PA UC reviewing my claim despite valid recall letter - work search exemption at risk?

This happens sometimes when their system flags something for random verification. Don't panic yet! I went through something similar last winter. Most likely scenario is they're just verifying your recall status with your employer. PA UC sometimes does spot-checks on work search exemptions to make sure people aren't gaming the system. Keep filing your weekly claims as normal, just continue to answer "no" to the work search question and indicate you have an exemption. The review usually clears within 7-10 days if everything checks out.

did u miss filling any weeks? that can trigger a review sometimes. or maybe ur employer reported something different to UC. happened to my cousin last year

I went through this exact situation in January. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Double-check that your recall letter meets all PA requirements (must include specific return date, company letterhead, supervisor signature) 2. Call your employer's HR department and ask them to verify they haven't made any changes to your recall status 3. Most importantly, contact UC to find out the specific reason for the review Don't wait for them to reach out to you. In my case, it was just that they couldn't clearly read the return date on my uploaded document, and I had to resubmit it. The system puts claims under review automatically for many reasons, sometimes it's just a technical glitch. Good luck getting through to them though. I spent 3 days trying to call before I finally got connected.

I had success using a service called Claimyr when my claim was under review for a similar reason. It got me through to a UC agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. Their system basically keeps dialing for you and gets you in the callback queue. Saved me tons of time and frustration. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 or check out claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly why my claim was flagged and resolved it during that call.

Yes, it worked for me. The agent told me my claim was flagged because there was a discrepancy between my last day worked on my application and what my employer reported. Small issue but it triggered an automatic review. Got it cleared up in one call once I actually reached someone.

THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TO ME!!! It's because they're checking to make sure your employer ACTUALLY plans to bring you back. My claim was under review for TWO WEEKS and I couldn't get through to anyone. Turns out my employer never responded to their verification request! You need to call your HR department IMMEDIATELY and tell them to respond to any PA UC requests about your recall status!!! The system is BROKEN and they don't care if you can't pay your bills while they take their sweet time reviewing everything!!!

quick question - when exactly is your return date? if it's more than 16 weeks from your initial layoff date, that might be triggering the review. pa changed some rules recently i think

Update: I finally got through to UC this morning! Turns out my employer changed my recall date from June 28th to July 12th but didn't tell me directly. The change triggered an automatic review because it pushed me over the 16-week threshold for work search exemption. The agent was actually really helpful and explained that I now need to start doing and reporting work search activities each week, but my benefits will continue uninterrupted. So relieved! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

wait so ur still gonna get called back to ur job but u gotta do fake job searches now? that makes no sense lol

Thanks for sharing the update! This is really helpful information - I had no idea about the 16-week rule. It's frustrating that your employer didn't communicate the date change to you directly, but at least you got answers. For anyone else reading this thread, it sounds like the key takeaway is to stay in close contact with your employer about any changes to your recall date, especially if it might push you past that 16-week threshold. The work search requirement kicking in automatically makes sense from a policy perspective, even if it's annoying when you know you have a job waiting for you.

This is such valuable information for everyone dealing with recall situations! I'm curious about one thing though - when you started having to do work search activities, did UC provide any guidance on how to handle potential job offers? Like, are you required to accept interviews or job offers that come up during your search, or can you decline them since you have a definite return date? I'm in a somewhat similar boat with a recall expected in a few months, and I want to make sure I understand my obligations if I end up having to start work search activities too.

This whole thread is incredibly informative! I'm dealing with a similar recall situation and had no idea about the 16-week rule - this could definitely affect me since my layoff was in early February and my recall isn't until August. Quick question for anyone who's been through this: when you transition from recall exemption to work search requirements, do you get any advance notice from UC, or does it just happen automatically when you hit that 16-week mark? I want to make sure I'm prepared and don't accidentally miss filing requirements or mess up my benefits. Also wondering if there's any flexibility if your employer moves the date back within the 16-week window after it's already exceeded it?