PA UC payments never received despite weekly claims - Reading call center keeps hanging up

sounds like he has an unresolved issue on his claim. they never tell u what it is until u talk to somebody!! its so frustrating. my brother had something similar where he didnt get paid for 10 WEEKS even tho he filed every week. turned out they had some question about his job search activities but never told him! did ur dad get any letters in the mail from them? sometimes they send letters instead of using the portal

Your father definitely has an open issue on his claim that needs to be resolved by speaking with a representative. This is unfortunately very common with PA UC right now. When a claim has an issue, payments are held until it's resolved, but the system often doesn't show what the specific issue is. Here are a few things to try: 1. Call precisely at 8:00 AM when they open (not 8:01, exactly 8:00) 2. Have him check his dashboard for any action items or questionnaires that need completing 3. Send a message through the portal specifically asking what the open issue is 4. Make sure he's properly reporting his work search activities each week (needs at least 2 per week) The Reading service center is notoriously overwhelmed. You might consider calling the Erie or Pittsburgh centers instead - sometimes they have better luck getting through.

This happened to me to!! Waited 11 weeks with no money coming in AT ALL and bills piling up. Turns out they needed some stupid form i never even new about. Your dad probably has what they call an "open issue" and they won't release a single penny until it's fixed.

After battling with PA UC for months on my own claim, I found a service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a rep in about 20 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. They basically call for you and when they reach a rep, they connect you. Saved me from eviction honestly. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 and their site is claimyr.com. It was the only way I could finally get my open issue resolved after dealing with those constant hang-ups.

THEY DO THIS ON PURPOSE!! The whole system is designed to DENY benefits to hardworking people who DESERVE THEM!! My cousin went through the EXACT same thing last year and ended up having to MOVE because he couldn't pay rent while waiting for his money!! PA unemployment is the WORST in the country!!!

Hey there - checking back in with you. Did you have any luck getting through to a representative? I'm curious if you tried that Claimyr service the other person mentioned or if you got through on your own by calling at 8am. My sister is having similar issues with her PA UC claim and I might have her try some of these suggestions.

That's great news! For your dad's peace of mind, I'd recommend he continue filing his weekly claims without interruption while waiting for the backpay. Also, the first payment often comes on the PA Unemployment debit card (Money Network) even if he selected direct deposit. He should check if he received that card in the mail, as many people miss it thinking it's junk mail.

so glad ur dad finally got thru!! wat a nightmare tho, 3 months is insane to wait for money ur owed!! this happened to my uncle too and he almost lost his apartment. u should tell ur dad to check his payment status on the portal every day just to make sure they actually start paying him.

Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so relieved your dad finally got this resolved. This is exactly why I tell people to document EVERYTHING when they're laid off - get that pink slip, termination letter, whatever proves it wasn't voluntary. Employers sometimes try to contest claims to keep their unemployment insurance rates down, even when it's clearly a mass layoff situation. The fact that the entire factory closed should have made this a slam dunk case from the beginning. Glad you stuck with it and found a way through the system!

This is such a perfect example of why PA's unemployment system needs major reform. Three months without payment for a clear-cut factory closure case is absolutely unacceptable. I'm glad Connor was persistent and found a solution, but the fact that people need to resort to third-party services just to talk to a human being at their own state agency is ridiculous. My neighbor went through something similar last year - also had an employer dispute that took forever to resolve. The lack of communication from UC about what's holding up claims is the worst part. People are losing their homes while waiting for money they're legally entitled to. Thanks for sharing your experience Connor - it'll definitely help others going through the same nightmare.