What does 'Exhaustion of UC Benefits' email mean when I'm locked out of PA portal? Only on week 24 of 26

That email is just an automated notification that gets sent out when you're approaching the end of your benefit year. It doesn't necessarily mean your benefits are cut off right now. Since you're on week 24 of 26, the system is just giving you a heads-up that you'll need to consider what happens after week 26. As for being locked out, that's a separate issue. Did you try the PIN reset multiple times? Sometimes the system locks you out after too many attempts. You might need to call the PA UC office and verify your identity to get back in.

had the same thing happen last month!! dont worry its just a warning email they send out. but yea the account lockout is annoying AF

This is a standard notice PA UC sends when you're approaching your benefit exhaustion date. The system automatically calculates this based on your initial claim date and benefit amount, not necessarily your actual remaining weeks. Since you mentioned you're on week 24 of 26, you're close enough to trigger the automated message. Regarding your portal lockout, this is a separate issue but equally important. When your account gets locked after multiple PIN reset attempts, you need to speak with a representative directly. They'll need to verify your identity (usually with SSN, address, employment history) before unlocking your account. Call early in the morning (7:55am, right before they open at 8am) for the best chance of getting through. Monday and Tuesday are typically their busiest days, so try Wednesday-Friday if possible.

When I got that same email I PANICKED!!! But don't worry- it's just their system being stupid. The unemployment portal in PA is literally the WORST website ever created. I got locked out 3 different times during my claim period. The whole system is designed to make you give up I swear!!!! Keep calling and eventually you'll get through but be prepared to wait HOURS.

I've had success getting through to PA UC quickly using Claimyr. Their service connects you directly to an unemployment agent without waiting on hold forever. Saved me hours of frustration when I got locked out after forgetting my PIN. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 or just go to claimyr.com. The rep helped reset my account and explained all the exhaustion notices. Worth it when you're dealing with an urgent issue like account lockout.

This happened to me in January. The exhaustion email is automatic but the lockout needs to be fixed asap. If you can't get through on the phone go to your local CareerLink office in person and they can sometimes help reset your access or at least look up your claim status

my neighbor works for unemployment and says they're switching systems soon and it's causing all kinds of weird emails to go out don't worry about it lol but yeah the PIN lockout is a different thing need to call for that

Just to follow up on your question about the 26 weeks - Pennsylvania regular UC benefits do provide up to 26 weeks, but the 'exhaustion' notice is sent automatically when you're approaching the end. Since you're on week 24, you still have 2 more weeks of eligibility assuming you continue to qualify. Once you get your account unlocked (which is the immediate priority), you'll be able to see your exact benefit balance and remaining weeks. The system calculates this based on your initial monetary determination, so sometimes the weeks and dollar amounts don't perfectly align with what you might expect. Just make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even while locked out of your account if possible (you can do this by phone with the PAT system at 888-255-4728). Missing weekly claims during this period could create additional complications.

I got through to PA UC today after trying for 2 days straight with the lockout issue. For anyone facing the same problem, here's what worked: call exactly at 7:58am, then press options 1, then 3, then 1. This routing seems to have shorter queues than the main line. The agent was able to verify my identity and immediately unlock my account while I was on the phone. The whole process took about 10 minutes once I finally got through. Regarding the exhaustion notice - they confirmed it's just an automated alert that triggers at week 24. My full 26 weeks of benefits were still intact.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was SO stressful! The "exhaustion" email really does just mean you're getting close to your 26-week limit, not that your benefits are actually cut off yet. I panicked when I got mine at week 23. For the lockout - definitely try Nina's advice about calling at 7:58am with those specific button presses (1-3-1). That routing worked for me too when the main line was impossible. Also, while you're waiting to get through, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims by phone at 888-255-4728 like Paige mentioned. I almost missed a week because I thought I couldn't file while locked out. One more tip - if you have any old emails or texts from PA UC, they sometimes have your claimant ID number which can speed up the identity verification process when you finally reach someone. Good luck and don't give up - you'll get those last 2 weeks!

I'm dealing with a similar lockout issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that I found my old claimant ID in a text message they sent when I first applied - it was in the format "Your PA UC claim #XXXXXXXX has been filed" so definitely check your texts too if you can't find it in emails. Also, has anyone tried the callback feature on the PA UC website? I noticed there's an option to request a callback instead of waiting on hold but I'm not sure if it actually works or just adds more delays to the process.

Just wanted to give everyone an update - I finally got through this morning using Nina's advice about calling at 7:58am with the 1-3-1 button sequence! Only waited about 15 minutes which felt like a miracle after yesterday's 2+ hour holds. The agent was super helpful and unlocked my account immediately. She confirmed that the exhaustion email was just an automated warning since I'm at week 24, and my remaining 2 weeks of benefits are still there. She also walked me through resetting my PIN properly so I shouldn't get locked out again. Thanks everyone for all the advice and support - this community is amazing! For anyone still dealing with lockouts, definitely try that early morning call strategy, it really works.

That's awesome that you got through Julia! Reading through this whole thread has been super educational - I had no idea about so many of these tips. The early morning calling strategy seems to be the real game changer here. I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now (got the exhaustion email at week 25 and can't remember my PIN) so I'm definitely going to try the 7:58am call with the 1-3-1 sequence tomorrow. It's such a relief to know that multiple people have confirmed the exhaustion email is just a warning and not an actual cutoff. The PA UC system really needs better communication - these automated emails cause way more panic than they should! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips.

I just went through this exact same situation last week! The exhaustion email is definitely just an automated warning - I got mine at week 23 and completely freaked out thinking my benefits were cut off early. But when I finally got through to someone (took 3 days of trying), they confirmed I still had my full remaining weeks. For the lockout, I had success using a slightly different approach - I called the main number at exactly 8:00am when they open and immediately pressed 0 to try to get to a live person instead of going through all the menu options. Sometimes this bypasses some of the automated system. Also, make sure you're calling from the same phone number that's on file with your claim - I noticed they seem to prioritize calls that match their records. The whole PA UC system is honestly a mess, but don't give up! Your benefits are still there, you just need to get past this lockout issue. Keep trying the early morning calls and you'll eventually get through to someone who can help reset everything.

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I got the exhaustion email yesterday at week 25 and immediately panicked thinking I'd lost my last week of benefits. But reading everyone's experiences here really helps - sounds like it's just their terrible automated system sending scary emails way too early. I've been locked out of my account for 3 days now after too many PIN reset attempts (why is their system so sensitive?!). Going to try the 7:58am calling strategy with the 1-3-1 button sequence tomorrow morning. Really appreciate everyone sharing their success stories and tips - it gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved without losing my mind! The PA UC system is seriously the worst designed website I've ever encountered.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Got the exhaustion email at week 24 and have been locked out for 2 days straight. It's so frustrating that their system sends these panic-inducing emails when you still have weeks left - like why not just say "approaching end of benefit year" instead of "EXHAUSTION"?? 😤 Reading through everyone's experiences here is such a relief though. Definitely trying the 7:58am call with 1-3-1 tomorrow morning. I've been calling in the afternoons and getting nowhere fast. Also had no idea about filing by phone while locked out - that's a game changer since I was worried about missing this week's certification. Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and success stories, this community is seriously keeping me sane right now!