PA UC IDme verification stuck on 'please wait' screen - can't reopen claim
I tried reopening my PA unemployment claim this morning after my seasonal job ended, but I'm completely stuck on the IDme verification step. When I click on the IDme button, it just shows 'please wait' forever and never loads the actual verification page. I've been waiting for over an hour and tried refreshing multiple times. Has anyone dealt with this recently? My benefits ran out 3 months ago and I really need to get this claim reopened before rent is due next week.
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Carmen Diaz
same thing happened 2 me last week!! the idme thing is broken i swear. tried on my phone, laptop, even my sisters computer and it just spins forever
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Yuki Tanaka
AuthorDid you ever get it to work? I'm getting desperate here.
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Andre Laurent
Try clearing your browser cache and cookies completely, then use Chrome or Edge (not Firefox). IDme has compatibility issues with certain browsers. Also make sure you don't have any ad blockers or popup blockers active when trying to verify. If it still doesn't work, you'll need to call PA UC directly to report the technical issue.
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Yuki Tanaka
AuthorThanks, I'll try clearing cache and using Edge instead. I've been using Firefox so maybe that's the issue.
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Emily Jackson
I had this EXACT problem in February!!! The IDme verification is GARBAGE and the PA UC website is even WORSE! I spent THREE DAYS trying to get it to work and then gave up. The whole system is designed to stop people from getting benefits they DESERVE after paying into it for YEARS!!
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Liam Mendez
While the system does have issues, IDme is actually a third-party verification system, not part of PA UC itself. It's used across multiple government agencies. But yes, the integration with PA's systems could definitely be improved.
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Sophia Nguyen
when i reopened my claim last month i got stuck on that screen too but eventually it worked after like 2 hrs. just leave it open and maybe try another tab to start over? also check ur internet connection
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Yuki Tanaka
Author2 hours?! That's crazy. My internet is good for everything else, but I'll try leaving it open longer I guess.
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Jacob Smithson
I know this is incredibly frustrating. I went through a similar issue with IDme when reopening my claim. After trying all the browser tricks without success, I finally used Claimyr.com to get connected with a PA UC representative who was able to bypass the IDme issue and process my claim reopening over the phone. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - definitely worth looking into if you're still stuck after trying the browser fixes.
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Carmen Diaz
does that actually work?? ive never heard of claimyr before
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Jacob Smithson
Yes, it worked for me! They connected me to a PA UC agent in about 25 minutes after I'd been trying for days to get through on my own. The rep was able to note the IDme technical issue on my account and process my reopening.
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Isabella Brown
My cousin had this happen and we figured out it was because he had an outstanding issue on his previous claim. Even though the benefit year ended, they won't let you reopen until all issues are resolved from before. Might not be your problem but worth checking if you had any unresolved issues previously.
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Yuki Tanaka
AuthorHmm, I don't think I had any issues with my previous claim, but how would I check that if I can't get into the system?
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Isabella Brown
You might be able to see it if you can log into your dashboard without going through the reopening process. Or you might need to call them directly to check.
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Liam Mendez
This is a known issue with the PA UC IDme integration that's been happening since January 2025. Here's what I recommend trying, in this exact order: 1. Use Chrome in incognito mode 2. Disable ALL browser extensions 3. Try accessing IDme directly through their website first (https://www.id.me/) and create/verify your account there 4. THEN go back to the PA UC portal and try the reopening process 5. If it still fails, there's a technical support email specifically for IDme issues: UCIDME@pa.gov Include your full name, last 4 of SSN, and a screenshot of the error in your email to them. They usually respond within 48 hours with either a fix or a workaround.
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Yuki Tanaka
AuthorThis is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'll try going through IDme directly first as you suggested.
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Carmen Diaz
btw i got mine working finally! had to do it at like 3am when less people were on the site i think
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Yuki Tanaka
UPDATE: I tried all the suggestions here and what finally worked was clearing my cache, using Chrome incognito mode, AND going to IDme directly first to verify my account separately. Then when I went back to the PA UC site, it recognized my verification instantly! Thanks everyone for your help!
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Liam Mendez
Great to hear! Make sure you complete your weekly certifications on time now that you're back in the system.
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Emily Jackson
Lucky you! I'm STILL fighting with them about my claim from February!!!
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Lucas Kowalski
This is such a common issue - I'm glad you got it working! For anyone else still struggling with IDme verification, I'd also recommend trying different times of day. I've noticed the system seems to have fewer issues during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening. Also, if you're on a work or school network, try switching to your phone's mobile data instead - sometimes corporate firewalls can interfere with the IDme process even when other sites work fine.
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Gavin King
I just went through this same nightmare last month! What worked for me was actually doing a full browser reset - not just clearing cache but completely resetting Chrome to default settings. Also, make sure you're not using any VPN services as IDme flags those as suspicious. One thing that nobody mentions is that if you have multiple IDme accounts (maybe from other government services), you need to use the EXACT same one you used before or it will create conflicts. The PA UC system doesn't handle multiple IDme accounts well at all. If all else fails, the UCIDME@pa.gov email that @Liam Mendez mentioned is legit - they helped me when I was completely stuck.
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Ethan Davis
Thanks for mentioning the multiple IDme accounts issue - that's something I hadn't considered! I think I might have created an IDme account for another state program a while back. How do you check which IDme account is linked to your PA UC? Do you have to contact IDme directly or can PA UC tell you? This could explain why some people have such different experiences with the verification process.
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Caleb Stone
You can check by going directly to id.me and logging in with your email - it'll show you what services are connected to that account. If you have multiple accounts, you'll need to figure out which email was used for PA UC originally. Sometimes PA UC will show the email associated with your IDme account in your profile settings, but if you can't access that, you might need to call PA UC and ask them which email address is linked to your claim. The tricky part is that IDme accounts are tied to specific email addresses, so if you accidentally created a new one during the verification process, it won't match what PA UC has on file. Been there, done that!
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Sydney Torres
You can check by logging into IDme directly at id.me and looking at your connected services under account settings. It'll show you all the government agencies linked to that account. If you have multiple IDme accounts, you'll need to figure out which email address you used for PA UC originally. I had to dig through old emails to find my confirmation from when I first set it up. If you're still not sure, PA UC customer service can tell you which email address is associated with your claim, but you might have to wait on hold for a while. @Gavin King is right though - using the wrong IDme account will definitely cause verification to fail even if everything else is set up correctly.
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Oliver Cheng
You can check which IDme account is linked by logging into id.me directly and looking at your "Connected Accounts" section under settings. It will show all the government agencies linked to that specific IDme account. If you have multiple IDme accounts (different email addresses), you'll need to log into each one separately to see which agencies are connected to which account. PA UC should be listed under one of them. If you can't find PA UC listed anywhere, that might be why you're having verification issues - the system might be trying to create a new link but getting confused. In that case, definitely email UCIDME@pa.gov with your situation.
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Benjamin Johnson
I just went through this exact same issue two weeks ago! The IDme verification has been super glitchy lately. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: first, I went directly to id.me and made sure my account was fully verified there (including uploading a photo of my driver's license). Then I used Chrome in private/incognito mode, disabled all extensions, and tried accessing the PA UC site around 6am when there's less traffic. The key was doing the IDme verification separately first - once that was complete, the PA UC integration worked immediately. Also make sure you're using the same email address for both your PA UC account and your IDme account, as mismatches can cause the endless loading screen. Hope this helps!
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Freya Larsen
This is really helpful advice! I'm dealing with a similar IDme issue right now and hadn't thought about doing the verification directly on id.me first. Quick question - when you say "fully verified," does that mean completing the identity proofing with the selfie and document upload? I've been stuck on the PA UC side but maybe I should start fresh on the IDme website itself. Also, did you have to wait any specific amount of time between completing the IDme verification and trying the PA UC portal again?
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Liam Fitzgerald
Yes, by "fully verified" I mean completing the entire identity proofing process on id.me - uploading your driver's license photo, taking the selfie, and getting that green checkmark that says your identity is verified. I didn't have to wait at all between finishing on id.me and trying PA UC again - it was immediate. The key is making sure you're logged into the same IDme account when you go back to the PA UC portal. If you're still having trouble, try logging out of both sites completely, then log into id.me first to confirm everything is verified, then go to PA UC while still logged into IDme. Good luck!
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Ally Tailer
Yes, by "fully verified" I mean completing the entire identity proofing process on id.me - uploading your driver's license or state ID, taking the selfie, and getting the green checkmark that says your identity is verified. I didn't wait any specific time between finishing the IDme verification and trying PA UC again - I actually tried it immediately after getting the verification confirmation email from IDme and it worked right away. The key is making sure your IDme account shows as "verified" before attempting the PA UC integration. If you're still having trouble, try logging into your IDme account first in one tab, then opening a new tab for PA UC while staying logged into IDme. Good luck!
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Jade Santiago
Yes, exactly! By "fully verified" I mean completing the entire identity proofing process on id.me - uploading your driver's license or state ID, taking the selfie, and getting the green checkmark that says your identity is verified. I didn't have to wait at all between completing the IDme verification and trying PA UC again - I literally went straight from the IDme site to the PA UC portal and it worked immediately. The key is making sure IDme shows you as "verified" before attempting the PA UC integration. If you're still stuck on PA UC's side, definitely start fresh on id.me directly!
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Isaiah Cross
Yes, by "fully verified" I mean completing the entire identity proofing process on id.me - that includes uploading your driver's license or state ID, taking the selfie, and getting the green checkmark that says "Identity Verified." I didn't wait any specific time between completing IDme and trying PA UC again - I literally went straight from the IDme site to the PA UC portal and it worked immediately. The key is making sure IDme shows you as fully verified BEFORE attempting the PA UC integration. If you're still having issues, try logging out of both sites completely, then log into IDme first, confirm your verification status, then go to PA UC. Good luck!
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Andre Dupont
Yes, by "fully verified" I mean completing the entire identity proofing process on id.me - uploading your driver's license photo, taking the selfie, and getting that green checkmark that says "Identity Verified." I didn't wait any specific time between finishing the IDme verification and trying PA UC again - I literally went straight from the IDme confirmation page back to the PA UC portal and it worked immediately. The key is making sure your IDme account shows "Verified" status before attempting the PA UC integration. If you're stuck, definitely start fresh on the IDme website itself rather than going through the PA UC portal. Good luck!
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