Can't reach PA UC after 60+ calls - is visiting the Bucks County office worth it?

Unfortunately the in-person UC offices don't process claims directly anymore - they're mainly for CareerLink services. I was in the same boat last month (60+ calls too!). What worked for me was using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual person at PA UC. It basically keeps calling for you and connects you when someone answers. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 showing how it works. I was skeptical but desperate after weeks of trying, and got connected to a rep in about 30 minutes. Turns out I had an 'open issue' that needed verification of my last day worked.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN!!!!! I went through this EXACT same thing last year. Called 100+ times, emailed, even contacted my state rep. NOTHING WORKED! The system is DESIGNED to frustrate people so they give up. It's CRIMINAL how they treat us when we need help the most. Those "career centers" are useless - they just hand you a piece of paper with the SAME NUMBER you've been calling.

my claim was also stuck for like 3 weeks... turned out i had checked the wrong box about being able to work or something. when i finally got thru they fixed it in like 5 mins. so annoying!!

I recently went through a similar situation. Your claim likely has an 'open issue' that requires manual review by an examiner. This typically happens with store closings since they need to verify the reason for separation wasn't your fault. Here's what you need to do: 1. Check your UC dashboard for any correspondence in your message center - sometimes they request additional info but don't tell you 2. Triple-check that you're properly completing your weekly work search activities (2 per week minimum) and documenting them correctly 3. If calling isn't working, try emailing uchelp@pa.gov with your name, last 4 of SSN, and a clear description of your issue 4. Contact your state representative's office - they have liaisons to the UC office who can often expedite stuck claims As for in-person visits - the PA CareerLink offices have very limited ability to help with claim issues. They might be able to tell you if there's an obvious problem, but they don't have direct access to fix claims or override issues.

I had a similar issue in December and it was because my employer didn't respond to their request for information about why I was let go. The UC office needs to verify that you're eligible, and if your employer is slow to respond or contests it, your claim gets stuck in limbo. You could try reaching out to your former employer's HR to make sure they responded to the UC office. That's what fixed mine!

To answer your question from earlier - no, Claimyr doesn't need your SSN or anything like that. They just need your phone number to call you back when they get someone on the line at UC. You still talk directly to the UC rep yourself. And just to be clear, they don't help you with your claim - they just help you get through to someone who can.

Yes, I did have an open issue. In my case, there was a discrepancy between the last day worked that I entered vs. what my employer reported. The UC rep was able to fix it right on the call once I explained and provided proof (my final paystub). They told me many claims get held up by simple mismatches like this. Once fixed, my payments started within a week, including all back weeks. If your case is similar, having your last paystub and termination notice ready would help speed things up when you do get through.

Just wanted to add that while waiting to resolve your claim, make absolutely sure you continue filing your weekly certifications on time. Once your claim is approved, you'll receive back payments for all properly filed weeks. If you miss filing for any week, you'll lose that week's payment permanently. Also, don't forget to complete and document your work search activities each week (at least 2 per week) - they may ask for these records later.

i had to wait almost 2 months to get my benefits and turns out it was because i accidentally put my birthdate wrong on the initial application lol. sometimes its the smallest things that hold everything up! keep trying to call first thing when they open, thats how i finally got through

One more thing worth mentioning - if your claim was filed in January, you should be receiving the new 2025 benefit rate which is higher than last year's. The maximum weekly benefit amount is now $747 (up from $693). Make sure that once your claim is processed, the amount seems correct based on your previous earnings. If it seems off, that's another issue you'll want to address when you get through to someone.

Quick update: I took the advice about contacting my state rep and also tried Claimyr this morning. Got through to UC in about a half hour! Turns out there was an 'open issue' because my employer entered a different separation reason than I did. I said 'business closing' but they had put 'lack of work.' The rep fixed it right away and said my payments should start processing within 2-3 business days. She also mentioned they're experiencing higher than normal call volumes due to several large retail chains closing stores after the holidays. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting it resolved! This whole thread is super helpful for anyone else dealing with similar issues. I'm going through something similar right now (filed in February, still pending) and was getting really discouraged. Seeing that it worked out for you gives me hope. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service and contact my state rep too. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but at least there are workarounds. Thanks for updating us with the solution!