Need alternate PA UC phone number - regular line always busy

u can try the PAT line 888-255-4728 but honestly good luck getting through anywhere these days

Here are all the official PA UC contact numbers I know: - Main UC line: 888-313-7284 - PAT (automated system): 888-255-4728 - UC Fraud Hotline: 800-692-7469 - UC Appeals: 717-787-5122 - UC Employer line: 866-403-6163 The problem isn't finding different numbers - it's getting through on ANY of them. They're all overwhelmed, especially at the beginning of the week or early morning. Your best bet is to call the main line between 1-3pm on Wednesdays or Thursdays when call volume tends to be a bit lower.

I was in the exact same situation last month when my benefit year ended. Spent two weeks trying to get through with no luck. Then I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a UC agent in about 20 minutes. They basically keep auto-dialing for you until they get through, then connect you. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Was skeptical at first but worked great for me - saved me hours of frustration.

Something else to consider - have you tried using your MyCOMPASS PA online account to resolve your issue? Many benefit year renewal issues can now be handled directly through the portal without speaking to anyone. Look for the "Benefit Year End" section under your dashboard, and there's usually an electronic form you can submit. Alternatively, some career centers can help with unemployment questions in person. Check https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/ to find one near you. They can sometimes help troubleshoot common issues or direct you to the right resources.

hav u tried emailing them? I sent a message through the contact form on the UC website when i had an open issue and someone actually called ME back 3 days later. worth a shot instead of calling

DO NOT waste your time calling different numbers!! I spent TWO MONTHS trying to get through on every possible number for my overpayment issue. Finally broke down and used Claimyr and got through in 40 mins. The system is DELIBERATELY designed to be impossible to navigate without help!

if ur benefit year just renewed u gotta wait anyway... takes like 3 weeks for them to process it even if u talk to someone

Quick update on timeframes: Benefit year renewals typically take 7-10 business days to process, not 3 weeks. However, if you have an "open issue" or need to verify employment info, you should absolutely contact them. For your specific situation, I recommend: 1. Send an email to UCHelp@pa.gov with your information 2. Try calling mid-week during off-peak hours 3. If you haven't received a response in 3 business days, consider using a calling service or visiting a PA CareerLink office Keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the issue to be resolved. This ensures you'll receive backpay once your issue is fixed.

I feel your pain! I was in a similar situation a few months ago. One thing that helped me was calling the main line (888-313-7284) right at 8:00 AM sharp on Tuesday morning - set multiple alarms and be ready to dial the second they open. Also, when you do get through the automated system, press 1 for English, then 3 for filing claims, then 0 to try to reach an agent. Sometimes the system will put you in a callback queue instead of hanging up. It's still a nightmare but I did eventually get through after about a week of trying. Don't give up!

Just wanted to add another tip that worked for me last year - if you have a smartphone, download an auto-redial app like "Auto Redial" or "ReDial" from the app store. Set it to redial the main UC number every 30 seconds while you do other things. I let mine run for about 2 hours one afternoon and it finally got through to the queue. Way less frustrating than manually dialing over and over. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready (ID, wage info, etc.) because once you do get an agent on the line, they'll want to resolve everything in one call. Good luck!

Another option that worked for me recently - try calling the UC line using a landline instead of a cell phone if you have access to one. I noticed I was getting through more often on my home phone vs my mobile. Not sure if it's coincidence or if their system prioritizes landline calls, but worth a shot! Also, if you're really stuck, some local state representative offices can help escalate UC issues. You can find your rep at www.legis.state.pa.us and call their office - they often have direct contacts at the UC office for constituent services. It might take a few days but they can sometimes get answers when regular channels fail.

One more strategy that saved me when I was in a similar situation - try calling during lunch hours (12-1 PM) on weekdays. Counter-intuitive, but I think fewer people call during lunch and some of the UC staff might still be working while others are on break. Also, if you're getting the "all circuits are busy" message, hang up immediately and redial - don't wait for it to disconnect you. I found I had better luck getting into the queue when I redialed quickly vs waiting. The whole system is a mess but persistence does eventually pay off. Hang in there!

I've been dealing with PA UC issues for months and learned a few tricks that might help. First, try calling exactly at 8:00 AM on Tuesdays or Wednesdays - the call volume seems lower midweek. Second, when you get through the automated system, don't hang up if you hear "all representatives are busy" - sometimes it will actually put you in a callback queue after a few minutes of waiting. Third, keep a detailed log of every call attempt with date/time - if you end up escalating through your state rep's office, they'll want to see you made a good faith effort to get through normal channels. I know it's incredibly frustrating but hang in there. The system is broken but people do eventually get through with enough persistence!

Hey Paolo! I was in almost the exact same boat last month - benefit year renewal with verification issues and couldn't get through to save my life. Here's what finally worked for me: I used the combination approach everyone's mentioning. Started with sending an email to UCHelp@pa.gov (include your name and last 4 SSN digits), then tried calling at 8 AM sharp on Wednesday using that button sequence Daniel mentioned (1, then 3, then 0). The key thing that made the difference was using an auto-redial app like Anastasia suggested - set it to redial every 30 seconds while I worked on other stuff. Got through after about 90 minutes and was able to resolve everything in one call. Also definitely keep filing your weeklies even with the open issue - they told me that's super important for getting backpay. The whole system is ridiculous but don't give up! You'll get through eventually.

Just wanted to share another option that worked for me when I was stuck in a similar situation - try calling the main line (888-313-7284) using Google Voice or Skype instead of your regular phone. I'm not sure why, but I seemed to get through more often when calling through internet-based services. Maybe it routes differently through their system? Also, if you're still having trouble after trying all these great suggestions, consider reaching out to your local legal aid office. Some of them have special programs to help people navigate UC issues and they might be able to make calls on your behalf or escalate your case. Pennsylvania Legal Aid has a hotline at 1-877-953-4250 that might be worth trying. The whole situation is incredibly frustrating but this thread shows there are definitely ways to eventually get through. Keep us posted on what ends up working for you!

One more tip that saved me when I was dealing with benefit year renewal issues - try calling the main line right at 4:00 PM on Fridays. I know it sounds weird since most people avoid calling on Fridays, but I think that's exactly why it works! The call volume seems way lower in the late afternoon on Friday, and I've gotten through twice using this timing. Also, if you do get the callback queue option, make sure to answer ANY call that comes in for the next few hours - they sometimes call from random numbers that don't show up as "PA UC" or anything obvious. I almost missed my callback because it came from a 717 area code number I didn't recognize. The agent told me they have multiple outbound lines so the caller ID varies. Hope this helps and good luck getting your issue resolved!

I just wanted to add one more approach that worked for me recently - try calling the main line (888-313-7284) using a VPN service if you have one. I switched my VPN to different Pennsylvania cities (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, etc.) and noticed I seemed to get through more often when connected through Pittsburgh. Could be totally coincidental, but maybe their phone system routes calls differently based on location? Also, I discovered that if you're a veteran, you can sometimes get help through your local VA office - they have people who specifically help with unemployment claims and can sometimes make calls on your behalf or provide direct contacts. The whole system is completely broken but I'm amazed at all the creative solutions people have found. Persistence really does pay off eventually!