PA UC in-person appointment in West Philly - worried about backpay

they dont have walk in appts anymore since covid u have to get thru on phone sorry

UC offices don't generally offer in-person appointments anymore, except in very specific circumstances. Your best bet for getting backpay is to keep detailed records of everything related to your claim. Here's what I recommend: 1. Document all attempts to contact them (dates, times, method) 2. Make sure you've filed for all your weeks properly in the system 3. When you do reach a rep, specifically mention you're requesting backpay for [specify exact weeks] 4. Get a ticket/reference number for your conversation As for reaching someone, try calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open. That's when I've had the most success. The number is 888-313-7284. Monday and Tuesday are usually the busiest days, so try Wednesday-Friday if possible.

I was in your EXACT situation last month! Drove me absolutely CRAZY trying to reach someone about my claim. Had 8 weeks of backpay that wasn't processing and the system kept saying I had an "open issue" with no explanation. After literally 100+ calls and getting nowhere, I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual human at PA UC in about 20 minutes. It basically keeps dialing for you until it gets through, then calls you when it connects. Totally worth it for my sanity. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Once I finally spoke to a representative, they cleared up my open issue and my backpay was processed within 10 days. Make sure you have your claim number and all your information ready when you call!

Regarding your backpay concern, let me clarify something important: PA UC will pay you for all eligible weeks as long as you've properly filed those weekly claims. If you've missed filing for previous weeks, you can request to backdate those claims, but you must speak with a representative to do this. Concerning appointments, the Philadelphia UC Service Center doesn't offer regular in-person appointments for claim issues. They primarily handle claims by phone (888-313-7284) or through the online portal. The only in-person services currently available in Philadelphia are for identity verification purposes, and those require a specific invitation letter. For backpay specifically: 1. Ensure all weekly certifications are completed 2. Document any system errors preventing filing 3. When you reach a representative, explicitly request backdating if you were unable to file 4. Ask for a written determination regarding any denied weeks Keep in mind that if your claim has an open issue, that must be resolved before any payments (including backpay) can be released. This is often the cause of payment delays.

When I had an issue with my claim back in February, I couldn't get an in-person appointment either. I was so frustrated!! What finally worked for me was calling the Harrisburg office instead of the Philly one. For some reason, the wait times were much shorter. I think the number was 717-787-4127, but double check that. About the backpay - make sure you have screenshots of EVERYTHING. I mean every confirmation page, every weekly filing, every email. The UC system is such a mess right now and they lost some of my records, but because I had proof I'd filed everything correctly, they eventually fixed it. It took about 3 weeks to get my backpay though, so be prepared to wait even after you talk to someone. Good luck! The whole system is a nightmare to navigate.

i had same prob last year and never got my back pay even after talking to them THREE TIMES. they said it was coming and it never did. the system is rigged to make it so hard people just give up. its a JOKE. whats worse is when they told me i had to do the "work search" when i already had a job i was going back to!!! good luck but dont get ur hopes up

Im in the exact same boat right now!!!! So frustrating! My claim says "pending" for 4 weeks now and no one will answer the phone. Has anyone had any luck with the email system? I've sent like 5 messages and heard nothing back.

For anyone still following this thread - I just saw on the PA UC website that they're adding more staff to the call centers starting next month. They're specifically addressing the backlog of identity verification issues and open issues that are holding up payments. If your claim has been stuck with an open issue for more than 21 days, there's also a special email address you can use: UCHelp@pa.gov with "Claim Delay" in the subject line. Include your full name, last 4 of SSN, and a brief description of your issue.

I've been dealing with PA UC issues for months now and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After reading through all these comments, I tried the UCHelp@pa.gov email that A Man D Mortal mentioned and actually got a response within 5 business days! They were able to identify that my claim had an identity verification hold that wasn't showing up clearly in my online account. For anyone still struggling with backpay issues - make sure to check if there are any identity verification requirements you might have missed. Sometimes the system flags accounts for additional verification but doesn't clearly communicate this to claimants. Once I submitted the required documents, my backpay was processed within 2 weeks. Also, I found that calling right at 8:00 AM on Wednesdays gave me the best success rate. Took about 6 tries but I finally got through. The key is to be persistent but also strategic about when you call. Hope this helps someone!