PA UC approved but no payment yet - How long does money take to arrive?

Congrats on getting approved! Generally, you should receive your first payment about 7-10 business days after approval IF you've been filing your weekly claims all along. You have been doing your weekly certifications while waiting, right? If not, you'll need to file those ASAP. And yes, they should back-pay all eligible weeks from when you first applied, but only if you certified for those weeks. You'll receive payments on your Money Network card or via direct deposit depending on what you selected during application.

omg this happened to me too!! got approved but didnt know about weekly claims. you can do backdated claims but only for like 2 weeks i think. they should have made this clearer!!!!

To clarify some info here - you can actually backdate weekly certifications for up to 4 weeks (not just 2). Log into your UC account, go to 'File Bi-weekly Claim' and there should be a way to file for previous weeks. For weeks beyond that 4-week window, you'll need to contact a UC representative directly to request backdating those weeks. Also important: Once you've submitted your backdated claims, you'll still need to wait for them to be reviewed before payment is issued, which can take another 1-2 weeks. Make sure you're completing your work search activities (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc.) and documenting them for each week, as you'll need to report those when filing.

The PA UC website is TERRIBLE at explaining anything!! I waited 8 weeks for approval and then another 3 weeks for my first payment even after doing everything right. Don't expect anything quick from them. When I called to ask why it was taking so long after approval, they just said "it's processing" - WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?? And good luck getting through on the phone - I called 37 times before getting a human!

has anyone else had the payment show as "in progress" for a long time after being approved? mine said that for like 10 days before i actually got the money. also check if your claim shows "payment releaseable" status, thats when you know its coming soon

To answer your question about job search documentation: PA requires you to keep track of your 'work search activities' - each week you need at least 2 activities which can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, creating profiles on job sites, etc. You record them in your weekly certification, including employer name, date, position, contact info, and application method. Also, to check payment status, go to 'View Payments' in your account, not the dashboard.

Yes, 'processed' means your claim has been accepted and payment should be on its way. Once you see a payment amount and a 'payment date,' that means the money has been sent to your payment method. If you chose direct deposit, allow 2-3 business days; if you're using the Money Network card, it's usually 1-2 business days. Regarding your first payment timeline: since you just submitted backdated certifications, expect about 7-10 business days for those first payments. Future weekly certifications should process faster, typically 2-3 business days after you file them. Just make sure you keep up with your weekly claims and work search requirements to avoid any interruptions.

Anyone else get conflicting info from different UC reps? One told me backdating was impossible after 2 weeks and another said 4 weeks. Can't get straight answers from this system ever

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know that I managed to backdate my claims for the past 4 weeks and my dashboard is now showing 'payment in progress' status! The rep I spoke with (finally got through) confirmed that all my backdated weeks were accepted. They said I should see the money in my account by next Tuesday. Thanks to everyone who helped explain this confusing process!

Congrats on getting everything sorted out! Your experience is unfortunately super common - PA UC really needs to make it clearer that you need to file weekly certifications even while waiting for approval. For anyone else reading this who might be in the same boat: the key is to start filing those weekly claims immediately after you submit your initial application, even if your claim is still under review. Don't wait for approval! Also, if you're having trouble with the online system, try filing early in the week (Sunday/Monday) when there's less traffic on the site. The system tends to crash during peak times later in the week.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I was approved in December and made the same mistake of not filing weekly certifications during the review period. Lost about 3 weeks of payments because of it. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the UC system to remind me of my filing deadlines. You can do this in your account settings under "Notifications." Also, if you're worried about rent/bills while waiting for payments, some local assistance programs can help bridge the gap - try contacting 211 for resources in your area. The whole system is frustrating but you'll get through it! Keep detailed records of everything - screenshots, confirmation numbers, dates you called, etc. It really helps if you need to escalate issues later.

For future reference, you can also check if your local library has free computer/internet access and staff who can help navigate the UC website if you're having technical issues at home. Many libraries also have job search resources and can help with resume building, which counts toward your work search requirements. I learned this the hard way when my laptop crashed right before a filing deadline - the librarian actually knew quite a bit about the UC system and helped me get my certification submitted on time. Also, if you're getting different information from UC reps (which seems super common based on these comments), ask to speak with a supervisor or request that they document the guidance in your file. Sometimes the inconsistency comes from newer reps who aren't fully trained, so escalating can help you get more accurate information.