PA UC shows 'last employer issue' after being told I could file weekly - how long until determination?

I had the EXACT same thing happen in January! The phone rep said everything looked fine, then the system flagged an 'employer issue' right after. In my case, it took about 3.5 weeks for them to make a determination. My former employer contested the claim saying I quit (I was actually laid off). PA UC eventually ruled in my favor, but those weeks were super stressful. DEFINITELY keep filing your weekly claims while you wait. If you don't, you'll lose those weeks even if they approve your claim later. Just log in every Sunday and file like normal - the system will hold the payments until the issue is resolved. I finally got through to an actual claims examiner by using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to a real person at UC within 30 minutes instead of me calling for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZWG3KiHrg2. Helped me actually find out what was going on with my claim instead of just guessing.

The employer issue is one of the most common problems with new PA UC claims. Employers have 7 days to respond to the state after they're notified about your claim. Many employers don't respond right away, so it can take time. Typical determination timeframes right now are: - Employer responds quickly: 2-3 weeks - Employer doesn't respond: 4-6 weeks (they wait the full period) - Employer contests the claim: 6-8 weeks (may require a hearing) Yes, absolutely continue filing your weekly claims during this period. That creates your record of eligibility, and if/when they approve your claim, you'll get all the back payments at once. If you don't file weekly, you won't get paid for those weeks even if they approve your claim later. The system is extremely backlogged since they updated their computer systems in 2025, so patience is unfortunately necessary.

u should call them but good luck getting thru lol I had to call 47 times in one day!!!! keep filing weekly tho 4 sure

Everyone's experience varies, but my last employer issue took exactly 27 days to resolve. Your mileage may vary depending on your specific situation and how quickly your former employer responds. One thing I wish someone had told me: check your PA UC dashboard every day for correspondence. Sometimes they'll upload letters requesting additional information from you with a deadline, and they don't always send email notifications. Missing those deadlines can add weeks to your wait time. Also, make sure your contact information is 100% up to date in the system. If they try to call you for clarification and can't reach you, that will also delay things.

The whole unemployment system is DESIGNED to be complicated and discouraging! They WANT you to give up and stop claiming benefits. My sister-in-law waited SIX MONTHS for her determination because her employer lied about her leaving! SIX MONTHS with no income! They don't care about us. That's why the phone lines never work and the website is always broken. It's not an accident - it's by design. And when you finally do get approved, they'll probably hit you with an overpayment notice next year claiming you were never eligible in the first place. Seen it happen to dozens of people. DO keep filing weekly though. And document EVERYTHING - take screenshots, notes of every call, the name of every person you talk to. You'll need it when they inevitably try to screw you over.

What was the reason you separated from your employer? That makes a huge difference in determination times. If you were laid off for lack of work, it's usually faster. If you quit or were fired, it takes much longer because they have to determine if you're eligible based on those circumstances.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, if you're determined eligible, you'll receive all back payments for the weeks you properly filed claims. They'll be paid together once the determination is made. With the new Money Network card system PA implemented in 2025, it typically takes 2-3 business days after determination for the funds to be available. Regarding your layoff documentation - yes, you should proactively upload that to your dashboard. Go to your claim, select "Provide Additional Documentation" and upload your layoff letter. This can significantly speed up the determination process as it provides clear evidence of your eligibility reason.

my claim had this 2 it was becuz my boss said i quit but i was actually fired they just didnt want to pay unemployment lol... took forrrevvverrr to resolve like 5 weeks i think? just keep doing ur weekly claims and eventually theyll figure it out. the backdated money was nice tho got like $2600 all at once when it finally went thru

Just wanted to follow up on this thread - for those dealing with employer issues, this is exactly why PA requires the work search activities while you wait for determination. Even though it feels pointless when you're not getting paid yet, you need to be doing and documenting your work search activities (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc.) every week during this waiting period. If you don't do this and then get approved, they could deny payment for weeks where you didn't complete and document your work search requirements. Make sure you're logging into the system and recording at least two work search activities each week.

my neighbor works for uc she says they super backlogged right now bc of some computer upgrade thing so everything taking longer than normal