Received unexpected $5K PA UC backpay check from 2020 pandemic - Is it safe to cash?

Cash it now ask questions later lol... UC made the mistake not you

This could be legitimate backpay from a mass settlement or audit. PA UC has been working through pandemic-era claims where people were underpaid or had benefits calculated incorrectly. I'd recommend: 1. Check your PA UC dashboard to see if there's any notice about a recalculation or adjustment 2. Try calling the UC service center (1-888-313-7284) to verify the payment is legitimate before cashing 3. If you can't get through by phone, take clear photos of the check (front/back) and document everything in case questions arise later There was a class action settlement for some pandemic claims that might explain this. When was the check dated?

my sister in law got a similar check last month for $3,200 from her 2020 claim. she called and after waiting for like 2 hours they told her it was legitimate. something about recalculated base year wages or something technical like that. she cashed it no problem

DON'T CASH IT YET!!! PA UC is notorious for sending out money and then demanding it back months later with penalties!!! I had this exact thing happen with a $2,700 check they sent me last year. I spent it thinking it was legit backpay, then 4 months later got a NOTICE OF OVERPAYMENT claiming I wasn't eligible. Now I'm on a repayment plan AND they added a 15% penalty!! The whole system is designed to screw us over!!!

Trying to reach PA UC by phone is nearly impossible these days! I spent 3 days trying last month when I had a question about my benefit year ending. Always busy signals or disconnections after waiting on hold forever. I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a system that calls UC for you and connects when an agent is available. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 showing how it works. Saved me days of frustration and I got my issue resolved in one call. If you need to verify that check before cashing, might be worth it rather than dealing with busy signals all day.

This is very likely legitimate backpay from the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Recalculation Initiative (PUCRI) that PA launched in late 2024. They're reviewing thousands of claims from 2020-2021 where claimants may have received incorrect benefit amounts due to system limitations during the crisis. The timing matches the current processing schedule - they're working through April-June 2020 claims right now. The lack of accompanying documentation is unfortunately typical of PA UC's administrative issues. Here's what you should do: 1. Take photos of the check and store them securely 2. Contact UC to confirm (yes, it's difficult but necessary) 3. If confirmed legitimate, keep documentation of the confirmation 4. Be aware this may affect your 2025 taxes The check is most likely valid, but verification is the safest approach before depositing.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at PA UC after using that Claimyr service (thanks for the recommendation). The agent confirmed the check is legitimate! Apparently, there was a statewide review of pandemic claims and they found that I should have received the additional $600 federal supplement for 2 weeks I was eligible but didn't get it, plus they recalculated my base year wages and found I qualified for a higher weekly benefit rate than I received. The agent said a notification letter was supposedly mailed 3 weeks ago explaining all this, but I never received it (typical PA UC). She's having another letter sent and noted in my file that the payment was confirmed legitimate. I'm depositing the check tomorrow! Thanks everyone for your help. If anyone else gets a surprise payment, definitely verify before cashing, but it might be legitimate backpay from this review they're doing.

Congratulations on getting it sorted out! This gives me hope that PA UC is actually trying to make things right from the pandemic chaos. I was laid off in May 2020 and always wondered if I got everything I was entitled to - the whole system was such a mess back then. For anyone else reading this thread, I'd recommend keeping an eye on your mailbox over the next few months. Sounds like they're working through these claims chronologically, so if you had unemployment during the pandemic, you might be getting a surprise too. And definitely use that Claimyr service if you need to call - trying to get through to PA UC the regular way is like winning the lottery! Thanks for sharing your update QuantumQuest - really helpful to know how this all played out.