Need a working PA UC phone number that actually connects to a real person
Been trying to reach PA unemployment for 3 days straight with no luck. Every number I call either disconnects me automatically or puts me in an endless loop of automated messages. I need to talk to an actual human about my claim status - it's been stuck as 'pending' for almost 5 weeks now and my bills are piling up. Does anyone have a direct number that actually works? Or maybe a specific time of day when the lines aren't so jammed? At this point I'm desperate enough to try anything.
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Sean Flanagan
i had same problem last month. try calling right when they open at 8am. still took me 13 calls but eventually got thru
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Anastasia Popova
•Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow. What number did you call though? The main one on their website?
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Zara Shah
The main UC Service Center number is 1-888-313-7284. They're open Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm, but honestly your best chance is calling exactly at 8am. Another tip - when they ask for your SSN in the automated system, enter it slowly. If you go too fast sometimes it doesn't register properly and kicks you out.
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NebulaNomad
•LOL that number is useless. I tried calling 47 times last week and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold for an hour!!! PA UC phone system is BROKEN BY DESIGN!!!
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Luca Ferrari
After weeks of frustration with busy signals and disconnects, I finally got through to PA UC using Claimyr. It's a service that basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when they have an agent on the line. Saved me so much headache! You can see how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Was worth it to finally get my open issue resolved after being stuck for a month.
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Anastasia Popova
•Never heard of this before. Does it actually work? I'm getting desperate but also nervous about using third-party services with my unemployment claim.
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Luca Ferrari
•It worked for me - I was skeptical too but after trying to call for 3 weeks straight with no luck, I was willing to try anything. They don't handle any of your claim details, they just connect you with a UC rep and then you take it from there.
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Nia Wilson
Besides the main 888 number, you can also try these regional UC service center numbers: Philadelphia: 215-856-6990 Allentown: 570-820-4617 Erie: 814-871-4474 Harrisburg: 717-783-6925 Pittsburgh: 412-853-1191 Sometimes the regional offices have shorter wait times than the main line. Make sure you have your Social Security Number, PIN, and claim information ready before calling. Also, avoid calling on Mondays and Tuesdays if possible - those are their busiest days.
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Mateo Martinez
•Ugh I wish I'd known this before! I spent all day Monday trying to get through. Do you know if these regional offices can still help if your claim was filed in a different region? I'm in Pittsburgh but my employer is based in Philly.
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Nia Wilson
•Yes, any regional office can help with your claim regardless of where you or your employer are located. The UC system is statewide, so any representative can access your information. The regional numbers sometimes just have different call volumes.
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Aisha Hussain
did u try the email option? sometimes faster than phone. go to www.uc.pa.gov and click on "Contact Us" then fill out the form with ur claim info. they usually get back within 3-5 days in my experience
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Anastasia Popova
•I sent an email about 2 weeks ago and still no response... starting to think they're ignoring me on purpose 😞
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NebulaNomad
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED TO MAKE US GIVE UP!!! I spent 3 months trying to fix my claim and finally had to contact my state representative's office. Call your local state rep and they can intervene for you - it's literally the ONLY thing that worked for me after calling hundreds of times.
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Zara Shah
•This is actually good advice. State representatives' offices have special contacts at UC and can often get issues resolved more quickly. You can find your PA state representative here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/
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Sean Flanagan
i also heard they added a callback feature recently where u can leave ur number instead of waiting on hold? anyone tried this yet?
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Mateo Martinez
•Yes, they have it but it's only available when the queue isn't already full - which seems to be about 10 minutes each morning before they hit capacity. I've been trying to get a callback for two weeks with no luck.
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Anastasia Popova
Update: I tried calling the Pittsburgh number at exactly 8:00 AM today and got through after being on hold for about 45 minutes! The rep was able to see that my claim had an "open issue" regarding my job separation reason. She fixed it on the spot and said I should see payments within 2-3 business days. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!
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Nia Wilson
•Great news! Glad you got it resolved. For future reference, if you see an "open issue" status on your claim, you can sometimes resolve it faster by uploading supporting documentation through your dashboard rather than waiting to speak with someone.
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Luca Ferrari
•Congrats on getting through! Such a relief when you finally talk to someone who can actually help, isn't it?
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Alice Pierce
So glad you finally got through! I'm dealing with a similar situation - been waiting 4 weeks with a "pending" status. Going to try the Pittsburgh number tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp. Did you have to provide any specific documents or information when they resolved your "open issue"? Just want to make sure I have everything ready before I call.
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Olivia Van-Cleve
•I had to have my Social Security Number, PIN, and the reason I was separated from my job ready. In my case, it was a layoff due to company restructuring, so I had the layoff notice from HR that I could reference. The rep asked me a few questions about the circumstances and was able to update it immediately. Make sure you have any documentation about your job separation handy - termination letter, layoff notice, etc. Good luck getting through tomorrow!
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Keisha Jackson
I've been struggling with the same issue for weeks! After reading through all these suggestions, I'm going to try the Pittsburgh regional number tomorrow at exactly 8 AM. It's encouraging to see that Anastasia finally got through and resolved her issue. I'll also make sure to have all my documents ready - termination letter, social security number, and PIN. Has anyone else had success with the regional numbers recently, or should I also consider the callback feature if it becomes available?
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Connor O'Brien
•Good luck with the Pittsburgh number tomorrow! I've been lurking here for a while dealing with my own UC nightmare. Just wanted to add that if the 8 AM slot doesn't work out, I've seen some people have success calling right after lunch around 1 PM - apparently there's sometimes a small window when call volume dips slightly. Also, definitely have your documents ready like others mentioned. The callback feature is basically a myth at this point - I've been trying for weeks and never seen it available. Hope you get through!
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Amina Diallo
•@Keisha Jackson I tried the regional numbers last week and had better luck with the Harrisburg one 717-783-6925 (around) 8:15 AM after the initial rush. Took about 20 minutes on hold but got through. The callback feature is definitely hit or miss - I ve'only seen it available twice in the past month and both times it was gone within minutes. If you don t'get through with Pittsburgh, definitely try a couple of the other regional numbers. Also make sure you re'calling from the phone number associated with your claim - I heard that can sometimes help with verification. Fingers crossed for you!
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Connor Murphy
•@Keisha Jackson Just wanted to jump in and say don t'give up! I was in a similar boat a few months ago - stuck pending for 6 weeks. The regional numbers definitely seem to have better success rates than the main line. If the Pittsburgh number doesn t'work out, I d'also suggest trying the Allentown one 570-820-4617 (around) 8:30 AM - sometimes there s'a second wave of availability after the initial 8 AM rush dies down. And like others mentioned, have everything ready - SSN, PIN, separation documents, and maybe even your employer s'information just in case they need to verify anything. The whole system is frustrating but you ll'get through eventually!
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