PA UC investigating my 2025 claim because I received PUA in 2020 - anyone else?

Yes, this is definitely happening to a lot of people right now. PA UC is conducting what they call "cross-program integrity reviews" where they're comparing current claims against any pandemic benefits received. It's not that they automatically think you're committing fraud - they're checking if you were properly eligible for PUA back then before paying new benefits now. The good news is that if your PUA claim was legitimate, your current regular UC claim should eventually be approved. The bad news is that it can take 4-6 weeks for them to complete these reviews. They're severely backlogged because they're reviewing thousands of claims this way. Make sure you respond to ANY requests for information immediately, even if you've provided it before. That's the fastest way to get through the process.

Im dealing with this exact thing!!! Filed in January, still waiting for payment bcuz they flagged my claim for "PUA comparison review" whatever that means. So stressed about making rent next month.

after calling for 3 days straight and not getting through to anyone, i tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and actually got connected to a PA UC agent in like 20 minutes! they have this system that calls for you and holds your place in line. they even have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 the agent told me these PUA cross-checks are happening to EVERYONE who got pandemic benefits and now has a new claim. they said to make sure all my ID verification is up to date through IDme and that i should see movement on my claim once the examiner completes their review. still waiting but at least i know whats happening now

This is actually happening because PA UC was hit with massive fraud during the pandemic, especially in the PUA program. They're now required by federal guidelines to verify that anyone who received pandemic benefits was legitimately eligible before they can approve new claims. It's an extra verification step that affects anyone who received PUA, PEUC, or FPUC payments. There are two important things to know: 1. If your prior pandemic benefits were legitimate, your current claim will eventually be approved. This is just a verification delay, not a denial. 2. When your claim is finally processed, you'll receive all back payments you're entitled to - they'll be backdated to when you first filed. Keep filing your weekly certifications during this waiting period! That's absolutely crucial. If you stop filing weekly claims while waiting for the review to complete, you'll lose those weeks permanently.

they did this to me in dec and took 7 WEEKS to finally clear my claim!! its so messed up how they r punishing people who needed help during the pandemic we didnt do anything wrong!!!!!

This is outrageous and likely illegal. The PA UC system can't withhold rightful benefits because you previously collected a different type of benefit under different circumstances. I recommend immediately filing an appeal against the hold on your benefits - the form is available on the PA UC website under "Appeals". You have 15 days from the date of the notification to file this appeal. Also, contact your state representative's office. They often have direct channels to UC and can help expedite claims that are stuck in these review processes. I've had several clients get their claims unstuck this way when UC was being unreasonable about these cross-program reviews. Document EVERYTHING - dates of calls, who you spoke with, what they told you. This will be important if you end up needing to pursue legal options.

I went through this exact situation back in January. The PUA review held up my claim for about 5 weeks, but I did eventually get approved and received all my back payments. Here's what helped speed things up for me: 1. I uploaded all my 2020 PUA documentation again through the UC dashboard, even though they didn't specifically ask for it 2. I made sure my IDme verification was current (this is often a hidden holdup) 3. I sent a message through the UC message center every week (politely) asking for a status update 4. I kept filing my weekly claims without fail It's frustrating, but if your original PUA claim was legitimate, you will eventually get through this extra scrutiny. Don't give up on your weekly claims while waiting!

does anyone kno if we can get some kinda emergency assistance while wating for these reviews?? i cant make my car payment and bout to get repo'd

Update on this situation: PA UC has recently added more staff to handle these cross-program reviews. According to information from their latest stakeholder meeting, they're now prioritizing claims where the claimant received PUA more than 3 years ago, so many of these should start moving faster. They're also implementing a new streamlined review process for claimants with clear employment records after their PUA ended. If you're experiencing this delay, make sure: 1. Your identity is verified through IDme 2. You've provided all requested documentation 3. Your contact information is up to date 4. You continue filing weekly claims If it's been more than 4 weeks with no movement, that's when I'd recommend reaching out to your state representative's office for assistance.