PA UC approval timeline for seasonal layoff with spring callback date - why such different wait times?

PA UC is completely unpredictable rn. My husband's took 2 weeks last month but my brother's took 8 weeks for the same exact situation (both seasonal landscaping). Check if he has any open issues on his claim - those delay everything

The approval timeline for seasonal layoffs with a return date really varies based on several factors. The most common reasons for delays with seasonal workers are: 1) The employer hasn't verified the recall date 2) There are wages reported from multiple employers 3) There's an issue with your work search requirements (even with a recall date, he still needs to register with PA CareerLink) 4) Previous UC claims can complicate things I'd recommend having him check his dashboard for specific open issues, and make sure he completed the work search registration even though he has a return date. The system often holds claims until this is verified.

I get laid off EVERY winter (roofing) and sometimes it's 2 weeks, sometimes 2 months!!!! THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON to how the PA UC system works!!!!! Last year took 7 weeks because they said I had "an open issue" that turned out to be NOTHING but a glitch in their system. The year before was 10 days. It's a total crapshoot.

Check if he answered the question about having a return date correctly during the application. Many people miss that question or answer it wrong, which can cause delays. Also, double check his dashboard for any "Open Issues" that might need to be resolved. If it's just stuck in pending with no open issues, you might need to contact them directly to see what's happening. I had a similar situation last year and finally got through to them using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It lets you skip the busy signals and connects you directly to a UC agent. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The agent was able to tell me exactly why my claim was delayed and fixed it right on the call. Worth checking out if you're getting desperate.

Based on my experience working with seasonal claims, 2-3 weeks is actually pretty normal processing time, even with a callback date. The people getting approved in 10 days are the exception, not the rule. The system is backed up right now because of all the January layoffs. One thing to check: did he answer "YES" to having a definite recall date and provide the exact date? If he put "unsure" or didn't include the specific date, that would trigger additional review. Also, make sure he's still filing his weekly claims even while waiting for the initial approval. They'll backpay those weeks once approved.

@user7 Yes, Claimyr is legitimate. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of redial hell. My claim had an "open issue" that wasn't visible on the dashboard for some reason, and the agent fixed it in 5 minutes once I actually got through.

nobody mentioning the elephant in room - did he do any side work or cash jobs during the year? my cousin had 6 week delay becuase he did some cash roofing jobs and they found out somehow. had to verify all that income before they approved him.

To answer your questions: 1. You can't directly check if the employer verified the recall date - that's an internal process. But if it's been over 3 weeks, you should contact UC directly. 2. Yes, side jobs can definitely complicate things. If he worked for multiple employers in his base year (the 4 quarters before filing), PA UC needs to verify those wages which can add time. 3. Regarding backpay - yes, once approved, he'll receive payments for all eligible weeks he's filed for, even during the waiting period. At this point, I'd recommend trying to contact UC directly since you're approaching the 4-week mark. The fact that his coworker is already receiving benefits while he isn't suggests there might be a specific issue with his claim that needs addressing.

did you use that claimyr thing someone mentioned? i tried calling PA UC like 50 times yday and couldn't get through, wondering if its worth trying

UPDATE: We finally got answers! My husband tried calling for 2 days with no luck, so we used that Claimyr service mentioned above. Got through to someone in about 20 minutes. Turns out there WAS an open issue that wasn't showing on his dashboard - they needed to verify his work search registration since he has a recall date. The rep fixed it right on the call and said payments should start processing within 48 hours. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!

thx for update. my hubby still waiting at 5 weeks now. gonna try calling again tomorrow

Wow, what a journey! I'm so glad you finally got answers and that it's getting resolved. This is such a perfect example of why the PA UC system is so frustrating - having hidden issues that don't show up on the dashboard is just ridiculous. It's crazy that you had to use a third-party service just to get through to someone who could actually see what was wrong with the claim. For anyone else reading this who's dealing with similar delays - Connor's story really shows the importance of actually talking to a rep instead of just waiting and hoping. Sometimes there really are issues that aren't visible to us but are blocking the whole process. Thanks for coming back to update us - it gives the rest of us hope that these things can get sorted out!