PA UC disqualified me after maternity leave - eligible until August 2026?!

This is definitely something you need to speak with an agent about ASAP. What likely happened is that when you marked yourself as unavailable due to childbirth, the system automatically flagged you as ineligible since PA UC requires that you be able and available for work each week you claim. However, the system shouldn't have disqualified you until August 2026 - that sounds like an error. The first 4 weeks should still be valid since you were able and available then. You need to explain to an agent that you were only temporarily unavailable for that one week due to childbirth and are now ready and able to work again.

omg the same thing happened to my cousin last year!!! she had to wait on hold for like 3 hours to talk to someone but they fixed it once she got thru. good luck!!!!

I think ur supposed to apply for short-term disability for when u have a baby, not unemployment. UC is only if ur ready to work every week. Don't they ask you if your able and available when you file each week?

I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!! The system is BROKEN! When I reported being in the hospital for 3 days it disqualified me for like a year and a half! Had to call like 50 times before I got through to a person who fixed it. Then it took another 3 weeks to get my money. The whole system is designed to make people give up IMO.

This is a known issue with the PA UC system. When you report being unable/unavailable for work for medical reasons, the system often incorrectly extends that status indefinitely. What you need to do is speak with an examiner who can manually correct your availability status. They should be able to: 1. Keep your first 4 weeks as approved and release those payments 2. Mark just your childbirth week as ineligible 3. Reset your status to eligible for all subsequent weeks where you were able and available for work Be prepared to provide documentation showing when you were released to return to work. The August 2026 date is definitely a system error.

I went through something similar when I had surgery last year while on UC benefits. The trick is to get an actual person on the phone. I spent 2 weeks getting nothing but busy signals, then I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Once I explained my situation to the agent, they fixed my claim status that same day and I started receiving payments the following week. Much better than waiting for months hoping they'd figure it out on their own!

Anyone telling you that you're permanently disqualified is WRONG. I worked for PA UC for 6 years and this is a common system issue. The computer automatically extends ineligibility periods when it shouldn't. You ABSOLUTELY need to call and have them remove the disqualification period. KEEP FILING YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS even though it shows disqualified! Once they fix it in the system, you'll receive backpay for any eligible weeks. And yes, your first 4 weeks should still be payable since they're already approved - but sometimes payments get held when there's a subsequent issue on the claim.

did u ever get the money for those first 4 weeks? seems weird they say approved but u didnt get paid

Update us once you're able to speak with someone! This information could help others who run into similar situations with temporary medical conditions while on unemployment.