Called PA UC 162 times with no answer - when is the best time to actually get through?

The "best" time is a myth honestly. I had success calling at exactly 7:55am, right before they open at 8. You have to be ready to dial the second it turns 7:55. Have your claim info and SSN ready to go because if you waste time looking for it, someone else takes your spot. Also, Tuesdays and Wednesdays seem slightly better than Mondays or Fridays in my experience.

i call wedsday afternoons and somtimes get thru. but its like winning lottery tbh. try 2:30-3pm thats when ppl r going on breaks i think

After struggling for WEEKS trying to reach someone (with over 200 calls!!), I finally tried Claimyr.com and got through to a PA UC rep in under 20 minutes. They basically call for you and connect you when they get through. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 I was skeptical but desperate about my open issue, and it actually worked. Just sharing because I know how maddening it is to keep calling and never get through.

While timing your calls can help, the PA UC phone systems are genuinely overwhelmed. Here are some alternatives to consider: 1. Use the PA UC message center in your dashboard to send a detailed question about your claim status 2. Visit your local PA CareerLink office in person - they can sometimes help with basic claim issues or use their direct lines to UC 3. Contact your state representative's office - they have special channels to UC and can often get responses 4. Check if you have an "open issue" on your claim in the portal that you can resolve online The phone system is frustrating by design - they're understaffed and the queue fills within minutes of opening. If your issue is time-sensitive due to financial hardship, the legislative option might be your best bet.

I HAAAATE THEIR PHONE SYSTEM!!! Been dealing with this garbage since January!! Called 200+ times some days and NOTHING!! When I finally got through after THREE WEEKS, the lady told me "oh we just needed to verify your last employer's name" - SERIOUSLY??? That's what caused me to almost miss mortgage payments?? The whole system is designed to make people give up I swear.

Monday morning was when I got through, but I had to call for about 2 hours straight. What worked for me was pressing the option for "new claims" instead of "existing claims" because that queue seemed shorter. Once I got the actual person, I just explained I had an existing claim but selected wrong and they transferred me. Just a little trick that might work for you.

did u try emailing them??? sometimes they respond

UPDATE: Success! I tried the early morning trick and called exactly at 7:58am. Got through after only 12 attempts and waited on hold for about 35 minutes. The rep was actually really helpful and fixed my issue - turns out they needed additional employment verification because my employer had reported different quarterly wages than what I put on my application. Issue resolved and payments should start processing tomorrow! Thanks everyone for the advice. For anyone else struggling, the early morning really does seem to be the key. Have your info ready and be prepared to wait on hold, but it's worth it to get your issue resolved.

Wow, congratulations on finally getting through! Your success story gives me hope. I'm dealing with a similar situation - been trying to reach PA UC for weeks about a payment issue. The early morning strategy sounds like it's worth trying. Quick question though - when you called at 7:58am, did you keep redialing immediately if you got a busy signal, or did you wait between attempts? Also, did you use the main UC number or a specific department line? Thanks for sharing your experience and coming back to update us!