for that week. I made the mistake of overthinking it and almost waited, but thankfully I found some posts here that convinced me to file on schedule. One thing that helped me was setting up a recurring Sunday reminder on my phone. The PA UC system is already confusing enough without missing deadlines on top of it. Also, make sure you have all your job search activities documented from the backdated week - they'll ask about that during certification. The first few weeks are definitely the hardest to navigate, but once you get into the rhythm it becomes much more manageable. Just stick to the Sunday schedule and you'll be fine!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and I totally understand the panic you're feeling right now. My timeline was pretty standard - got the appeal letter in early February, hearing notice came about 5 weeks later, and the actual hearing was scheduled for mid-April (so about 10 weeks total from start to finish). A few things that really helped me get through it: 1. I immediately started a "UC Appeal" folder on my phone and computer to save every single document 2. Applied for emergency food assistance through my county assistance office while waiting - they didn't count pending UC benefits against me 3. Reached out to local churches and community organizations for utility help (many have emergency funds for situations like this) 4. Most importantly - I filed every single weekly claim even when I felt like giving up The hearing itself was actually much less intimidating than I expected. It was a 20-minute phone call where the referee asked straightforward questions about why I left my job. Since you mentioned your position was eliminated, that should work in your favor - that's typically not considered misconduct. Stay strong and keep filing those weekly claims! The waiting is brutal but most legitimate claims do get approved on appeal.

I'm currently going through this same exact situation and your post really resonates with me! I got my appeal letter about 10 days ago and I've been losing sleep over it ever since. From everything I've read here and my own research, it sounds like we're looking at roughly 6-10 weeks from appeal letter to actual hearing date, which is honestly terrifying when you're counting on those benefits to survive. One thing that's been helping me cope with the stress is making a daily checklist: file weekly claim ✓, organize one piece of documentation ✓, research one assistance program ✓. It makes me feel like I'm doing something productive instead of just panicking. Also wanted to mention - I called PA 211 yesterday (just dial 2-1-1) and they connected me with three local food pantries and a utility assistance program I had no idea existed. The whole call took maybe 15 minutes and gave me some backup options while we wait this out. We're all in this together! Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what and stay strong. From what everyone's saying here, if your separation was truly a position elimination, you should be in good shape once you finally get to tell your side of the story.

I'm in week 6 of this exact same "under review" nightmare and finding this thread feels like striking gold! Your situation mirrors mine perfectly - straightforward layoff (restaurant closure), all documents uploaded correctly, ID.me completed weeks ago, and I've been faithfully filing weekly claims and work searches. The total communication blackout from PA UC is what's killing me - no messages, no updates, no way to know if I did something wrong or if it's just their broken system. I've called easily 100+ times and it's always the same cycle: busy signal, mysterious disconnection, or that awful hold music that cuts to nothing. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's obvious PA UC has serious systemic problems with these invisible verification holds that we can't see on our dashboards. I'm definitely trying the 7:59am calling strategy tomorrow morning and sending that uchelp@pa.gov email that multiple people have had success with. It's absolutely ridiculous that in 2025 we need a Reddit detective squad just to figure out basic information about our own unemployment claims, but I'm incredibly grateful everyone is sharing what actually works. The fact that we're all dealing with nearly identical issues really shows how fundamentally broken this system is. I'll update if either strategy gets me through to an actual human being who can explain what the hell is going on with my claim!

I'm currently in week 8 of being stuck in "under review" status and this thread has been a lifesaver! Like so many others here, I've done everything correctly - completed ID.me verification, uploaded all required documents, straightforward layoff from manufacturing (plant downsizing), and I've been religiously filing my weekly claims and work search activities. The complete lack of communication is absolutely maddening - no messages, no explanation, no timeline, just endless silence while my savings disappear. I've called probably 70+ times with the usual results: busy signals, mysterious disconnections, or getting hung up on after hours of waiting. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm definitely going to try the 7:59am calling strategy starting tomorrow morning and also send that email to uchelp@pa.gov. It's both reassuring and infuriating to see that we're all dealing with these same invisible system issues - ID verification glitches, wage verification delays, employer response problems - that don't show up anywhere on our dashboards. The fact that we need to crowdsource basic information about our own state benefits is completely insane, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing what actually works. This Reddit thread has been more helpful than the entire PA UC system! Will definitely update if I make any progress with those methods.