PA UC appeal message PDFs won't open - can't access time-sensitive documents

same thing happened to me!! the pdfs never work right on their stupid website. i had to keep calling like 50 times until i got someone helpful who emailed me the docs directly not through their system

This is a common issue with their terrible system. Try this: instead of clicking the link directly, right-click and select "Save Link As" to download the PDF first. Then open it with a PDF reader (Adobe or whatever). Sometimes the browser viewer is what's broken, not the actual file. If that doesn't work, clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. PA UC's website is notoriously incompatible with certain browsers/versions.

THEY DO THIS ON PURPOSE!!!! The whole system is designed to make us fail. I had exact same problem last month and missed my appeal deadline because of it. When I explained to them I couldn't open the files they said "too bad that's not our problem." Now I'm fighting to get a new appeal hearing AND dealing with an overpayment notice. The UC system in PA is BROKEN!!!

Have you tried using Claimyr to reach a live agent? I was having the same issue with unopenable PDFs for my appeal documents and couldn't get through on the phone for days. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 30 minutes who emailed me the documents directly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent I spoke with explained that their PDF system has compatibility issues with certain browsers and devices. Once I got the documents emailed directly, everything worked fine.

my cousin works for UC (not supposed to tell anyone lol) but she says they know about the pdf problem but dont have budget to fix it. she said to always download adobe reader app first before trying to open anything from them. also something about browser settings for pdf handling?

I work as an advocate helping people with PA UC issues. This PDF problem has affected many claimants recently. Here's what's actually happening: The UC system generates secure PDFs that expire after a certain time period (usually 14 days). If you're trying to access older messages, the links may have expired. For current documents that should be accessible, there's a known issue with their secure document server. Your best options are: 1. Call the UC service center and specifically ask them to re-generate the documents with new links 2. Request they note in your file that you were unable to access the documents (important for protecting your appeal rights) 3. Ask for the documents to be sent to the email address on file as direct attachments 4. If it's about an appeal hearing, call the UC Appeals office directly at their separate number (not the main UC number) which is 717-787-5122 Don't worry about missing deadlines if you can document that you made reasonable efforts to access the information. PA law provides for "good cause" exceptions when system issues prevent access.

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! After trying everything suggested here with no luck, I ended up using Claimyr to get through to an actual person at UC. The agent confirmed there's a system-wide issue with their secure PDFs right now affecting many users. The solution: She emailed the documents directly to my personal email as regular PDF attachments (not through their system). I was able to open these with no problem. Turns out my appeal hearing is scheduled for next week - would have completely missed it without this help! For anyone else facing this issue - either keep calling until you get through or use a service to connect faster. Make sure they note in your file that you couldn't access the original documents in case there are any questions about deadlines later.

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped Grant with this issue! I'm a new member here and was dealing with the exact same PDF problem with my determination letter. Reading through all the solutions you provided gave me hope that this could be fixed. I tried the Chrome settings change that Sofia suggested first, and it actually worked for me! Changed the PDF settings to download instead of opening in browser, and now I can access my documents. For anyone else who might be reading this later - definitely try that Chrome fix before calling, it might save you hours on hold. This community is amazing for helping each other navigate these frustrating UC system issues. Thanks again everyone!

As someone who just joined this community after dealing with my own UC nightmare, I wanted to add another potential solution that worked for me when I had the PDF issue last month. I found that using an incognito/private browsing window sometimes bypasses whatever caching or cookie issues are preventing the PDFs from loading. Something about the way PA UC's system handles sessions gets confused with regular browsing data. Just open an incognito window, log into your UC account fresh, and try accessing the documents again. Also, if you're on mobile, try switching to desktop if possible - their mobile site seems even more broken than the regular one when it comes to document access. The whole system is frustrating but don't give up! Your appeal rights are too important. Really appreciate seeing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these technical disasters. Grant, hope your hearing went well!