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Update: I filed my claim with PA yesterday. The online system accepted it, but now I'm showing an "open issue" on my claim that says "wage investigation." I'm guessing this is related to the out-of-state employer situation. Has anyone dealt with this specific issue before? How long did it take to resolve?
That's a normal part of the process when there's an interstate employer involved. The "wage investigation" means PA is verifying your wages with your Florida employer. This typically takes 2-3 weeks to resolve. Make sure you continue filing your weekly certifications even while this issue is pending. As long as you're eligible, you'll receive all back payments once the issue is resolved.
dont they have to prove you got the notice? like dont they send important stuff certified mail or something
Unfortunately, PA UC typically sends most notices by regular first-class mail, not certified mail. They're only required to send it to your last known address on file. This is exactly why keeping your address updated with them is so important, and why so many people run into this problem. They don't have to prove you personally received it - only that they sent it to your address of record. It's definitely a flaw in the system.
Update: I talked to Legal Aid today and they're going to help me file the "nunc pro tunc" appeal! The attorney said I have a strong case since I never received ANY communication about the appeal until they tried to take my tax refund. Apparently PA UC is required to make a "reasonable attempt" to notify claimants, and sending one notice to a possibly outdated address doesn't qualify as reasonable when they're collecting debts years later. Will keep everyone posted on how this goes. Thanks so much for all the advice!
That's excellent news! Legal Aid attorneys who specialize in unemployment cases know exactly how to handle these situations. Make sure they address both the procedural issue (lack of notice) and the substantive issue (whether you were actually eligible for the benefits in the first place). Your case is exactly why the "nunc pro tunc" process exists. Good luck, and please do update us on how it goes - your experience could help others in similar situations.
The PA UC system is DELIBERATELY DESIGNED to frustrate people into giving up. I'm convinced of it after my experience last year. They hope you'll just stop filing or miss a week so they can close your claim. DON'T GIVE UP. Keep calling EVERY SINGLE DAY and document who you speak with and what they say. Ask for a supervisor if the rep isn't helpful. The squeaky wheel absolutely gets the grease in this broken system. And yes, DEFINITELY contact your state representatives - that was the only thing that finally got my claim unstuck after 13 weeks of nothing.
When you call UC and actually get through, there are specific phrases that can help: Ask them to "make a courtesy call to the examiner" about your case. Request that they "add a hardship flag" to your claim due to financial circumstances. Ask if there are any "required actions" showing on their end that you might not be able to see. Finally, request that they "expedite your claim due to financial hardship." These specific requests sometimes get better results than just asking for a status update.
quick question - did u get any warnings before the disqualification? they usually send an alert message in your dashboard before they disqualify you
While waiting for your appeal, make sure to save a copy of any job offer letter or employment contract you have for your landscaping position. Having documentation that proves you've secured future employment could help your case, even though it doesn't technically exempt you from RESEA. The referee might be more sympathetic seeing you're not trying to game the system but genuinely transitioning between jobs with a seasonal gap.
Just to clarify a common misconception - in Pennsylvania, you should begin filing your weekly certifications immediately after submitting your initial application, even before approval. You don't need to wait for your initial claim to be approved first. The system will hold those weekly certifications until your claim is processed, and then release payments for eligible weeks. If you haven't been filing weekly claims while waiting for your initial claim determination, you should start immediately and may need to file for back weeks. This is a frequent mistake that causes payment delays.
Regarding the thermometer disappearing - I just checked with a friend who works at the PA UC office (not officially speaking for them). She said they actually rolled out a small website update last week that's been causing the thermometer to disappear for some users. It's a known issue they're working on fixing. So in your case, it's likely just a display glitch rather than anything wrong with your claim.
my cousin works for UC and says they're still super understaffed since covid. they lost like half their experienced examiners who retired or quit and the new people take way longer to process claims. not saying its right but thats why everything takes forever now
Just as an update for anyone reading this thread later - I contacted Representative Salisbury's office based on this post. They took my information and contacted UC on my behalf. Within a week, my claim that had been pending for 5 months was processed and I received all my backpay. Definitely reach out to your local representatives if you're stuck in the UC system! They can often help move things along much faster than you can on your own.
Anyone know if theres fees for transferring from money network to bank? I got hit with so many atm fees already im kinda scared to try anything else lol
Update in case anyone is searching for this later: I got it working! Had to first verify my phone number through the Money Network app, then create a smaller initial transfer ($400). After that first transfer went through, I was able to transfer the rest without any issues. Thanks everyone for the help!
Update: I just got off the phone with PA UC (took forever to get through). They said the issue is that they couldn't verify my employment dates with my former employer. Apparently my employer told them I quit (not true - I was laid off) and now it's my word against theirs. I'm gathering emails from coworkers who were laid off at the same time to bring to the hearing. The agent said bringing witnesses who can testify I was laid off would help a lot. This is so stressful, but at least now I know exactly what I'm fighting. Thanks everyone for the advice!
anybody know if these hearings can be done over the phone or do you have to go in person? my letter says something about options but its not clear
DONT STOP FILING YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS!!! I can't emphasize this enough! Even if they show as "not applicable" you MUST continue filing every week. The system is a MESS and often doesn't show accurate statuses. I had a similar situation last year where my claim was "under review" for EIGHT WEEKS!!! I nearly lost my apartment waiting. Every weekly claim showed "not applicable" until suddenly one day everything was approved and I got all my back payments at once. The PA UC system is BROKEN but eventually it does work for most people. Just keep doing your work search, documenting everything, and filing those weekly claims!
Eight weeks?! That's terrifying. My landlord isn't going to wait that long. Did you ever figure out what caused the delay in your case?
Update: Since several people have mentioned long review periods, I want to clarify that as of April 2025, the current average processing time for new PA UC claims is 2-3 weeks for claims without issues and 4-6 weeks for claims with open issues. If your claim takes longer than 6 weeks to process, you should definitely contact your state representative for assistance, as they can often help expedite claims that have fallen through the cracks. Also, if you're experiencing financial hardship while waiting for your claim to process, check into emergency assistance programs through PA DHS or local community organizations. Many can provide temporary help with rent, utilities, and food while you wait for unemployment benefits to begin.
This is really helpful information, thank you! I'll give it another couple of weeks, and then try getting in touch with a rep if nothing changes. If I can't get through by phone, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned or contact my state representative. Really appreciate everyone's advice!
Emma Wilson
When I lost my job at the warehouse last year I had the same problem. I ended up having to apply for cash assistance through the county office instead because I didn't have enough wages for a new UC claim. You might want to look into that as a backup plan. They made me sign up for their work program but at least it was something coming in while I kept job hunting.
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NebulaNova
I want to thank everyone who responded. I'm going to file a new claim today and make sure I document all my temp work carefully. I'll also look into that Claimyr service if I need to speak with someone directly. And I appreciate the suggestion about county assistance programs as a backup plan. This community has been so helpful when the official resources aren't! I'll update once I hear something back about my claim.
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