PA UC claim stuck 9 weeks after temp assignment ended - examiner has my form but no updates

Having your claim assigned to an examiner is definitely a good sign, but 9 weeks is still excessive. The temp agency situation does complicate things because PA UC needs to verify why the assignment ended. For interstate claims (NJ resident/PA work), there's an extra verification step but that shouldn't cause this much delay. Definitely contact your PA state rep where you worked - they can often help expedite things. Make sure you mention you're facing financial hardship and potential housing instability. Also, keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for a determination!

I went through something similar with a temp assignment last year. When they end your assignment, the temp agency is technically still your employer, but they report to UC that you're not currently working. This creates what's called an "availability issue" that requires manual review. Have you checked your dashboard for any open issues listed? Sometimes they need more info but don't tell you directly. Also make sure you're meeting the work search requirements (applying to at least 2 jobs per week and doing 1 work search activity) while you wait.

call ur state senator not just rep, that worked for me faster when i had simlar problem last mth. the UC ppl suddenly found my claim files after senator office called them lol

OMG the temp agency situation is THE WORST with PA unemployment!!! When I got let go from my temp assignment in healthcare it took 12 weeks to get approved because they consider it a "discharge" not a layoff, even though it's literally just an assignment ending??? The system is so broken. I feel your pain!!!

you might wanna try Claimyr if youre really desperate to reach someone who can actually help at UC. it got me through to a real person in like 10 mins after i spent 3 days calling nonstop and getting busy signals. they have a video that shows how it works https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - i was skeptical but it seriously saved me when i had a similar issue with a claim stuck with examiner. worth checking out at claimyr.com

Just to clarify something important - you mentioned you had a previous UC claim that was approved in August, then worked at the temp job from September to January. Since that's less than 6 months of work, PA UC will likely be reviewing whether you've earned enough in your "base period" to establish a new claim, or if they'll reopen your previous claim. This might be part of what's taking so long - they're determining which claim applies in your situation and calculating your benefit amount.

Here's what's likely happening: with temp agencies, UC has to determine if you're eligible for benefits based on why the assignment ended. If they say you didn't meet performance expectations during training, UC considers whether that constitutes "willful misconduct" which could disqualify you. That's probably why the examiner sent you that questionnaire. They're gathering facts from both sides before making a determination. Unfortunately, PA UC is STILL operating with massive backlogs from their system upgrade last year, and these complex cases get pushed back. I strongly recommend contacting both your state rep AND state senator. Their constituent services can often get results when regular channels fail.

What about calling the UC appeals office directly? That's what I ended up doing when mine was stuck forever. They're different from the regular UC number and sometimes can see more details about what's going on with your claim. Worth a shot!

The PA UC system is DELIBERATELY DESIGNED to frustrate people into giving up. I'm convinced of it after my experience last year. They hope you'll just stop filing or miss a week so they can close your claim. DON'T GIVE UP. Keep calling EVERY SINGLE DAY and document who you speak with and what they say. Ask for a supervisor if the rep isn't helpful. The squeaky wheel absolutely gets the grease in this broken system. And yes, DEFINITELY contact your state representatives - that was the only thing that finally got my claim unstuck after 13 weeks of nothing.

When you call UC and actually get through, there are specific phrases that can help: Ask them to "make a courtesy call to the examiner" about your case. Request that they "add a hardship flag" to your claim due to financial circumstances. Ask if there are any "required actions" showing on their end that you might not be able to see. Finally, request that they "expedite your claim due to financial hardship." These specific requests sometimes get better results than just asking for a status update.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year - temp assignment ended after 3 months, then waited 11 weeks for a determination. The interstate aspect (I live in DE but worked in PA) definitely added complexity. What finally worked for me was getting my state senator's office involved AND having them contact the PA Department of Labor directly. They have a special constituent services line that can actually reach the examiners. Also, when you do get through to UC, ask them to check if the temp agency has responded to their inquiry yet - sometimes the delay is because they're waiting for the agency to provide their side of the story. In my case, the agency never responded and UC finally just made a determination without their input. Hang in there - 9 weeks is ridiculous but you're probably close to resolution if an examiner already has your file.