PA UC examiner just assigned to my claim - realistic wait time for their response?
Anyone have recent experience with PA UC examiners? Just finished a live chat with UC customer service and they told me my case was 'just assigned to an examiner' after sitting in limbo for over 3 weeks! They wouldn't give me any timeline on when I might actually hear from this examiner. I'm getting super nervous because my rent is due next week and I've already exhausted my savings. Is there any way to speed this up or at least get a rough idea of how much longer I'll be waiting? Does 'just assigned' mean days or weeks more of waiting?
27 comments
Join the conversation
Caesar Grant
going thru the same thing... on week 4 of waiting. rep told me 'assigned to examiner' on monday but still nothing. pa unemployment is a joke
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•4 weeks?? That's terrifying. Did they at least tell you what the issue was that needed an examiner in the first place?
0 coins
Lena Schultz
Based on my experience last December, once my claim was assigned to an examiner, it took about 8-10 business days before they called me. The examiner will usually call from a blocked/private number, so make sure you're answering those! They may need additional information to resolve whatever issue is holding up your claim. If you miss their call, it can add weeks to the process as they put you back in the queue.
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•Thank you for this info! I've been sending all unknown calls to voicemail because of spam. I'll definitely start answering every call now. Did your examiner tell you how many cases they typically handle at once?
0 coins
Lena Schultz
•The examiner didn't share their exact caseload, but mentioned they were handling "hundreds of claims" and were severely backlogged. That was in winter 2024 though, so things might have improved. Make sure all your documents are ready - they'll likely ask for paystubs, separation papers, or other verification depending on your specific issue.
0 coins
Gemma Andrews
My sister just went through this in PA. Her claim sat for 6 weeks before being 'assigned to an examiner' and then it was another 2 weeks before she heard anything!! The whole system is designed to make people give up. They don't want to pay you. Keep calling every single day and leave messages. Sometimes they'll process your claim faster just to stop you from calling lol.
0 coins
Pedro Sawyer
•Not true. Its not designed to make people give up. Its just understaffed and outdated. I work for the state (not UC) and trust me nobody is trying to deny legitimate claims. The examiners are just drowning in work.
0 coins
Gemma Andrews
•Working for the state doesn't mean you know how UC operates. I've been through this 3 times and it's always the same runaround. My sister had to call 47 times before getting a response. That's not just "understaffed" - that's BY DESIGN.
0 coins
Mae Bennett
I've been through this exact situation! When they say "assigned to an examiner" it typically means 5-15 business days before resolution. But I found a solution when I was desperate - Claimyr helped me get through to an actual agent after trying for days. You can check their video demo (https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2) to see how it works. I was super skeptical but it got me through to an agent who was able to expedite my claim when I explained my financial hardship. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•I've never heard of this service before. Does it actually work? I'm starting to get desperate as my landlord isn't exactly the understanding type.
0 coins
Mae Bennett
•Yes, it worked for me after trying to call for 3 days straight and never getting through. The service connected me to an agent in about 20 minutes. Once I got through, I explained my hardship situation (about to be evicted) and the agent was able to flag my claim for expedited review. Got a call from an examiner two days later instead of waiting weeks. Worth trying if you're in a tough spot.
0 coins
Beatrice Marshall
Here are some facts about the current PA UC timeline based on what I've seen recently: 1. "Assigned to examiner" typically means 7-14 calendar days before contact 2. How quickly they call depends on your issue type - separation issues take longer than simple verification problems 3. The examiner will likely call from a blocked number 4. They are supposed to try calling twice before sending you back to the general queue 5. If you have a financial hardship (eviction, utility shutoff), tell the examiner - they can sometimes expedite Make sure your contact info is updated in the system and that your voicemail isn't full. If it's been more than 3 weeks total since filing, you can also try contacting your state representative's office - they have special channels to check claim status.
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•Thank you! This is super helpful. I've been waiting about 3.5 weeks total since filing, so I'll try my state rep if I don't hear anything by next week. Do you think there's any value in doing another live chat to try to get more information about what the specific issue is?
0 coins
Beatrice Marshall
•Absolutely do another live chat! Ask specifically: 1) What is the exact issue requiring examination? 2) Is there any documentation you can upload now to help resolve it faster? 3) Can they note on your file that you're facing financial hardship? Knowing the specific issue can help you prepare for the examiner's call. Common issues include employment verification, reason for separation, or availability for work questions.
0 coins
Melina Haruko
I had this happen in February!!! Took FOREVER to get my money!!! When they say "assigned to examiner" it means your in line but still waiting!!! I waited 5 weeks AFTER they told me an examiner was assigned!!! THE WORST!!!!!
0 coins
Pedro Sawyer
•That's not typical though. Most claims that get assigned are processed within 1-2 weeks. You probably had a more complex issue or it was during a busy period.
0 coins
Lena Schultz
One more thing to consider - check your claim status online daily. Sometimes they resolve issues without even calling you, and the status will update to "processed" or "payment issued" without any notification. Also, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the examiner. If you don't, you could lose benefits for those weeks even if your claim is eventually approved.
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•I've been checking the portal about 5 times a day out of anxiety! Still just says "open issues." And yes, I've been religiously filing my weekly claims even though they're all showing as "pending" right now. Thanks for confirming that's the right approach.
0 coins
Caesar Grant
update on my situation... examiner finally called today and approved my claim!!! all pending weeks paid at once. took exactly 32 days from initial filing to getting paid. hang in there
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•That's amazing news! Congratulations! Did they call from a private number? What kinds of questions did they ask?
0 coins
Caesar Grant
•yep private number... almost didn't answer! they asked about my last employer, why i left, if i had any other income, pretty basic stuff. call lasted maybe 10 min. money hit my account this morning
0 coins
Mei Liu
•This gives me so much hope! 32 days total isn't too bad considering some of the horror stories I've been reading. I'm at 25 days now so hopefully I'm getting close. Did you do anything specific to prepare for the call or just answered their questions as they came up?
0 coins
Astrid Bergström
•@Caesar Grant Thank you so much for the update! This gives me hope that there s'actually light at the end of the tunnel. I m'at about 25 days now so fingers crossed I m'getting close too. Did you have to provide any additional documentation during the call or was it really just answering their questions?
0 coins
Isabel Vega
I'm in a similar boat and feeling the stress too. Been waiting 18 days since filing and just got the "assigned to examiner" update yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! Based on what I'm seeing, it sounds like 1-2 weeks from assignment is the most common timeframe, though some people have waited longer. I'm going to follow the advice about answering all unknown calls and keeping my documents ready. Has anyone tried reaching out to their state representative's office? I'm wondering if that's worth doing now or if I should wait a bit longer since I'm not quite at the 3-week mark yet.
0 coins
Oscar Murphy
•I'm in a very similar situation - about 3.5 weeks since filing and just got assigned to an examiner a few days ago. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially with bills piling up! From what I've read here, it seems like most people hear back within 1-2 weeks of assignment, so you're probably looking at early next week hopefully. I'd probably wait until you hit the 3-week total mark before contacting your state rep, but that's just my gut feeling. Are you also checking the portal obsessively like I am? 😅
0 coins
NebulaNova
•@Isabel Vega I contacted my state rep s'office when I hit the 3-week mark and they were actually really helpful! They have a dedicated constituent services team that deals with UC issues. They can t'speed up the process directly, but they can check on your claim status and sometimes get more detailed information about what s'causing the delay. It doesn t'hurt to reach out - worst case they tell you to wait a bit longer, best case they can provide some clarity or flag any system issues with your claim.
0 coins
Zainab Omar
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim 4 weeks ago and just got the "assigned to examiner" update 3 days ago. The financial stress is unreal - I've been living off credit cards and my landlord is starting to ask questions. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying at the same time. It sounds like the timeline varies wildly, but most people seem to hear back within 1-2 weeks of assignment. I've already updated my voicemail to be super brief and I'm answering every single call, even the obvious spam ones. Has anyone had luck with explaining financial hardship to speed things up? I'm worried about being too pushy but I'm also worried about losing my apartment.
0 coins