PA UC portal messages won't open - can't read what they're saying!

I had this exact problem last month! Try this - instead of clicking directly on the message title, look for a small envelope icon or a 'view' button to the right of each message. For some reason, clicking the title itself doesn't work but those other buttons usually do. Also check if you have any popup blockers enabled - the messages sometimes try to open in a new window that gets blocked.

same issue here 2 weeks ago. try using microsoft edge browser insted of chrome, worked 4 me

The PA UC portal is GARBAGE!!! I had the same problem and called for THREE DAYS straight and couldn't get through to anyone!!! They expect us to respond to messages we can't even read then penalize us for not responding! The whole system is designed to deny people benefits!!!!!

Update: I tried Edge browser and it still doesn't work. I'm really starting to panic because I think these messages might be about my work search activities and I don't want to lose my benefits. Does anyone know if there's a phone number specifically for technical issues? The main UC number never connects to anyone.

This is actually a common problem with the PA UC portal - there's a compatibility issue that affects certain browsers and devices. Here's what you need to do: 1. Try using Internet Explorer if you still have it (I know, ancient technology, but the UC portal sometimes works better with it) 2. Clear your browser cache completely 3. Make sure JavaScript is enabled 4. If you're on a mobile device, switch to a desktop/laptop 5. Try accessing the portal during off-peak hours (early morning works best) If all else fails, you can request that messages be sent to your email instead. Go to your profile settings in the portal and make sure your email preferences are set to receive communications.

After struggling with this same issue for weeks, I finally found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual PA UC agent who could read the messages to me over the phone. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 showing how it works. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly what my messages said AND fixed the technical issue with my account so I could actually see them. Saved me so much stress since one of my messages was about providing additional documentation by a specific deadline!

Mine was doing the same thing last week! I thought I'd share what ended up working for me in case you're still stuck. I had to do a hard refresh (hold down Shift while clicking refresh). When that didn't work at first, I tried going to my account settings and changing my contact preferences, which seemed to reset something in the system. After that, I was able to click on messages. Btw, if you're worried about missing something important, you can also check your Determination History tab - any major decisions about your claim usually show up there too, not just in messages.

My brother had this same problem and he just called the UC service center like 50 times in a row until he got through lol. They really need to fix there website!!

Glad to hear you got it working! For future reference for anyone else reading this thread - I've found that the PA UC portal works best with: 1. Edge or Firefox browsers (Chrome often has issues) 2. Regular cache clearing 3. Accessing between 7-8am when server load is lighter 4. Using desktop rather than mobile The ID.me verification is definitely important - if you miss that deadline they can pause your payments until it's completed, so you got lucky catching it in time!

This is such a common issue with the PA UC portal! I'm a former IT support tech and the portal has serious compatibility problems. Here's what I always recommend to people: 1. First try the Shift+refresh hard reload (glad it worked for you!) 2. If that fails, try Firefox with ALL extensions disabled - sometimes ad blockers interfere 3. Check if you have "Enhanced Tracking Protection" turned on in Firefox - turn it OFF for the UC site 4. Make sure cookies are enabled for *.uc.pa.gov domains The ID.me verification is super time-sensitive, so good catch! Pro tip: after you complete it, screenshot the confirmation page because sometimes the system doesn't update right away and you might need proof you did it on time. Also, set up text alerts in your UC profile if you haven't already - they'll text you when new messages arrive so you don't have to keep checking the portal manually.

I'm so glad you got it working with the Shift+refresh trick! I just wanted to add that if anyone else is still having issues, you can also try accessing the portal through a private/incognito browser window. Sometimes cached login data can cause problems with the message system. Also, I learned the hard way that if you have multiple UC accounts (like if you filed in different states before), make sure you're logged into the right one - I spent hours troubleshooting message issues only to realize I was in my old account from when I lived in Ohio! The PA system is definitely glitchy but at least there are workarounds. Good luck with your ID.me verification!

I just want to say how grateful I am for this community! I've been lurking here for months but never posted until now. Reading through everyone's solutions for the PA UC portal message issue has been so helpful - I bookmarked this entire thread because I know I'll probably run into similar problems in the future. The fact that you all take time to share detailed troubleshooting steps and actually follow up to help each other is amazing. It's such a relief to know there are real people dealing with the same frustrating system issues. I haven't had the message problem yet but I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts and try Firefox instead of Chrome based on everyone's recommendations. Thank you all for making this less overwhelming for newcomers like me!

I'm so glad to see this got resolved! I've been dealing with PA UC portal issues for months now and this thread is a goldmine of troubleshooting tips. I wanted to add one more thing that worked for me recently - if you're still having problems after trying all these great suggestions, try logging out completely, clearing ALL your browser data (not just cache), and then logging back in. Sometimes the portal gets confused with old session data. Also, I noticed that the portal seems to work better on weekdays vs weekends - not sure if it's a server capacity thing but worth keeping in mind. The Shift+refresh trick is brilliant though, I'm definitely going to remember that one! Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions, this community is such a lifesaver when dealing with this frustrating system.

I just wanted to share another potential fix that worked for me when I had this exact same message issue last month! If none of the browser tricks work, try logging into the PA UC portal from a completely different network - like your phone's hotspot instead of your home WiFi, or vice versa. I spent hours trying different browsers and clearing cache, but it turned out my ISP was having some weird routing issues with the UC servers. As soon as I switched to mobile data, the messages opened perfectly. It might be worth a shot if you're still stuck! Also, I second what everyone said about Firefox being more reliable than Chrome for this site - I permanently switched after having so many portal issues.

This is such an incredibly comprehensive troubleshooting thread! As someone who's been wrestling with the PA UC portal for the past few weeks, I'm bookmarking this entire conversation. The variety of solutions you all have shared is amazing - from the simple Shift+refresh fix to network switching, browser compatibility issues, and even the timing suggestions about accessing during off-peak hours. I've been using Chrome and having intermittent issues, so I'm definitely switching to Firefox based on multiple recommendations here. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become tech support experts just to access our benefits, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these problems. The fact that Dmitry got his messages working just in time for that ID.me deadline shows how crucial it is to have these workarounds documented. I'm going to try the text alert setup right away too - seems like a much better way to stay on top of important messages than constantly battling the portal. Thank you all for creating such a helpful resource!

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same message issue for the past 3 days and was starting to panic that I'd miss something important. Reading through everyone's solutions gives me hope that I can actually fix this. I'm going to start with the Shift+refresh method that worked for Dmitry, and if that doesn't work I'll try switching to Firefox and clearing my browser data completely. The tip about accessing during off-peak hours is really smart too - I've been trying to check messages during lunch breaks when the servers are probably overloaded. It's honestly embarrassing that Pennsylvania's unemployment system is this broken, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other instead of just complaining. I'll report back on what ends up working for me in case it helps anyone else who finds this thread in the future!