PA UC fraud investigation taking forever - 4 years after identity theft and still no payment

I went through something similar in 2022, though mine only took 8 months to resolve. Have you specifically requested a fraud investigation status update through the messaging portal? There's a special form they told me to use called the "Fraud Resolution Status Request" that seemed to finally get things moving. Also, when you contacted your state rep, did their office actually open a formal inquiry? Sometimes they just make a phone call that doesn't get tracked properly in the system.

omg 4 YEARS?!? thats insane!! the system is so broken i swear

I had my identity stolen for UC benefits too! It took me 14 months to finally get my legitimate claim processed. The trick that FINALLY worked for me was documenting EVERYTHING and then requesting an official appeal hearing specifically for 'failure to issue determination within reasonable time period.' The hearing examiner has more power than regular UC staff to push things through the system! Trust me, an appeal might seem extreme but it's literally the only way to break through the bureaucratic wall sometimes.

This happend to my brother in law and he nevr got his money. Some rep told him after 2 years they just close the cases if they cant determine who did the fraud. PA UC is a joke!!!!

I know this sounds crazy but have you tried reaching an actual claims examiner? I was in UC limbo for months (not fraud, but still) and could NOT get through on the phones. I used this service called Claimyr that got me connected to a PA UC agent in like 15 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks. Cost me a few bucks but totally worth it to finally talk to someone who could actually see my file and do something. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. I finally got someone who actually specialized in fraud cases and she found my documents that had been sitting in the system for months!

You need to be persistent but also strategic about this. Having worked adjacent to the UC system (not an employee but I dealt with them professionally), I can tell you that fraud cases from 2020-2021 are in a special category because of the massive fraud wave during COVID. Here's what you should do: 1. Request your claim file through a Right to Know request - this is different than just asking for status updates 2. File a complaint with the PA Inspector General's office specifically about the delay 3. Request a "Commissioner Review" of your case delay (this is above the regular appeals process) 4. Contact your STATE Senator (not just representative) as they often have more pull The system is definitely broken, but there are specific pathways designed for these situations. Don't give up!

I'm so sorry you're going through this! The fraud stuff is THE WORST because you're treated like you did something wrong when YOU'RE the victim!!! It's absolutely maddening. I had a similar issue (though not quite as long as yours) and what finally worked was having THREE separate things happen at once - my state rep inquiry, a formal appeal filing, AND getting through to a supervisor on the phone. It seemed like having multiple pressure points in the system at the same time finally forced someone to look at my case. Don't give up!!!

have you tried the pa treasury unclaimed funds website? sometimes money ends up there after uc issues

Update on my earlier comment - I just remembered something important. For fraud cases specifically from 2021, there's a special PA UC fraud resolution unit with a direct number: 717-772-4331. They ONLY handle backlogged identity theft cases. This number isn't published on their website for some reason, but an examiner gave it to me. Call early in the morning (right when they open) for best results.

UPDATE: You all are amazing! I called the fraud resolution unit number that @helpful_person suggested, and after three attempts, I got through to someone who actually knew what they were talking about! They found my case and said it had been marked for review but never assigned to an examiner. They've now assigned it and promised a determination within 15 business days. I also submitted the appeal for delay and scheduled a call with my state senator's office. I'll update again when I hear something. THANK YOU ALL!

This is exactly why I joined this community - seeing people actually help each other through these bureaucratic nightmares gives me hope! Bruno, I'm so happy you finally got some movement on your case. Four years is absolutely insane and shows how broken the system really is. I'm dealing with a similar identity theft situation (though only 6 months in so far) and I'm bookmarking all these resources. The fact that there's a special fraud unit with an unpublished number is both helpful and infuriating - how are people supposed to know about these things?! Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and actual solutions instead of just the usual "keep calling" advice.

This thread is incredible - I wish I had found this community years ago when I first started dealing with my own UC fraud nightmare! @e876857ccfe8 I'm so relieved to see you finally got some traction after FOUR YEARS of fighting this. That's beyond unacceptable but your persistence is truly admirable. I'm currently 18 months into my own identity theft UC case and have been banging my head against the wall with the same "we're still investigating" responses. I've screenshotted every single resource mentioned here - the fraud unit number, the appeal for delay strategy, the Commissioner Review process, and the Right to Know request approach. It's absolutely maddening that these solutions aren't readily available information and we have to rely on each other to figure out how to navigate a system that should be helping us. Thank you to everyone who shared their hard-won knowledge here. This is exactly what community support should look like!

Holy wow, this thread is like finding gold in the PA UC wilderness! I just joined this community specifically because I've been searching everywhere for real solutions to UC fraud issues. @e876857ccfe8 your story is both heartbreaking and inspiring - FOUR YEARS is absolutely criminal, but seeing you finally get movement gives me so much hope! I'm currently 10 months into my own identity theft case and feeling completely defeated by the endless "still investigating" responses. I've literally bookmarked this entire thread and I'm going to try every single strategy mentioned here. The fraud unit number @efbaa3930fe3 shared is a game-changer - I can't believe there's a whole specialized unit that nobody tells you about! @e351e6827d43 your breakdown of the strategic approach with the Commissioner Review and RTK requests is incredibly detailed and helpful. It's so refreshing to find a community where people share actual actionable solutions instead of just complaining (though the complaining is totally valid too!). Thank you everyone for proving that we don't have to fight this broken system alone!