PA UC payment delay after qualifying separation determination - 8 weeks with no direct deposit

same thing happened to me!! got my determination letter like 6 weeks ago and still havent seen a penny. this system is such garbage

Did you ever get your money? I'm getting really worried because my landlord is already threatening eviction.

Even after a qualifying determination, your claim could still have other open issues that need to be resolved. Check your dashboard for any alerts under the 'Issues and Determinations' section. There might be something like an employment verification or identity verification issue that needs to be cleared before payments start. Also check if you answered any weekly certification questions in a way that might trigger a review (like saying you weren't available for work or refusing suitable work).

I triple checked the Issues and Determinations section and it doesn't show anything pending! That's what's driving me crazy - everything looks like it should be paying out, but nothing's happening. And I've been super careful with my weekly claims, always marking that I'm available and actively searching for work. I even upload my work search records each week.

Did u check to see if ur on a Money Network card by chance?? Sometimes they default to that even if u picked direct deposit. I THOUGHT i wasn't getting paid for like 5 weeks then realized they sent me the card and ive been getting paid the whole time it was just sitting in my mailbox!!!

Really?? I definitely selected direct deposit during my initial application, but I guess it's possible. How would I know if they switched me to the card option? Would it say somewhere on the dashboard?

yea go to payment information or account summary and see if it says Money Network or Direct Deposit as the payment method. they randomly switch ppl sometimes 🙄

Based on your description, this sounds like a payment method issue or possibly a processing hold that isn't displaying correctly on your dashboard. Here are the steps I'd recommend:\n\n1. First, verify your payment method in your account settings - PA UC sometimes defaults to Money Network cards even when direct deposit is selected\n\n2. Check if your bank info is entered correctly in the system - even one digit wrong can cause the payments to bounce back\n\n3. Look for any correspondence in your dashboard mailbox - sometimes they send important notices there that don't show up as alerts\n\n4. If you've verified all the above, you'll need to speak with an actual claims examiner. The regular customer service reps often can't see or resolve the backend payment holds.\n\nI was in payment limbo for 6 weeks last year and finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They've got a system that gets you through to an actual PA UC agent instead of facing busy signals. You can see how it works in their demo: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Once I actually talked to someone, they found a payment block that wasn't showing on my dashboard and fixed it on the spot.

Thank you for the detailed response. I just checked and you're right - somehow my payment method got switched to Money Network even though I definitely selected direct deposit initially! The weird thing is I never received a card in the mail... do you know if there's a way to check if they actually sent one?

Yes, they should have mailed the card to the address on file with your claim. You can call Money Network directly at 888-233-5916 to check the status of your card or request a replacement. They can also tell you if there's a balance on the account, which would confirm that payments have been issued. If you need your card expedited, make sure to request that specifically (there may be a fee involved).

Hey all - I work in HR and see this ALL THE TIME with our former employees. PA UC is notorious for switching payment methods without notification. Another thing to check: your payments might be getting intercepted for child support, overpayments from previous claims, or tax withholding that you forgot you selected. Your payment summary should show any deductions, but sometimes it doesn't update correctly on the dashboard and you need to talk to a rep to see what's happening on the backend.

omg i think this just solved my mystery!! i have child support and my payments have been way less than i expected... never even thought about that! 🤦‍♂️

I just went thru this exact situation last month and it turned out my payments were being sent to an old checking account i had closed!! make sure ur direct deposit info is current if you've changed banks recently. took me 3 weeks to figure it out and the bank returned all the money to UC and then i had to wait for them to reissue everything. total nightmare!

UPDATE: I called Money Network and they confirmed they issued a card for me 7 weeks ago! Apparently it was sent to my old address even though I updated it on my UC profile. They're sending a replacement card but said it could take 7-10 business days. I asked about expedited shipping and they wanted $15 which is ridiculous when I'm already broke from not getting my benefits, but I paid it. Thanks everyone for helping me figure this out! I would have never thought to check about the card since I specifically selected direct deposit.

wow thanks for posting this! im gonna check if the same thing happened to me

Glad you got it sorted out! For future reference, you can switch back to direct deposit once you get your card. Just log into your dashboard, go to

One more thing to be aware of - once you get your card, you'll need to activate it before you can access your funds. And if you want to transfer the money to your bank account instead of using the card, you can do that through the Money Network mobile app or website. There's usually no fee for ACH transfers to your bank, but it takes 2-3 business days. If you need the money faster, you can withdraw cash at an ATM (there may be fees depending on which ATM you use) or use the card for purchases.

Thank you! That's super helpful. I'll definitely set up the transfer to my bank once I get the card. What a mess this has been. I can't believe they just switch your payment method without any notification.