PA UC weekly certification mistake - answered 'yes' to absent from work when I meant 'no'
I think I just screwed up my unemployment payment! When filling out my weekly certification this morning, I accidentally selected 'yes' to the question asking if I was absent from work (or unable to work) during the week. I meant to select 'no' but must have clicked the wrong option. I already submitted it and now I'm panicking. Will this delay my payment? How do I fix this error with PA UC? I really can't afford to miss this week's benefit payment. Has anyone made this mistake before and know what I should do?
25 comments


Anastasia Ivanova
same thing happened to me last month lol. ur gonna have to call them to fix it, no way to change online after u submit
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Diego Flores
•Ugh, seriously? I've been trying to call all morning and can't get through. Does anyone know if there's a specific number for corrections or do I just use the main UC number?
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Sean Murphy
Yes, this is definitely something that needs to be corrected ASAP. When you answer 'yes' to being absent or unable to work, the system flags your claim for review because it impacts your eligibility for that week. You need to call the PA UC service center at 1-888-313-7284, but be prepared for long wait times. Explain exactly what happened and they can correct it for you. Make sure you call during their business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm).
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Diego Flores
•Thank you! I've been calling that number all morning but keep getting the busy signal. I'll keep trying. Do you know if this will delay my payment? I'm really worried about making rent this month.
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StarStrider
When i filed last yr i accidently put wrong date for when i started my last job and it took FOREVER to get fixed. PA UC system is awful for fixing even small errors!!!!!
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Zara Malik
•This is actually a different issue than what the OP is asking about. Weekly certification errors can usually be fixed more quickly than initial application errors, especially if you can reach someone at the service center right away. It's important to be specific about what kind of mistake you made when asking for advice.
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Luca Marino
I had the exact same problem about 2 months ago and was panicking too! After THREE DAYS of trying to call and getting nothing but busy signals, I discovered Claimyr.com and it was a game-changer. They helped me get through to an actual PA UC rep in under 20 minutes instead of spending days hitting redial. The rep was able to fix my certification mistake right on the call and my payment only ended up being delayed by one day. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2
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Nia Davis
•Does this actually work? I'm desperate at this point. Been trying to get through for my own issue (different from OP's but still need to talk to someone) for weeks now.
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Luca Marino
•Yes, it worked for me! They basically keep calling for you using their system until they get through, then connect you when a rep picks up. Saved me days of frustration. My payment would have been super delayed otherwise.
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Mateo Perez
am i the only one who thinks its ridiculous we cant edit our answers after submitting?? every other website lets you fix mistakes but uc system is stuck in 1995
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Zara Malik
•You're not alone. The system definitely has limitations. The issue is partly security-related - they want to prevent people from changing answers after they've been submitted to avoid potential fraud. But I agree they could build in a short window (maybe 1 hour) where corrections are allowed.
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Zara Malik
To answer your specific question: Yes, this will likely delay your payment. When you answer 'yes' to being absent/unable to work, it creates what's called an 'issue' on your claim that needs manual review. The good news is that once you get through to a representative and explain it was a mistake, they can usually correct it right away. In the meantime, continue filing your weekly certifications as normal, even if this week's payment is delayed. And next time, remember to carefully review all your answers before submitting!
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Diego Flores
•Thank you for the explanation! I finally got through to someone after trying all day. They said exactly what you mentioned - that it created an 'issue' that needed review. They fixed it while I was on the phone and said my payment should only be delayed by 1-2 business days. Such a relief! And believe me, I'll double-check everything next time.
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Anastasia Ivanova
wait did u actually get through?? that's a miracle lol
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Diego Flores
•Yeah I finally did! After about 5 hours of trying. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Worth it to not spend another day stressing and hitting redial.
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Mateo Perez
i always take screenshots of my weekly claims now before submitting just in case. learned the hard way when i once said i didnt look for work when i actually did. took 3 weeks to fix!!!!
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Sean Murphy
•This is actually excellent advice. Taking screenshots of your answers before submitting is a great practice. Not only does it help you remember exactly what you submitted if there's an issue, but it can also be useful documentation if you need to discuss specific answers with a representative.
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NightOwl42
Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through by phone, you can also try contacting them through the online messaging system in your PA UC portal. It's under "Contact Us" and while it's not as fast as a phone call, they do respond within 24-48 hours usually. I've used it before for similar issues when I couldn't get through by phone. Make sure to explain exactly what happened and include your confirmation number from the weekly certification if you have it. They can see your submission history and fix simple mistakes like this pretty easily.
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Olivia Garcia
•Thank you for mentioning the online messaging option! I didn't even know that existed. That's really helpful for people who can't get through by phone. Do you know if they respond faster during certain days of the week? I might need to use this for a different issue I'm having with my claim.
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CosmicCrusader
•I've used the online messaging system several times and from my experience, they tend to respond faster on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - probably because Mondays are swamped with people who had weekend issues, and Thursdays/Fridays are busy with people trying to get things resolved before the weekend. I usually get responses within 24 hours when I message on Tuesday or Wednesday, but it can take up to 48 hours if I message on Monday or Friday. Just make sure to be really detailed in your message since you won't have the back-and-forth conversation like you would on a phone call.
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Lucas Parker
I made a similar mistake a few months back but with a different question - accidentally said I received pension payments when I didn't. The anxiety is real! Just want to echo what others have said about calling ASAP. One tip that helped me get through faster: try calling right at 8am when they open, or around 11:30am-12pm when some people break for lunch and the lines might be slightly less busy. Also, have your Social Security number and confirmation number from your weekly cert ready before you call - it speeds up the process once you do get through. The rep I spoke with said these kinds of simple mistakes are actually pretty common and they can usually fix them in just a few minutes once you're connected. Hang in there!
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Luca Romano
•Thanks for the timing tips! I'm dealing with a different certification error and have been struggling to get through. The 11:30am-12pm window is something I hadn't thought of - makes total sense that lines might be lighter during lunch. Also good point about having all your info ready beforehand. Nothing worse than finally getting through and then fumbling around for your confirmation number while the rep waits. Did they tell you roughly how long these fixes usually take to show up in the system after they make the correction?
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Hugh Intensity
Just went through this exact same situation last week! I also accidentally clicked "yes" to being absent from work when I meant "no" - it's so easy to make that mistake when you're rushing through the weekly cert. I was freaking out too because I really needed that payment. Here's what worked for me: I called the main PA UC number (1-888-313-7284) first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00am and got through after about 45 minutes of waiting. The rep was actually really understanding and said it happens all the time. She fixed it right there on the call and told me my payment would only be delayed by 1-2 business days instead of the usual week processing time. The key is calling as early as possible and being ready to explain exactly what happened. Don't panic - they can definitely fix this for you!
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Kayla Morgan
•This is so reassuring to hear! I'm new to filing weekly certifications and was worried I'd completely mess up my benefits with one wrong click. The fact that the rep told you it happens all the time makes me feel better about potentially making similar mistakes in the future. Quick question - when you called at 8am, did you get the busy signal at all or did it go straight to the hold queue? I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for when I need to call about issues.
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Sara Unger
•When I called right at 8am, I got through to the hold queue immediately - no busy signal! I think the trick is calling literally right when they open. I had my phone ready and dialed at exactly 8:00:00am. After that, it was just a matter of waiting on hold for about 45 minutes, but at least I knew I was in line. If you call even 10-15 minutes later, you're more likely to hit the busy signals because everyone else has the same idea. Pro tip: have something to do while you wait on hold because 45 minutes feels like forever when you're stressed about your claim!
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