PA UC open issues taking forever - call or wait? Just applied last week

wait it out imo. my claim had open issues for like 3 weeks and then just fixed itself. calling is almost impossible unless u start dialing at exactly 7:59am

Open issues can take anywhere from 1-6 weeks to resolve depending on what the issue is. Common ones for new claims include employment verification, separation issues (why you were separated from employer), or identity verification. You can see what your specific issues are by clicking on 'View and Maintain Account Information' then 'Claim Information' then 'View Issues and Determinations'. I would recommend trying to call at least once to find out what the exact issues are, then you'll know if there's something you need to do or if you just need to wait it out. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time redialing.

If u wait for them to fix it u will be WAITING FOREVER!!! The UC system is designed to make ppl give up!!! I had "open issues" for 2 MONTHS last year and only got paid after I called EVERY SINGLE DAY for a week straight. They don't care about us AT ALL and hope we just go away!!

I had a similar situation with an employer separation issue. Since you mentioned having a termination letter, I'd definitely try to connect with a UC representative to see if you can submit that documentation. It could potentially speed up the process. I tried for days to get through the regular phone number with no luck. I ended up using Claimyr to get through to a PA UC agent (claimyr.com). It saved me hours of redialing - they have a system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent was able to look at my specific issues and tell me exactly what documentation they needed. Got my claim approved about a week after that conversation.

One thing to remember while waiting is make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even though your initial claim isn't approved yet! I made that mistake and lost out on 2 weeks of benefits because I thought I had to wait until the issues were resolved before filing weekly claims.

honstly it depends on wht the issue is. mine took 5 days to clear but my roommates took a month. do u have anz unusual circumstances like working for 2 different companies or something? that can make it take longer. also make sure ur doing the job search requirements every week (apply for 2 jobs and do 1 work search activity

Yes, you absolutely need to start your work search activities right away, even while waiting for claim approval. PA requires you to apply for 2 positions and complete 1 additional work search activity each week. Keep a record of all your work search activities (job title, company, date, application method, etc.) as you'll need to report these when filing weekly claims. Regarding the employer separation issue, they are verifying with your former employer that you were laid off and didn't quit or get fired for misconduct. Having your termination letter is good, but they still need to complete their employer verification process. When you eventually reach a representative, they might be able to add notes to your claim about the termination letter, which could help if there's any discrepancy with what your employer reports.

good luck getting through on the phone lol i tried for 3 weeks str8 and couldnt get anyone. ended up having to email them and wait another 2 weeks for a response back in march

Update: I managed to get through to someone this morning after calling non-stop from 7:55am! The rep confirmed it's a standard employer verification issue. She said it typically takes 2-3 weeks to resolve if there are no discrepancies, but she added notes about my termination letter to the file. She also confirmed I should definitely keep filing my weekly claims and doing my work search activities. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

That's great news that you got through! 2-3 weeks is actually pretty reasonable for employer verification - I've seen some take much longer. The fact that the rep added notes about your termination letter should definitely help if there are any questions from your employer's side. Keep us posted on how it goes, and don't get discouraged if it takes the full 3 weeks. At least you're doing everything right by continuing to file weekly and doing your job searches!