Update: I submitted my new application yesterday and the system is showing an "open issue" already. Is this normal? Should I try calling them to find out what the issue is? I'm getting really anxious about this whole process.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My benefit year just ended last week and I'm terrified about reapplying. Reading everyone's experiences here is both helpful and scary - sounds like it really varies from person to person. I've been working part-time too (about 20 hours/week at a restaurant) so I'm hoping that's enough to qualify for a new claim. The waiting period is what's killing me though. Bills don't stop coming just because UC takes weeks to process applications! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it helps to know I'm not alone in this stressful situation.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago! The benefit year transition is definitely confusing but everyone here gave you solid advice. One thing I'd add - when you're filling out that new initial claim, be super careful about the dates for your temporary job. Make sure you report the exact start and end dates because any mistakes there can delay your approval. Also, if your new weekly benefit amount ends up being lower than before (which happened to me), you can sometimes appeal that determination if you think they calculated it wrong. The appeals process isn't fun but it's worth it if there's a significant difference. Hang in there - the whole system is frustrating but you'll get through it!

Hey Amina! I just went through this same exact thing about 3 months ago when my benefit year ended. It's definitely confusing but you're on the right track now that you filed the new initial claim. A few things that might help while you're waiting: 1. Keep a spreadsheet or notes of when you filed your new claim and any confirmation numbers - it makes it easier if you need to call later 2. Continue filing those weekly certifications like you did - even if the system seems glitchy, keep doing it every week 3. Start documenting your job search activities NOW even while waiting for approval (companies applied to, dates, positions, etc.) because they'll want that info once you're approved The 2-3 week timeline is usually pretty accurate for new claims. In my case, I got approved in exactly 16 days and they released all the weekly payments I had filed while waiting. The hardest part is just the waiting and uncertainty, but it sounds like you did everything right! Keep us posted on how it goes.

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same message issue for the past 3 days and was starting to panic that I'd miss something important. Reading through everyone's solutions gives me hope that I can actually fix this. I'm going to start with the Shift+refresh method that worked for Dmitry, and if that doesn't work I'll try switching to Firefox and clearing my browser data completely. The tip about accessing during off-peak hours is really smart too - I've been trying to check messages during lunch breaks when the servers are probably overloaded. It's honestly embarrassing that Pennsylvania's unemployment system is this broken, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other instead of just complaining. I'll report back on what ends up working for me in case it helps anyone else who finds this thread in the future!

I just want to echo everyone's gratitude for this amazing thread! I stumbled across this while frantically googling "PA UC messages won't open" at 2am because I was so stressed about potentially missing something important. Reading through all these detailed solutions has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that this is a widespread technical issue with the portal, not something we're doing wrong. I'm especially grateful for the step-by-step troubleshooting approaches and the fact that people actually follow up to share what worked for them. I'm going to try the Shift+refresh method first thing in the morning, and if that doesn't work, I'll move through the other suggestions systematically. The tip about setting up text alerts is brilliant - I had no idea that was even an option! It's honestly mind-boggling that we need this level of technical expertise just to access basic government services, but at least we have this community to help each other navigate the broken system. Thank you all for turning what could have been an isolated, panic-inducing experience into a solvable problem with multiple potential solutions!

I'm jumping into this conversation as someone who just started the PA UC process this week and was already feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting information online. This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I haven't done my first weekly certification yet, but now I know exactly what to expect with these "Conversion Employer" placeholders. It's honestly mind-blowing that PA UC hasn't fixed such an obvious user experience issue - literally every single person seems to have this same panic reaction. The fact that we have to crowdsource basic system explanations on community forums shows how badly the official documentation is lacking. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed explanations from @Fatima Al-Hashimi. This kind of community knowledge sharing is what gets people through these confusing government systems!

I just want to add my experience for anyone else who might be searching for answers about this! I had the exact same "Conversion Employer" panic about 6 months ago when I first filed. What really helped me was realizing that these placeholders actually serve a legitimate technical purpose - they're how the system handles the data migration between different state databases. Think of them like temporary file folders that the computer creates to organize information during transfer. The key thing to remember is that they ALWAYS show zero earnings and ALWAYS have that same "Conversion City 99999" address format. If you ever see an actual employer name you don't recognize (not these generic placeholders), that's when you should be concerned. But these "Conversion Employer" entries are just digital artifacts - completely harmless and standard for every single PA UC claim. It's honestly criminal that PA UC doesn't explain this anywhere, but at least we have communities like this to help each other figure it out!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My BYE date is coming up in two weeks and I was totally panicking about it. This thread has been so helpful - I had no idea you could still file for that final week after your benefit year ends. The PA UC system really doesn't make this clear at all. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially about the system updates in February. It's such a relief to know this is normal and that others have successfully navigated this process!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same situation a few months ago. Yes, you can definitely file for that final week after your BYE date - I was able to submit my claim on the Sunday after my benefit year ended without any issues. The key thing is to make sure you file within the normal weekly filing window (Sunday through Friday). One tip that really helped me: when you log into the system after your BYE date, it might look a little different or show some warnings about your benefit year ending, but don't panic! As long as you're filing for a week that was within your benefit year, you're good to go. I'd also recommend having your work search activities well documented for that final week, as they sometimes do additional reviews on claims filed after the BYE date. Hope this helps ease some of your stress - you'll get through this!