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Aria Washington

When does PA UC payment status change from 'in progress' to actual pay date?

I've been filing my weekly claims with no issues for about a month now, but I'm confused about when the system actually updates from 'in progress' to showing a pay date. My claim was approved, I've been getting paid regularly (thankfully!), but I notice the status stays 'in progress' for different amounts of time each week. Sometimes it changes overnight, sometimes it takes 2-3 days. Is there a set schedule for when they update the system? Just want to know when I should expect to see the status change so I'm not constantly checking and stressing myself out. Thanks!

The PA UC system typically updates overnight between 6pm and 6am, but it's not consistent and depends on claim volume. Generally, if you file on Sunday, you might see a payment date by Tuesday morning. If there are no issues with your claim, the status should change from 'in progress' to a payment date within 48-72 hours after filing. The Money Network card usually gets funded 1 business day after the payment date shows up in the system.

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Thanks! That helps a lot. So there's no specific time of day when they do the updates? Just sometime overnight?

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mine changes like clockwork every tuesday morning around 7am when i file on sunday, been that way for months

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Not for me! I file Sunday too but sometimes don't see a pay date till Thursday morning. System is so inconsistent I swear they just do whatever whenever lol

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The UC system is SOOOO annoying with updates!! I've been on unemployment since December and I STILL can't figure out the pattern. One week it updates Tuesday morning, next week not till Wednesday afternoon. And forget trying to call to ask - you'll never get through!! They should really be more transparent about this stuff.

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Jacob Lee

I was having the same problem with never being able to get through to anyone. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes after trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Worth it just to get some actual answers about my claim status instead of guessing.

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actually i think it depends on which uc service center is handling your claim. my brother and i both file on sunday but his updates faster than mine and we figured out its cuz his claim is thru the pittsburgh office and mines thru philly

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This is partially correct. While different service centers may have varying workloads, the system update process is centralized. The main factors affecting update timing are: 1. Total claim volume that week 2. Whether you file online or by phone (online is faster) 3. Your filing time (earlier in the day often means faster processing) 4. Any potential flags in the system (even minor ones you're not aware of) If your payment consistently posts within 72 hours with no issues, you're in good shape.

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is anyone else getting nervous when it doesnt update fast? i always worried something went wrong with my claim even tho its been fine for months lol

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YES! That's exactly why I asked this question! I drive myself crazy checking the portal every few hours when it's in that limbo state.

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One important thing to remember is that PA UC does system maintenance every Sunday morning until around noon. If you file during maintenance time, it might delay your processing by a day. Filing Sunday evening will usually give you the fastest results since the system is fresh after maintenance and claim volume starts peaking on Mondays.

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thats a good tip i didnt know about the maintenance time! that explains why my friend who files monday sometimes gets paid same time as me even tho i file sunday

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I've noticed the same pattern! What helped me stop obsessively checking was setting a personal rule to only check once per day - Tuesday morning around 8am and then Thursday morning if it's still not updated. The stress of constantly refreshing really wasn't worth it since there's nothing we can do to speed up their system anyway. I also started keeping a little log of when my payments post each week and found that even though the timing varies, I've never actually missed a payment once it shows "in progress.

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That's such a smart approach! I'm definitely going to try the "check only twice a week" rule because you're absolutely right - constantly refreshing just makes the anxiety worse. Keeping a log is a great idea too, I think seeing the pattern over time would really help with peace of mind. Thanks for sharing what works for you!

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I've been dealing with this same issue and found that keeping a simple spreadsheet really helps! I track when I file, when the status changes, and when I actually get paid. After about 6 weeks of data, I noticed my payments almost always post on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, even though the timing within those days varies. What really helped my anxiety was realizing that "in progress" doesn't mean there's a problem - it just means they're processing it. The longest I've waited was 4 days and that was during a holiday week. If you're getting paid regularly like you mentioned, try not to stress about the exact timing!

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That spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I never thought to actually track the patterns like that but it makes so much sense. You're totally right that "in progress" doesn't mean there's a problem - I think I just psych myself out because the system seems so unpredictable. 4 days during a holiday week actually sounds pretty reasonable when you think about how backed up they probably get. I'm definitely going to start keeping track like you suggested, even just having that data would probably calm my nerves a lot. Thanks for the practical advice!

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I actually work for a third-party contractor that helps process some of the PA UC claims, so I can give you some insight into what's happening behind the scenes. The "in progress" status basically means your claim is in a queue waiting for automated processing. The system processes claims in batches throughout the day, not at one specific time. Peak filing days (Sunday/Monday) create longer queues, which is why timing varies so much. If your claim has been consistently paying without issues, the variation in processing time is totally normal and nothing to worry about. The system prioritizes claims that might have issues, so ironically, the "boring" claims that always go smoothly sometimes get processed last in each batch. Hope that helps explain the randomness!

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Wow, this is incredibly helpful to know! The batch processing explanation makes so much sense - I always wondered why it seemed so random. It's actually kind of funny (and reassuring) that the "boring" claims like mine get processed last because there's nothing flagged. That totally explains why I can go from getting updated Tuesday morning one week to Wednesday afternoon the next. Thank you for the behind-the-scenes insight, this really helps put my mind at ease about the whole process!

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This is exactly the kind of insider info I've been hoping to find somewhere! The batch processing system explains SO much about why the timing feels completely random. I had no idea that claims without issues actually get lower priority - that's both reassuring and a little frustrating at the same time lol. At least now I know that when mine takes longer, it's actually a good sign that everything is running smoothly. Really appreciate you sharing your professional insight with the community!

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I totally understand your frustration with the inconsistent timing! I've been filing for about 8 months now and went through the same anxiety in the beginning. What really helped me was creating a simple phone reminder to check only on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings - that way I'm not constantly refreshing the portal throughout the day. The hardest part for me was accepting that PA's system just isn't built for real-time updates like we're used to with other apps. Once I shifted my mindset from "when will it update?" to "it will update within 72 hours" I felt so much less stressed. The payments have never actually been late even when the status takes longer to change, so try to trust the process even though it's frustrating!

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This is such great advice! The phone reminder idea is really smart - I think setting specific check times instead of randomly refreshing throughout the day would definitely help with the anxiety. You're so right about shifting the mindset from "when" to "within 72 hours" - that takes so much pressure off. I've been getting caught up in the unpredictability when really the important thing is that the payments do come through consistently. Thanks for sharing what worked for you, I'm going to try implementing some boundaries around checking the portal!

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I'm in the exact same boat! Been filing for about 6 weeks now and the inconsistent timing used to drive me absolutely crazy. What I've learned from reading everyone's responses here is that the variation is actually totally normal - it's just how their batch processing system works. I started keeping track in my phone notes and noticed that even when the status takes 3-4 days to update, the actual payment date is still usually within the normal timeframe. The status change is really just a display update, not when they actually process your payment. Try not to stress about it (easier said than done, I know!) - if you've been getting paid regularly for a month, you're in good shape and the system is working as intended, even if it doesn't feel that way!

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Yes! It's so reassuring to hear from someone else who went through the same thing. The batch processing explanation from earlier really clicked for me - knowing that the status update is just a display thing and not when they actually process payment makes such a difference. I'm definitely going to start tracking it in my phone notes like you suggested. It's wild how something so simple as an inconsistent status update can cause so much anxiety when the actual payments are coming through fine. Thanks for the reminder that if it's been working for a month, the system is doing what it's supposed to do even if it feels chaotic!

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I've been filing for about 3 months now and had the exact same anxiety! What helped me was realizing that the "in progress" status is basically just PA's way of saying "we got your claim and it's in the system" rather than indicating any actual problem. I noticed my payments usually show up on my ReliaCard about 1-2 days after the status finally changes to show a payment date, regardless of whether that status change happens on Tuesday or Thursday. The key thing I learned is that as long as you're filing correctly and on time, the money will come through - the status updates are just for our peace of mind but they're not actually tied to when they process the payment behind the scenes. Try setting a specific day/time to check (I do Wednesday mornings) instead of constantly refreshing - it really helped reduce my stress!

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! You're absolutely right that "in progress" is just their way of confirming they received the claim, not indicating a problem. I think I was overthinking it because I'm used to other systems that update in real-time. The idea of setting a specific check day/time is brilliant - I'm going to try Wednesday mornings like you do instead of obsessively refreshing multiple times a day. It's such a relief to know that the status updates aren't actually tied to when they process payments behind the scenes. Thanks for helping me realize I was stressing over something that's basically just a display issue!

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I'm so glad you asked this question because I've been wondering the same thing! I've only been filing for about 3 weeks now and I was starting to think something was wrong with my claims because the timing is so all over the place. Reading everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the batch processing system and that "boring" claims actually get processed last (who knew that was a good thing?!). I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies people mentioned like only checking on specific days and keeping a simple log. It's such a relief to know that the inconsistent status updates are totally normal and not a sign that anything is wrong with my claim. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is awesome!

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Welcome to the community! I'm pretty new too (about 5 weeks in) and had all the same worries when I started. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea about the batch processing thing either! The "boring claims get processed last" explanation actually made me laugh because it's so counterintuitive but makes total sense. I've been doing the Wednesday morning check routine that a few people mentioned and it's helped so much with the anxiety. You'll find your rhythm with it, and honestly knowing that other people deal with the exact same uncertainty makes it way less stressful. This community really is great for getting real answers instead of just guessing what the system is doing!

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This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been filing for about 2 months and was getting so anxious about the inconsistent timing. What really stood out to me was learning that the status update is separate from when they actually process your payment - I had no idea those were two different things! I was treating the portal like it was Amazon tracking, expecting real-time updates. The batch processing explanation makes so much sense now. I'm definitely going to start doing the "check only twice a week" approach because constantly refreshing was honestly making me more stressed than just waiting for the money to hit my card. It's amazing how much better I feel just knowing that the randomness is totally normal and not a sign that something's wrong with my claim.

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I'm so glad this thread exists too! I just started filing about 2 weeks ago and was totally treating the portal like Amazon tracking - that comparison is spot on! I was refreshing it multiple times a day and getting myself worked up every time it stayed on "in progress" for more than 24 hours. Learning that the status update and actual payment processing are separate things is such a game changer. I never would have figured that out on my own. The batch processing explanation really helped me understand why it feels so random. I'm definitely adopting the "check twice a week max" rule because you're absolutely right that constantly refreshing just creates more stress for no reason. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I'm so grateful you asked this question! I just started filing about 3 weeks ago and have been driving myself absolutely crazy checking the portal multiple times a day. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - especially learning that the inconsistent timing is completely normal and that "in progress" just means they received my claim, not that there's a problem. The batch processing explanation really opened my eyes to why it feels so random. I love all the practical tips people shared like setting specific check days and keeping a simple log. I'm definitely going to try the "check only on Wednesday mornings" approach instead of refreshing constantly throughout the week. It's amazing how much anxiety comes from just not understanding how the system actually works behind the scenes!

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I'm right there with you! Just started filing about 4 weeks ago and was doing the exact same thing - checking multiple times a day and getting stressed every time it stayed "in progress" longer than expected. This whole thread has been such an eye-opener! I had no clue about the batch processing system or that status updates aren't real-time. The Wednesday morning check routine sounds perfect - I'm definitely switching to that instead of my current obsessive refreshing habit. It's so reassuring to know that literally everyone goes through this same anxiety when they start filing. Thanks for putting into words exactly what I've been feeling!

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I've been filing for about 7 months now and went through this exact same stress in the beginning! What really helped me was understanding that PA's system is just fundamentally different from what we're used to with modern apps - it's not designed for instant gratification. I started treating it more like old-school mail delivery where you know it'll arrive within a certain window but not exactly when. The batch processing explanation someone shared earlier is spot-on - your claim is basically sitting in a digital queue and gets processed when it's your turn, not on any specific schedule. I've found that Tuesday and Wednesday mornings around 7-8am are the most common times for status updates, but I've also seen them happen at random times throughout the day. The key thing that reduced my anxiety was realizing that the payment processing happens separately from the status update, so even if the portal is slow to refresh, the money is still moving through their system on schedule. Trust the process - if you've been getting paid regularly for a month, you're golden!

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This is such a perfect way to think about it! The "old-school mail delivery" comparison really resonates with me - I think that's exactly where my anxiety was coming from, expecting instant updates when the system just isn't built that way. You're so right about it being fundamentally different from modern apps. I've been getting caught up in wanting real-time tracking when really I should just trust that it'll happen within the expected window. The queue analogy makes total sense too - my claim is just waiting its turn, not stuck or lost somewhere. I'm definitely going to adopt your mindset of treating it like mail delivery rather than Amazon tracking. Thanks for the perspective shift and the reassurance that if it's been working consistently, I can trust the process!

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I'm new to filing (just started last week) and this whole thread has been so incredibly helpful! I was checking the portal literally every hour and getting myself worked up when it stayed "in progress" for more than a day. Learning about the batch processing system and that "boring" claims actually get processed last is mind-blowing - I never would have figured that out on my own. The comparison to old-school mail delivery vs Amazon tracking really hit home for me. I think I was expecting instant updates when the system just isn't designed that way. I'm definitely going to try the "check only on specific days" approach instead of constantly refreshing. It's so reassuring to know that pretty much everyone goes through this same anxiety when they start and that the inconsistent timing is completely normal. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for getting real answers instead of just guessing what's happening!

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Welcome to the community! I just started filing about 3 weeks ago and went through the exact same hourly portal checking phase - it's like a rite of passage for new filers! This thread has been a lifesaver for me too. The batch processing explanation completely changed how I think about the whole system. I love how everyone here shares real practical advice instead of just the generic stuff you find on official sites. The "old-school mail delivery" mindset shift has been game-changing for my anxiety levels. You'll definitely find your groove with it - I went from checking every few hours to just Wednesdays and it's made such a difference in my stress levels. Hang in there, you've got this!

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I've been filing for about 4 months now and completely relate to this! What helped me the most was learning that the UC system processes claims in waves throughout the day, not at one set time. I noticed my payments typically show a date by Tuesday or Wednesday, but the exact time varies wildly - sometimes 6am, sometimes 4pm. The thing that really reduced my stress was realizing that "in progress" is actually a good sign - it means your claim passed the initial automated checks and is just waiting in the processing queue. I started checking only on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings, which cut down my anxiety by like 90%. If you've been getting paid consistently for a month, you can definitely trust the system even when the timing feels unpredictable!

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This is so helpful! The "waves throughout the day" explanation makes perfect sense - I was expecting it to happen at like one specific time each day but knowing it's more spread out helps manage expectations. I really like your point that "in progress" is actually a good sign because it passed the initial checks. I never thought of it that way! I've definitely been treating it like something was wrong when really it just means I'm in the queue waiting my turn. The Tuesday evening/Thursday morning check schedule sounds perfect - I'm going to switch to that from my current obsessive daily refreshing. Thanks for the reassurance that consistent payments for a month means I can trust the system even when the timing feels random!

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