Received Money Network card while PA UC claim still under review - normal or error?

Yes, this is completely normal. PA UC sends out the Money Network debit cards automatically when you first file a claim, regardless of your claim status. It's just part of their standard processing system. Go ahead and activate it so it's ready when (and if) your claim gets approved. The card will be empty until they actually approve and release payments to you.

Oh that makes sense! Thanks for explaining. I was worried something weird was happening with my claim.

They send cards to EVRYONE who applies! I got mine 2 weeks b4 my claim was approved. Just keep it safe til u need it. took 5 weeks total for my claim to go from under review to actual payment.

5 weeks?! Ugh, I was hoping it would be faster. Did you have to call them to get it resolved or did it just automatically update?

Same thing happened to me! Got the card super fast but my claim took forever to process. They send the cards out right away but that doesn't mean you're approved yet.

I've been dealing with PA unemployment for years (through multiple layoffs in construction) and this is standard procedure. They send out Money Network cards to everyone who applies as part of their processing. It's actually more efficient since they don't have to wait to issue a card once you're approved - payment can happen immediately after approval. \n\nBut having an open issue is concerning. That could delay your payments significantly unless addressed. What type of open issue does it show? If it doesn't specify, you really need to speak with a claims examiner directly. You'll probably need to call PA UC, but good luck getting through their phone lines - I spent weeks trying.

It just says 'eligibility issue' but doesn't give any details. I've been trying to call for two days now but just get busy signals or the automated system hangs up on me after saying all agents are busy.

The Money Network card doesn't mean ANYTHING about your claim status!!! They just automatically send them out to save time. The PA unemployment system is completely BROKEN - I had my claim \

9 weeks is insane! How did you finally get through to someone? I'm currently at 6 weeks with an open issue and desperate to talk to a real person.

Honestly just pure luck and persistence. I called literally hundreds of times over those weeks.

Since you mentioned you have an open issue, that's what you need to focus on. The card is just standard procedure, but that open issue could delay your benefits for weeks or months if not addressed. \n\nI struggled to get through to PA UC for nearly 3 weeks with a similar situation until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an agent who resolved my open issue in one call. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2\n\nOnce I got through to someone, they told me my open issue was just missing employment verification that I didn't know I needed to submit. Fixed it right away and payments started the following week.

Just checked out that video - that looks really helpful actually. I'm going to try this tomorrow because I'm getting nowhere with the regular phone lines. I really need to find out what this open issue is all about.

dont 4get the stupid work search requirements while ur waiting!! u still gotta do those EVERY WEEK even if ur claim isnt approved yet or they can deny u later!!!

Oh wow I didn't realize that! So I should be filing the weekly claims and doing the work search activities even though I haven't been approved? Thanks for the heads up!

To clarify some confusion in this thread - you absolutely should be filing your weekly certifications and completing your work search activities (minimum of 2 per week) even while your claim is under review. If you don't, and your claim eventually gets approved, you won't receive payments for those missed weeks. \n\nRegarding the Money Network card - PA switched from paper checks to these cards a few years ago for those who don't choose direct deposit. Sending them early is just efficiency on their part, nothing more.

Did you select direct deposit? I think they send the cards regardless but you can still get direct deposit if you set it up in your account.

I did select direct deposit! That's another reason I was confused about getting the card.

Even if you selected direct deposit, they still send the card as a backup payment method. It's just how their system works. If your direct deposit information was entered correctly, that's how you'll receive payments once approved.

I'm in a similar situation - got my Money Network card last week but my claim has been under review for almost a month now. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like the card is just standard procedure, but those wait times are brutal. I've been doing my weekly certifications and work searches like @Gael Robinson mentioned, but it's frustrating not knowing when (or if) this will actually get resolved. Has anyone had success getting through to PA UC recently, or is Claimyr really the only way to reach a human being these days?

@Omar Mahmoud and @Ella Lewis - you're definitely not alone! I'm about 4 weeks into waiting myself and just got my Money Network card too. The whole system seems designed to make you give up honestly. I tried calling PA UC for 2 straight weeks with no luck - either busy signals or they hang up after putting you on hold forever. From what everyone's saying here, it sounds like the card arrival is actually a good sign that your application is in the system and being processed, even if slowly. I'm planning to try that Claimyr service @Dana Doyle mentioned since the regular phone lines are useless. One thing I learned from this thread is to definitely keep doing those weekly certifications and work searches even while waiting - apparently you can lose benefits for weeks you don't file even if your claim gets approved later. Stay strong everyone, hopefully we'll all get through this bureaucratic nightmare soon!

So I've been collecting partial unemployment for about a year now and every Tuesday I get my deposit on my money network card at about 5:00 in the morning. The email I received says that the time stamp is around 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning. Which I always thought was weird. But the money was always there by 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. today for some reason nothing showing up nothing showing up pending has anyone else experienced this at all? There's no holidays there's no issues with my claim I have a transaction number. And an amount that was confirmed. Just wondering if anyone's experiencing any issues like this today or has experienced this in the past where for some strange reason the deposit was delayed. I'm not a fan of the money network card as it is but this just doesn't make any sense.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and just got my Money Network card yesterday, but my claim status still shows "under review" with no details about what the hold-up is. Reading through everyone's comments here has been super helpful - I had no idea the card was just sent automatically to everyone who applies. The part about continuing to file weekly certifications even while under review is really important info that I almost missed. I've been doing them but wasn't sure if I should since nothing's been approved yet. Sounds like that would have been a costly mistake! I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service @Dana Doyle mentioned since calling PA UC directly seems like a waste of time based on everyone's experiences. Has anyone else tried it recently and can confirm it actually works? The regular phone system is absolutely useless - I've gotten nothing but busy signals for days. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. At least now I know the card doesn't mean anything special about my claim status, but I'll go ahead and activate it just to have it ready when/if my benefits get approved.