PA UC payment missing after switching from ReliaCard to direct deposit - 3 weeks no money
Hey folks, I'm seriously stressed out about my unemployment payments. When I was on the ReliaCard system, my payments always hit like clockwork every Wednesday. But when PA announced they were switching from ReliaCard to that new Money Network card, I decided to just go with direct deposit instead of dealing with another card. That was THREE WEEKS ago! I've filed my weekly claims like normal, and each time the system tells me "you should expect to get paid this week" but NOTHING is showing up! No deposits to my bank account and definitely no paper checks in my mail. I've triple-checked my banking info in the portal (routing/account numbers are 100% correct) and verified my mailing address is current too. Has anyone else had payment delays after switching from ReliaCard to direct deposit? I've got bills piling up and can't get through to anyone on the phone. Starting to panic here!
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QuantumQuester
I had the exact same issue when I switched to direct deposit last month. For me, it was because they put my claim on temporary hold during the payment method transition. Check your dashboard for any 'open issues' - there might be one called 'payment method change verification' or something similar. Mine took about 4 weeks to resolve before the money started flowing again. And yes, they did pay all the back weeks I was owed once it cleared.
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Connor O'Neill
•Thanks for responding! I just checked and you're right - there IS an open issue called "payment method verification" that I totally missed before. But how did you get yours resolved? Did you have to call them or did it just clear up automatically? I can't afford to wait another week tbh
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Yara Nassar
this happnd to me 2! so anoying. they NEVER tell you that changing payment methods triggers a review. took almost a month 4 me. kept filing every week tho and got all my backpay in 1 big deposit
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Keisha Williams
•mine took 6 weeks to start getting payments after switching!!! PA unemployment system is GARBAGE
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Paolo Ricci
There's actually a specific process happening here that isn't well communicated by PA UC. When you switch payment methods (whether from ReliaCard to direct deposit or vice versa), the system automatically flags your account for a payment method verification review. This is to prevent fraud and ensure the new payment destination is legitimate. Here's what you need to know: 1. This review typically takes 3-5 weeks to complete 2. You should continue filing your weekly claims during this time 3. Once verified, you'll receive all back payments in a lump sum 4. The verification usually resolves automatically, but you can speed it up by speaking with an agent If you need to reach someone quickly, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a PA UC agent when I had a similar issue. They have a service that gets you connected to unemployment much faster than waiting on hold all day. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 showing how it works. I was skeptical but it actually got me through to an agent who cleared my payment issue that same day.
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Connor O'Neill
•Thank you for explaining this! I had no idea there was an actual verification process - wish they'd told me that when I made the switch. I'm definitely going to check out that Claimyr service because I've been trying to call for DAYS without getting through. At this point I'll try anything to get my money flowing again.
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Amina Toure
Anyone telling you this is normal is WRONG!!! PA UC is deliberately delaying payments because they're BROKE. I switched to direct deposit in February and my payments NEVER resumed. Had to file an appeal and go through THREE hearings before they admitted their mistake. The system is designed to make you give up. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and file a complaint with your state rep!!!
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QuantumQuester
•That's not accurate information. Payment method changes DO trigger a verification process, but it's not because they're "broke" - it's a fraud prevention measure. Most claims resume payment within 4-5 weeks. While there are certainly problems with the PA UC system, spreading misinformation doesn't help anyone.
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Oliver Zimmermann
Have you tried uploading your bank statement to your dashboard? When I switched to direct deposit in 2025, I had to upload a bank statement showing my name matching my claim info. That cleared up my payment issue within 48 hours. It's under Document Upload > Verification > Banking Information. Worth a try!
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Connor O'Neill
•I didn't even know this was an option! Just checked and there is a document upload section where I can provide bank verification. Going to try this right now - thank you so much for the tip!
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CosmicCommander
when i got laid off last month my neighbor told me to just stick with the card they send you because direct deposit always has problems lol guess she was right
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Amina Toure
Just saw someone mentioned Claimyr above - BE CAREFUL giving your info to third-party services!!! They charge you to do what should be FREE
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Paolo Ricci
•I understand the concern, but when you're missing 3+ weeks of payments and can't get through to UC, sometimes paying for a service to help is worth it. Each person has to decide if the time savings is worth it to them. I personally had a good experience with them, but everyone should do what they're comfortable with.
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QuantumQuester
Just checking back - did you have any luck uploading your bank verification documents or getting through to someone? The bank statement upload suggestion is actually really good advice and can speed things up considerably.
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Connor O'Neill
•Yes! I uploaded my bank statement AND used the Claimyr service to get through to an agent this morning. The agent confirmed there was a verification hold due to the payment method change, but they were able to clear it after verifying my identity and bank info. She said I should receive all my back payments within 2-3 business days! Such a relief. Thanks to everyone who helped!
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Natasha Volkova
That's awesome news Connor! So glad you got it resolved. For anyone else dealing with this issue, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Check for open issues in your dashboard (especially "payment method verification"), 2) Upload bank verification documents if available, and 3) Try to speak with an agent to expedite the process. Good to know the system does work eventually, even if it's frustrating waiting weeks without communication about what's happening behind the scenes.
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