Fed up with PA UC phone lines - 1000+ calls and can't get through!

call at 7:59am exactly. thats how i got thru last month

Honestly the whole PA UC phone system is DESIGNED to keep people out!! I spent 3 weeks calling non-stop last year when I got hit with that false overpayment notice. The system is completely broken on purpose. They don't want to pay us what we're owed!!!!

When my claim was stuck last month I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes after I'd spent literal days trying on my own. They basically call for you and when they get through, they connect you. Check out their video demo here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - website is claimyr.com. Was totally worth it to finally get my issue fixed after weeks of stress.

The phone lines are definitely challenging, but there are a few strategies that might help: 1. Try calling the PA UC number exactly at 8:00am when they open or after 3:30pm when call volume sometimes decreases 2. Make sure you're calling the correct number for your issue: - Regular UC questions: 888-313-7284 - UC direct deposit/payment questions: 877-403-7150 3. Have you tried the LiveChat option on the PA UC website? It sometimes has shorter wait times 4. Email them at uchelp@pa.gov with your claim number and issue (but response can take 7-10 days) 5. Contact your state representative's office - they often have contacts at UC who can help expedite issues Hope one of these options works for you!

i had the same prob in january... wat worked for me was calling the employer line (866-403-6163) instead of regular UC number... they'll transfer u if ur claim is under review. try around 10:45am, thats wen they come back from morning break lol. good luck!!

Since your claim has been "under review" for 5 weeks, it's likely flagged with an "open issue" that needs to be resolved by a claims examiner. This is separate from just getting through on the phone lines. You should check your dashboard on the PA UC portal to see if it shows any specific issues needing attention. If you can't reach someone by phone, I recommend these alternate approaches: 1. Use the PA CareerLink offices for in-person help - they can sometimes access the UC system 2. File an appeal if you've received any determination letters (this creates a separate review process) 3. Check if you have any outstanding questionnaires in your dashboard that need completion 4. Make sure your job search activities are properly recorded (the "under review" status is sometimes triggered by missing job search records) Hope this helps! The system is frustrating but usually works eventually.

UPDATE: After seeing the suggestions here, I tried a few different approaches. The CareerLink office couldn't directly help with my claim but gave me a different number to try. Still no luck. BUT - I did try that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and it actually worked!! Got connected to an agent in about 25 minutes. Turns out my claim had an identity verification issue that never triggered a notification. The agent was able to verify my ID and release my payments! They said I should receive the backpay within 3-5 business days. SUCH A RELIEF!!

Wow, so glad you got it resolved @Paolo! Identity verification issues are such a nightmare because they literally give you no notification that it's the problem. I went through the exact same thing last year - 6 weeks of "under review" status and hundreds of calls before I finally got through to someone who told me they needed additional ID docs. The system is so broken when it comes to communicating what's actually wrong. Thanks for sharing the update and the Claimyr tip - definitely bookmarking that for future reference. Hope your backpay comes through quickly!