PA UC still under review after 5 weeks - will I get backpay if approved after starting new job?

Yes they will pay you for the weeks you where unemployed. You still have to file your weekly claims and report that you are working and how much you made. Depending on how much you make, you may still be eligible for partial benefits. congrats on the new job!

Congratulations on finding work! To answer your questions accurately: 1. Yes, if your claim is eventually approved, you WILL receive all back payments for the weeks you were eligible and properly filed your weekly certifications. This is called "backpay" and they will pay you for all qualifying weeks regardless of your current employment status. 2. You should absolutely continue filing weekly claims even after you start working. When you file, you'll report that you returned to work, the date you started, and your earnings. This does two important things: - It properly closes out your claim - It may qualify you for partial benefits if your new wages are below your weekly benefit amount Failure to report your return to work could potentially create an overpayment situation if your claim is eventually approved. Keep filing until the system tells you that you're no longer eligible to file.

5 weeks is actually not that long for PA review these days lol. I waited 9 weeks last year!!

If you're having trouble getting information about your claim, I'd recommend trying to speak with a UC representative directly. I was in a similar situation and wasted weeks waiting before I was able to talk to someone. I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to a PA UC agent when I couldn't get past the busy signals. They have a system that keeps calling until it gets through, then connects you. I was skeptical but they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Once I spoke with a rep, they were able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim and resolve it that same day. In your case, it might be worth finding out what's causing the delay even though you're starting work soon - that way you know your backpay is actually coming.

MAKE SURE YOU KEEP FILING EVERY WEEK even after u start the job!!! I made this mistake and lost out on 3 weeks of payments because I stopped filing when I got hired. You need to keep filing until they actually tell you to stop!!! You'll still get paid for the weeks u were unemployed as long as u did everything right.

Just to add to the confusion lol... when I was on PA UC last year I got approved after 6 weeks then got a new job 2 weeks later. For some weird reason they paid me for 4 weeks but not for 2 of them and I never figured out why. The system is so confusing I just gave up trying to get those missing weeks.

This whole "under review" status drives me NUTS. The PA UC system is deliberately designed to be as frustrating and opaque as possible. They hope people will just give up or find jobs before they have to pay. I went through 11 weeks of "under review" last year and got zero explanations until I finally reached someone by phone who fixed it in literally 5 minutes. The system is BROKEN.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'll definitely keep filing my weekly certifications even after I start my job, and I'll report my work and wages properly to avoid any issues. It sounds like I should eventually receive the backpay for these 5 weeks, which is a relief. It's frustrating that the system works this way, but at least I know what to expect now. I might try contacting them directly to see if I can figure out what's causing the delay, even though I'll be working soon.

Great advice from everyone here! I went through something similar in 2023 - my claim took 8 weeks to approve and I had already started a new job by week 6. They did pay me for all the weeks I was unemployed, but the key thing is to keep filing those weekly certifications religiously. One thing I'll add that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you do start reporting your work income, make sure you report your GROSS wages (before taxes), not your take-home pay. I made that mistake initially and it caused some confusion with my payments. Also keep track of exactly when you started working (date and time if possible) because they'll ask for specific details. The waiting is absolutely maddening, but hang in there! Sounds like you're doing everything right.

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I was in almost the exact same boat! My claim was under review for 6 weeks, then I got a job offer and started working before it was approved. I was so worried I'd lose out on those weeks of benefits. The good news is that they did pay me for all 6 weeks I was unemployed, even though I was already working when the claim finally got approved. The process was pretty straightforward once I understood it: 1. Keep filing your weekly certifications even after you start work 2. Report your return to work date and wages honestly 3. They'll close out your claim and send you the backpay for the weeks you were legitimately unemployed One tip - when you report your wages, they might ask for pay stubs or other documentation, so keep good records. Also, don't be surprised if the backpay comes as a separate deposit from any ongoing partial benefits you might qualify for. The whole system is frustrating and slow, but they do eventually make it right. Congrats on the new job - at least you won't have to stress about this much longer!

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now! Been waiting 4 weeks for my claim to be reviewed and just got called for an interview next week. It's so frustrating that the timing works out this way, but reading everyone's responses here gives me hope that I'll still get paid for the weeks I was actually unemployed. One question - if I do get hired and start working before my claim is approved, should I wait to report my new job until after I actually start, or should I report it as soon as I accept the offer? I don't want to mess anything up with the timing. Thanks for posting this question @Omar Hassan - you're definitely not alone in this situation!

This exact timing happened to me too! I was so frustrated waiting 6 weeks for my claim to get reviewed, then literally the day after I started my new job, I got an email that my claim was finally approved. The silver lining is that PA UC will definitely pay you for those 5 weeks you were legitimately unemployed - they call it "retroactive benefits" or backpay. Just make sure you: 1. Keep filing your weekly certifications even after you start working 2. Report your first day of work and wages accurately 3. Save all your documentation (pay stubs, start date, etc.) I ended up getting a lump sum payment for all my back weeks about 2 weeks after my claim was approved. The system is slow and frustrating, but they do make it right eventually. Also, depending on your new job's hours/pay, you might still qualify for partial benefits for a few weeks while you transition. Don't stop filing until the system tells you that you're no longer eligible! Congrats on landing the new position! 🎉

I'm currently dealing with this exact scenario! My claim has been under review for 3 weeks now and I have a final interview tomorrow that could lead to a job offer. Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly helpful and reassuring. The consensus seems clear - PA UC will pay backpay for legitimate unemployment weeks even if you're already working when the claim gets approved, as long as you keep filing your weekly certifications. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about continuing to file and reporting work/wages accurately when the time comes. It's frustrating how common this timing issue seems to be with PA UC's slow processing, but at least we're not alone in dealing with it! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is a goldmine of practical advice for navigating this confusing system.

I'm currently in week 3 of waiting for my PA UC claim to be reviewed and this thread has been incredibly helpful! It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how common this timing issue is - seems like PA UC's slow processing almost guarantees that people will find work before their claims get approved. The advice about continuing to file weekly certifications even after starting work is something I definitely wouldn't have known to do. I was worried that getting a job would somehow invalidate my claim for the weeks I was legitimately unemployed, but it's clear from everyone's experiences that the backpay will come through as long as you follow the process correctly. One question for those who've been through this - about how long after your claim was finally approved did you receive the lump sum backpay? I'm trying to plan my finances around potentially getting that money weeks or months from now. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't get from the official UC website!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this EXACT situation about 6 months ago! My claim was under review for 7 weeks, I found a job and started working in week 5, and then my claim finally got approved 2 weeks after I was already employed. Here's what happened in my case: - Yes, they paid me for ALL 7 weeks I was unemployed, even though I was working when approved - The backpay came as one lump sum about 10 days after my claim was approved - I continued filing weekly and reporting my new wages, which properly closed out my claim The most important thing is to NOT stop filing your weekly certifications once you start work! I almost made this mistake but thankfully read advice similar to what's in this thread. When you file after starting your job, just honestly report your work start date and weekly wages. PA UC's processing times are absolutely ridiculous, but they do eventually make it right. You'll get every penny you're entitled to for those weeks you were legitimately unemployed. The timing sucks but you're definitely not alone - this seems to happen to way too many people! Congrats on the new job and hang in there! 💪

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently in week 2 of my claim being under review and just saw a job posting that looks perfect for me. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much confidence about applying - it sounds like even if I get hired before my claim is approved, I'll still receive the backpay for the weeks I was legitimately unemployed. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1. Keep filing weekly certifications no matter what - even after starting work 2. Report work start date and wages accurately when the time comes 3. The backpay will come through as a lump sum once the claim is finally approved 4. Document everything for your records It's honestly ridiculous how common this timing issue is with PA UC's slow processing, but at least there's a clear path forward. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance you need but can never find on the official websites! Going to submit that job application with confidence now! 🤞

I'm dealing with almost the same exact situation right now! Week 4 of "under review" status and I have two interviews lined up this week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was really worried that finding work before my claim gets approved would somehow mess up my eligibility for those weeks I was actually unemployed. The consistent advice about continuing to file weekly certifications even after starting work is so valuable. I definitely would have assumed I should stop filing once I got a job, which apparently would have been a huge mistake based on what everyone's shared here. It's honestly crazy how broken PA UC's processing system is that this timing issue happens to so many people. But at least now I know what to expect and can move forward with job hunting without stressing about losing out on benefits I'm legitimately entitled to. Thanks for asking this question @Omar Hassan - this thread is going to help so many people in similar situations! 🙏