PA UC denial after military separation - Navy not recognized as 'valid employer'

This is unfortunately a common issue with military service. The system isn't well-designed for federal military employers. Here's what you need to do: 1. Keep emailing, but ALSO send a message through your dashboard if possible 2. You need to file using the Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) for the Navy, not just entering "Navy" as employer 3. Make sure you have your DD-214 ready to upload when requested 4. There's a specific UCF-23 Military form that needs to be completed They'll likely need to manually override some system flags to process your claim correctly. Most UC reps are trained on the standard process but not necessarily on military claims, so you might have gotten someone who wasn't familiar with the procedure.

omg THE SAME THING happened to me after I got out of the Air Force last year!!! the whole "not valid employer" thing drove me CRAZY! I ended up having to file an appeal and it took like 6 weeks to get straightened out. make sure u keep screenshots of everything cuz they kept telling me different things every time i called

You need to call the UC Military Claims Unit specifically at 866-638-2606. Regular UC reps often don't know how to process military claims correctly. When you call, have your DD-214 Member 4 copy ready, your Social Security number, and your dates of service. You'll need to provide your branch of service, component (active duty, reserve, etc.), pay grade at separation, and earnings information from your DD-214. They might also ask for your terminal leave dates if applicable. Don't let the system keep you from the benefits you've earned through your service. Military claims have a different process but are absolutely valid for UC benefits in Pennsylvania.

i was in the army not navy but had a similar problem. they kept saying my employer was invalid then when i finally got through they entered some random civilian company. took forever to fix and i had to start the whole claim over again. the whole system is broken man

If you're having trouble getting through on the phone lines (which is incredibly common with PA UC), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation where I couldn't get through for weeks and it was the only thing that worked. It basically connects you to an unemployment agent without the endless busy signals and waiting. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 With military claims specifically, you NEED to talk to an actual person who can override the system issues. Email alone probably won't fix this.

My wife works for PA UC (not military unit). Here's the inside scoop: The computer system literally doesn't recognize DOD employers properly in the automated system. You HAVE to talk to someone in the military unit specifically. When you call the main line, immediately ask for a transfer to the military claims unit. Don't let them try to process it themselves unless they specifically say they handle military claims. Most regular UC reps will mess it up because they don't have the training or system access for military claims. They mean well but just don't have the right tools. Also, don't keep filing new claims if the first one is denied! This makes things worse. You need to get the original claim fixed.

why dont u just go to the unemployment office in person? thats what i did and they fixed my claim right there. sometimes u gotta show up and not just call or email

The military employer issue is a COMPLETE JOKE!!!! I spent SIX WEEKS trying to get this fixed after my Army discharge. PA unemployment system is deliberately broken to prevent people from getting benefits we EARNED!!! I called 47 TIMES before getting through. The system is programmed to give busy signals so they don't have to pay out!!!! DEMAND to speak to a supervisor immediately when you finally get through. Don't let them transfer you around or tell you to wait for emails. The whole "not valid employer" thing is their way of denying military members benefits that we're legally entitled to!!!

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! I called the Military Claims Unit number this morning and actually got through after about an hour on hold. The specialist I spoke with was very knowledgeable and explained that this happens frequently with military claims. She's correcting my employer information and reprocessing my claim. She said to expect about 2-3 weeks for everything to be fixed, but that I will receive backdated payments once approved. For anyone else facing this issue - definitely call the Military Claims Unit directly at 866-638-2606 and have your DD-214 ready. The regular UC reps just don't have the training or system access to handle military claims properly.

Glad to hear you got through to the Military Claims Unit! That's exactly the right path. For other veterans reading this who might face similar issues - I went through this same nightmare last year after my Marine Corps discharge. A few additional tips that helped me: 1. Keep detailed records of every call (date, time, rep name/ID, what was discussed) 2. Screenshot your claim status page daily in case they make changes 3. If you haven't already, join the Pennsylvania Veterans Facebook groups - they're super helpful for navigating UC issues 4. Don't panic if your claim status shows weird things during the correction process - mine showed "ineligible" for like 10 days while they were fixing the employer info The military unit really does know what they're doing, unlike the general reps. Stick with them and you'll get this resolved. Thank you for your service, and hang in there!