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Julian Paolo

Confused about PA UC filing frequency - switched from biweekly to weekly?

I'm completely confused about how often I need to file for my PA unemployment benefits. I thought it was always biweekly (every two weeks), but my neighbor mentioned that Pennsylvania switched to weekly filing? I've been filing every other Sunday for the past month - am I doing this wrong? I don't want to mess up my claim by filing incorrectly. The website doesn't make this clear and I can't get through on the phone lines. Anyone know for sure if we're supposed to file weekly or biweekly now in 2025?

Ella Knight

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Pennsylvania UC switched from biweekly to weekly filing back in 2022. You should be filing every week, not every other week. When you file each week, you're certifying for the previous week. If you've been filing biweekly, you might have gaps in your claim that could affect your payments. I recommend checking your payment history online to see if you're missing any weeks, then file for any weeks you missed (if the system still allows it). Going forward, make sure to file every Sunday for the previous week.

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Julian Paolo

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Oh no! I've probably messed up my whole claim then! Will I lose benefits for those weeks I didn't file for? The system never gave me any warnings about filing incorrectly. This is so stressful.

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ya its weekly not byweekly, been that way for a few years now. u gotta do it every single sunday for the week before

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Exactly! And make sure you file every week even if you had a little bit of work - just report your earnings honestly. Missing weeks can cause all kinds of problems with your claim.

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Julian Paolo

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So what should I do about the weeks I've already missed? Can I file for them now or is it too late? Will my claim be shut down because of this mistake?

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Ella Knight

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You can try to file for the missed weeks, but there's a time limit (usually 2 weeks). Log into your dashboard and see if there are any available weeks to claim. If not, you'll need to contact UC to explain the situation and request a backdate for those weeks. They can sometimes make exceptions if you can show good cause for missing the filing.

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Jade Santiago

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THE WHOLE PA UC SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO TRIP PEOPLE UP!! Nobody tells you ANYTHING about these important changes and then they penalize YOU when you don't follow their rules!!! I had the EXACT same problem last year and lost 3 WEEKS of benefits because "I didn't file on time" even though I was following the old system. RIDICULOUS!! You better call them ASAP to fix this before they close your claim completely!!!!

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Julian Paolo

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That's what I'm afraid of! I really can't afford to lose any payments. I've been trying to call all morning but just get busy signals or disconnected.

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Caleb Stone

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When PA UC switched from biweekly to weekly filing, they did send notices and updated the website, but it's easy to miss if you were already in the system. Here's what you can do: 1. First, try to file for any missed weeks through your online portal 2. If that doesn't work, you need to speak with an agent to request backdating 3. Explain that you misunderstood the filing frequency requirements I recommend using Claimyr to get through to an agent quickly. I was having the same issue with busy signals, then tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to a PA UC rep in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The agent I spoke with was able to backdate my missed weeks because I had a legitimate reason for missing them.

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Daniel Price

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Does this actually work? I've been trying to get through for 2 weeks about a different issue and the phone lines are always busy.

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Caleb Stone

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Yes, it really does work. The service connects you through a priority line. Much better than spending hours hitting redial and getting nowhere. The UC rep was able to help me fix my missed weeks issue when I explained the confusion.

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Olivia Evans

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I went through something similar when they changed it. Not sure if its different now but when i had missed weeks, i was only allowed to backdate file for the previous 2 weeks. anything older than that i had to talk to a rep who manually entered them after i explained the situation. make sure you have all your work search activities documented for those missed weeks too they might ask for them

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Julian Paolo

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Thank you! I have been keeping track of my work search activities every week, so I do have those. I just need to get through to someone who can help me file for those missed weeks.

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Ella Knight

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Just to close the loop on this - yes, PA switched to weekly filing a few years ago. The reason was to process claims faster and get payments out more quickly. The old biweekly system could cause longer waits between payments. Here's what the weekly schedule looks like: - Sunday through Friday: File for the previous week - Wait 2-3 business days for processing - Payment typically arrives via direct deposit or debit card For your missed weeks, definitely try to contact UC as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to get those weeks backdated.

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Julian Paolo

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Thanks everyone for the help! I'm going to try using Claimyr to get through to someone today. I'll update once I get this sorted out. Fingers crossed they'll let me file for those missed weeks!

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Romeo Barrett

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Good luck with Claimyr! I hope you can get those missed weeks sorted out. Just wanted to add - when you do get through to a UC rep, be prepared to explain exactly what happened and why you were filing biweekly instead of weekly. They're usually pretty understanding if you can show it was an honest mistake due to confusion about the system change. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number and PIN ready when you call, as they'll need to verify your identity before they can make any changes to your claim. Keep us posted on how it goes!

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Zainab Omar

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That's really helpful advice about having your SSN and PIN ready! I didn't think about that. I'm also going to write down a brief summary of what happened before I call so I don't forget any details when I'm talking to the rep. Hopefully they'll be understanding since this seems to be a common confusion for people who were already in the system when they made the switch.

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Jamal Harris

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I had the exact same confusion when I first started my claim! Pennsylvania did switch to weekly filing, and it can definitely be overwhelming when you realize you've been doing it wrong. Here's what helped me when I was in your situation: First, don't panic - this is actually a pretty common mistake and the UC reps deal with it regularly. When you do get through to someone (definitely try that Claimyr service others mentioned), be honest about the confusion and they're usually willing to work with you. One thing I learned is that you can sometimes see if there are claimable weeks available by logging into your UC dashboard and checking if any weeks show as "available to claim." If they're there, you might be able to file for them directly without needing to call. Also, make sure you switch to filing every Sunday going forward - I set a recurring phone reminder so I wouldn't forget. The weekly system actually works better once you get used to it because you get paid faster than the old biweekly system. Keep all your documentation ready (work searches, any earnings, etc.) in case they ask for it when you're getting those missed weeks sorted out. You've got this!

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Alfredo Lugo

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This is such great advice, thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything so clearly. I'm definitely going to check my UC dashboard first to see if those weeks are available to claim before I try calling. Setting a weekly reminder is a brilliant idea too - I can't believe I didn't think of that! It's reassuring to hear that this is a common mistake and that the reps are usually understanding about it. I was so worried I had completely ruined my claim, but everyone here has been so helpful in explaining what to do next.

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Emma Davis

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Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! I was also filing biweekly thinking that was still the correct schedule, and missed several weeks before realizing PA had switched to weekly filing. Here's what worked for me: I logged into my UC dashboard first and found that I could actually file for 2 of the missed weeks directly online without needing to call. For the older weeks, I did have to contact them through Claimyr (which really does work - got through in about 30 minutes on my second try). The rep was super helpful and didn't make me feel stupid for the mistake. She explained that when they switched from biweekly to weekly, they grandfathered some people in gradually, which caused confusion. She was able to backdate 4 weeks for me after I explained the situation. Pro tip: When you call, mention that you've been actively job searching and keeping records the whole time - they want to know you weren't just ignoring your responsibilities. Also, they asked me to verify some information from my original claim, so have that paperwork handy if possible. Don't stress too much about this - it's way more common than you think! The weekly system is actually better once you get used to it.

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