How long for PA UC claim determination after examiner review? Urgent bills waiting!

From my experience last year, it took about 10 business days once an examiner was actually assigned to my case. But honestly it varies A LOT depending on how complex your situation is. If you had the same employer for years and a straightforward layoff, it might be quicker. If you had multiple jobs or quit instead of being laid off, it could take longer.

mine took 3 MONTHS last winter!!! the system is so broken. they kept saying someone was "working on it" but nothing happened until i contacted my state rep's office. wish i had done that sooner!!!

The actual time varies significantly depending on your claim complexity and current UC workload. While some straightforward claims are determined within 7-10 business days after examiner assignment, others may take 3-4 weeks. Remember that PA UC is required to make determinations within 21 days of filing according to federal standards, but they frequently exceed this during busy periods. Things that can delay determination: - Employment verification issues - Missing employer responses - Conflicting information - Wage investigations - Multiple employers in your base year If it's been more than 21 days since your initial filing, you should escalate your claim status inquiry.

my buddy just went thru this & it took like 2 weeks after the examiner got his claim but he had to call like everyday to check on it

If you need to reach an actual human at PA UC (which you absolutely should if it's been over 21 days), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in the same situation last month - couldn't get through on the phones for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to a rep in about 20 minutes. It's basically a service that handles the call waiting and connects you when a rep is available. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Once I actually spoke to someone, they escalated my claim and I had a determination 8 days later. Sometimes you just need to get past that phone barrier to move things along.

My sister in law had UC last month and she said sometimes the reps just say that to get you off the phone when they dont actually know. Have you tried checking your dashboard on the PA website? Sometimes theres more info there than what the phone people tell you.

To answer your original question more precisely - from the moment an examiner is actively reviewing your case, the determination usually comes within 1-2 weeks. However, claims often sit in a queue waiting for an examiner for varying periods before actual review begins. Since you're at the 3-week mark from initial filing and it's being actively worked on (according to the rep), I'd estimate you're probably looking at another 3-10 business days. But as everyone has mentioned, there are many variables that can affect this timeline.

Ugh, I feel your pain! I literally just went through this exact same situation last month. It took 12 days from when they told me an examiner was reviewing my claim until I got my determination letter. But then another 9 days until I actually received my first payment (approved retroactively). So frustrating!!! Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the determination - that was something I almost forgot to do!

If you're approaching financial hardship while waiting, you should also know that PA UC has an "emergency" designation that can be applied in certain cases. Call and specifically ask if your claim qualifies for expedited review due to financial hardship. You may need to provide evidence of imminent housing instability or utility shutoff notices, but it can speed up the process significantly in genuine hardship cases. Additionally, make sure you've uploaded any requested documents to your dashboard. Missing documentation is the #1 cause of delayed determinations.

I'm going through something similar right now - filed 2.5 weeks ago and just got told yesterday that my claim is "under examiner review." It's so stressful not knowing when the money will come through! Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like we might be looking at anywhere from a few days to a few weeks once they're actually reviewing it. One thing that's helped me is calling early in the morning (like right at 8am when they open) - I've had better luck getting through than calling later in the day. Also been documenting every call I make in case I need to escalate later. Hang in there - sounds like most people do eventually get their determination even if the wait is awful!

I'm in a similar boat right now - filed about 2 weeks ago and was told last week that my claim is with an examiner. The uncertainty is killing me! I've been trying to call every day but can barely get through. From what I'm seeing in these responses, it sounds like once they're actually reviewing it, most people are getting determinations within 1-2 weeks, but the waiting period before that can vary wildly. One thing I've started doing is keeping a log of every interaction - dates, times, what they told me, confirmation numbers if they give them. Figure it might help if I need to escalate or if there are any discrepancies later. Also trying to stay on top of my weekly certifications even though nothing's been approved yet. The financial stress is real though - I'm already having to be super careful with spending and really hoping this doesn't drag on for months like some people have experienced. Fingers crossed for all of us waiting! 🤞

I just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago! Once they told me an examiner was actively reviewing my case, it took exactly 8 business days to get my determination letter. But here's the thing - I found out later that my claim had actually been sitting in a queue for almost 2 weeks before an examiner even looked at it, even though the reps kept saying it was "being worked on." Since you're at the 3-week mark and they're saying it's actively being reviewed, I'd guess you're probably looking at 1-2 more weeks max. The good news is that warehouse layoffs are usually pretty straightforward cases, so once they actually review it, the decision should be quick. Also, definitely keep calling to check status - I noticed that the more I called, the more detailed information I got from different reps. Some were more helpful than others. And make absolutely sure you're still doing your weekly certifications! I almost missed one because I was so focused on waiting for the determination. Hang in there - the financial stress is awful but most people do get approved eventually. Just try to budget super carefully in the meantime!

I'm currently in week 4 of waiting for my PA UC determination and just wanted to share what I've learned from calling repeatedly and reading through all these helpful responses. The key thing seems to be understanding the difference between "your claim is being worked on" (which can mean it's just sitting in a queue) versus "an examiner is actively reviewing your case" (which means actual progress). If you've been told an examiner is actively reviewing it, based on everyone's experiences here, you're probably looking at 1-2 weeks for a decision. The warehouse layoff should work in your favor since it's straightforward. A few practical tips from my experience: - Call at exactly 8am when they open for better chance of getting through - Keep a log of every call (date, time, rep name if they give it, what they told you) - Ask specifically if your claim qualifies for expedited review due to financial hardship - Don't forget your weekly certifications even while waiting Since you're past the 21-day federal standard, definitely mention that when you call and ask about escalation options. The financial stress is brutal but hang in there - most people do get approved eventually!

I'm actually dealing with this RIGHT NOW and it's so stressful! Filed my claim about 10 days ago after getting laid off from my retail job and just called yesterday - they told me an examiner is reviewing my case. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful because the uncertainty is the worst part. It sounds like once an examiner is actually looking at your case (not just sitting in a queue), most people are getting decisions within 1-2 weeks. Since you've been waiting 3 weeks total and they specifically said an examiner is working on it, hopefully you're close to getting an answer! I'm definitely going to try that 8am calling tip and ask about the expedited review for financial hardship. My savings are running low too and every day feels like forever when you're worried about bills. Thanks for posting this question - at least now I have a better idea of what to expect with my own claim!

I just went through this same process about a month ago and wanted to share my timeline to hopefully help ease some of your anxiety! I was also laid off from a warehouse job (seems like there's a lot of that happening lately unfortunately). Once the rep told me an examiner was "currently working on" my claim, it took exactly 11 business days to get my determination letter. The key thing I learned is that when they say "currently being worked on by an examiner" that usually means it's actually in active review, not just sitting in a queue somewhere. Since your layoff situation sounds straightforward (2 years at the same employer, whole department downsized), that should work in your favor for a quicker decision. Complex cases with multiple employers or disputed reasons for separation take longer. A couple things that helped me during the wait: - I called every few days just to confirm status (not daily, but regularly) - Made sure all my documents were uploaded to the dashboard - Kept doing my weekly certifications religiously - Started looking into local food banks and utility assistance programs just in case The financial stress is absolutely real, but based on your situation I'd estimate you're probably looking at another week or so. Warehouse layoffs are usually pretty cut and dried for them to process. Hang in there! 💪

I'm currently in week 3 of my PA UC claim after being laid off from my manufacturing job, and I just got the same "examiner is working on it" response when I called yesterday. Reading through all these experiences is incredibly helpful - it sounds like once they actually say an examiner is reviewing it (not just that it's "pending"), most people are getting determinations within 1-2 weeks. The 8am calling tip is gold - I've been trying to get through at random times and it's been impossible. Definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. Also had no idea about the expedited review option for financial hardship, so I'll ask about that too since my rent is due next week and I'm starting to panic. It's somewhat comforting to know this waiting period is normal, even though it's absolutely nerve-wracking when you're watching your savings disappear. Thanks for asking this question - sometimes you just need to hear from real people who've been through it rather than getting vague answers from official sources!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my job at a distribution center. Once the rep told me an examiner was actively reviewing my claim, it took 9 business days to get my determination letter. The wait was absolutely brutal because like you, I had bills piling up and was stressed about making rent. A few things I learned that might help: - When they say "examiner is working on it" vs just "pending" - that's actually a good sign that you're in active review - Warehouse/distribution layoffs are usually straightforward since there's clear documentation - Keep calling every 2-3 days to stay on their radar (but not daily or they get annoyed) - Make sure you mention you're past the 21-day federal requirement - that can sometimes help prioritize your case Since you've been waiting 3 weeks total and they confirmed an examiner is reviewing it, I'd guess you're probably looking at another 5-10 business days max. The financial anxiety is real but try to hang in there - most straightforward layoff cases like yours do get approved. Just make sure you keep filing those weekly claims even while waiting! Also consider calling your local social services office about emergency assistance programs if you're really struggling with bills. Some areas have short-term help available while UC is processing.

I'm dealing with this right now too and the anxiety is killing me! Filed my claim 18 days ago after getting laid off from my job at a logistics company and just got told yesterday that an examiner is "actively reviewing" my case. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly the most helpful information I've gotten through this whole process. It sounds like once they specifically say an examiner is actively reviewing (not just "pending" or "being worked on"), most people are getting determinations within 1-2 weeks. Since you're at 3 weeks and have that confirmation, hopefully you're in the home stretch! I'm definitely going to try calling at 8am tomorrow like everyone suggests - I've been calling randomly throughout the day and can never get through. Also planning to ask about that expedited review for financial hardship since I'm already having to choose between groceries and gas money. The not knowing is honestly worse than anything else. At least if they gave us realistic timelines we could plan accordingly instead of just sitting here refreshing our dashboards every hour! Thanks for posting this - it's so helpful to know other people are going through the exact same thing and that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Fingers crossed we both hear back soon! 🤞

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my PA UC claim 3 weeks ago after getting laid off from my packaging facility job, and just got told yesterday that an examiner is "currently working on" my case. The financial stress is unreal and I've been losing sleep worrying about how long this could drag on. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though! It sounds like once they specifically say an examiner is working on it (not just "pending"), most people are seeing determinations within 1-2 weeks. Since packaging/warehouse layoffs seem pretty straightforward, I'm hoping that works in both our favor. I'm definitely going to try that 8am calling strategy everyone keeps mentioning - I've been calling at random times and can barely get through. Also had no idea about the expedited review option for financial hardship, so I'll ask about that too since I'm already having to ration groceries. The uncertainty is honestly the hardest part. At least now I have some realistic expectations based on real people's experiences rather than just vague "it varies" responses from reps. Thanks for asking this question - it's so reassuring to know I'm not alone in this waiting game! Hopefully we both get our determinations soon 🤞