PA UC claim stuck in 'under review' status for 7 weeks - normal wait time?
I'm starting to really worry about my PA unemployment claim. It's been sitting in 'under review' status for almost 7 weeks now with absolutely no movement or updates. My rent is coming due again and I'm getting desperate. The bills are piling up fast. Has anyone else experienced such a long wait time? Is this normal for PA UC processing in 2025? I've tried calling multiple times but can't ever get through - just endless busy signals or getting disconnected. I'm not sure if I should keep waiting or if something's wrong with my claim. Any advice on how to check what's causing the delay or how to speed things up would be GREATLY appreciated!!
21 comments
Daniel Rivera
Mine took 9 weeks last month so ur probably fine. The system is super backed up and they dont tell u anything. Just keep filing your weekly claims so when it does get approved you'll get all the backpay at once.
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Owen Devar
•Thanks for replying. 9 weeks?! That's insane. Did you ever find out why it took so long? I'm worried there might be something wrong with my application that I need to fix.
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Sophie Footman
TYPICAL PA UC BUREAUCRACY!!! I waited 11 WEEKS last year before someone even LOOKED at my claim!!! Then they had the NERVE to tell me I had an "open issue" that could have been fixed in 5 minutes if anyone had bothered to call me!!! The whole system is designed to make you give up and stop claiming what you're ENTITLED TO!!!
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Connor Rupert
•What was your open issue about? I'm wondering if I might have the same problem since mine also says "under review" but doesn't specify any problems.
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Molly Hansen
Seven weeks is unfortunately not unusual these days, especially if there's any kind of issue with your claim. "Under review" typically means there's something they need to verify, which could be employment history, separation reason, or income verification. You should be able to see if there are any specific issues by logging into your dashboard and looking under the "Claim Status" or "Issues and Determinations" section. Keep filing your weekly claims regardless of the status - this ensures you'll receive all eligible backpay when it's approved. Also, make sure you're completing all required work search activities each week and documenting them properly.
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Owen Devar
•Thanks for this info. I checked and there's nothing specific listed under Issues and Determinations, just says "under review" with no explanation. I've been doing my work search activities but I'm starting to get really worried about money. Is there any way to find out what specifically they're reviewing or to talk to an actual person?
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Brady Clean
this happnd to my brother too he waiting 8 weeks then finally got paid. dont worry they pay u all the back weeks at once when they finally aprove it. just make sure u keep filing every week
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Skylar Neal
I was in a similar situation last month - stuck on review status for nearly 6 weeks. I finally managed to get through to a live agent using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It costs a bit but was totally worth it because they got me through to an actual UC rep in about 10 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks with no luck. The agent was able to see that my claim had a verification flag that needed to be cleared, and they fixed it right on the call. Got my payments the following week including all backpay. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2
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Vincent Bimbach
•is this legit? sounds to good to be true honestly. has anyone else used this?
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Kelsey Chin
•Yes, I used it too! Worked exactly as described - saved me weeks of stress. Worth every penny when you're waiting on thousands in benefits.
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Connor Rupert
Sometimes a claim gets stuck in review when there's missing information or your former employer is contesting something. Have you received any mail from UC requesting additional information? Check your spam folder too, as sometimes their emails end up there. If you haven't already, try sending a message through the UC message center specifically asking what information they need to process your claim. Also, is this a new claim or a reopened one? Sometimes benefit year transitions cause longer delays.
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Owen Devar
•It's a new claim, first time filing. I haven't received any mail or emails asking for more info (checked spam too). I did send a message through the message center about 2 weeks ago but haven't gotten any response. That's why I'm thinking something might be wrong but I have no way to find out what.
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Daniel Rivera
you should also check your dashboard to see if theres a message saying you need to verify your identity with ID.me. my claim was stuck for weeks bcuz i missed that step and they never told me!!
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Owen Devar
•I already did the ID.me verification when I first applied, so that should be good. But thanks for the suggestion!
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Molly Hansen
If you've already tried messaging without a response, your best option is to speak with an agent directly. Pennsylvania's UC call center opens at 8:00 AM, and your best chance of getting through is calling exactly at opening time. Be prepared with your claim information and social security number. You might also try contacting your state representative's office - they often have liaisons who can help expedite unemployment issues. If there's a specific issue with your claim, the agent can tell you what documentation or information is needed to resolve it. Sometimes it's as simple as needing to verify wages from a specific quarter or clarifying information about your separation from employment.
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Sophie Footman
•HAHAHA good luck getting through at 8AM!!! I tried that EVERY DAY for TWO WEEKS straight!!! Always busy or disconnected!!! The whole "call at 8AM" advice is USELESS with how understaffed they are!!!
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Skylar Neal
After using Claimyr to finally speak with someone, I learned that claims under review for 6+ weeks often have a specific issue that needs addressing. In my case, they needed additional income verification because I had worked in two states during my base year. The frustrating part was that there was no notification about this - the claim just sat there. Once I got through to someone and provided what they needed, my claim was processed within days. Whatever service you use to reach them, make sure to specifically ask: 1) What's causing the delay, 2) What documentation they need, and 3) How to submit it properly. Get the agent's ID number too, in case you need to reference the call later.
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Owen Devar
•Thank you for the detailed advice. I'm going to try reaching them tomorrow morning one more time, and if that doesn't work, I'll probably try the Claimyr service. Those specific questions to ask are really helpful - I'll make sure to write them down before I call. I'm feeling a bit more hopeful now that there's a path forward.
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Brady Clean
my friend had same problem but it was bcuz they needed proof of his last job that fired him. once he sent in his paystubs it got fixed in like 3 days. maybe u need to upload some documents?
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Connor Rupert
Good news - in most cases, even with these frustrating delays, claimants do eventually receive all eligible back weeks once approved. Just make absolutely certain you're filing your weekly certifications on time, every week, even while waiting for the initial claim decision. I've seen too many people miss out on weeks of benefits because they stopped filing while waiting for approval. Also, document all your work search activities meticulously. If your claim is under review and then gets approved, they might audit your work search efforts before releasing payment.
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Owen Devar
•Thanks for the reassurance. I have been filing every week and keeping detailed records of my job search activities. I've applied to over 25 jobs in the past 7 weeks, so I should be good on that front. I just hope they approve it soon because my savings are almost completely gone at this point.
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