Why is PA UC taking 6-12 weeks for first payment? Need faster options in Harrisburg

ya its taking forever now!! i filed in jan and didnt get paid till march smh

The 6-12 week timeline is unfortunately accurate for many first-time claims right now. PA UC has a backlog of claims that need manual review, especially if there's anything unusual about your work history or if your employer contests the claim. As for in-person appointments in Harrisburg, they don't really do that anymore. The PA CareerLink office in Harrisburg (100 N. Cameron St) can help with job search stuff, but they can't process your actual UC claim - that all happens through the central office.

I got my first payment in 4 weeks, but that was only after my claim was stuck with an "open issue" for 3 weeks and I couldn't get ANYONE on the phone. Called literally 87 times in one day (I counted). Eventually I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to a rep in about 15 minutes. Costs money but totally worth it after wasting days trying to call. The rep fixed my issue on the spot and I got paid 4 days later. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

have u checked ur dashboard for open issues?? sometimes theres a problem they need u to fix but they dont tell u

The whole system is DESIGNED to be this slow! They WANT people to give up. I waited 11 weeks last year and had to contact my state rep before anything happened. They're hoping you'll just find a job and stop pursuing your claim. It's disgusting how they treat people who are already struggling!!

Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while waiting for that initial determination! A lot of people don't realize you have to keep certifying every week even when you haven't received a payment yet. If you don't, you'll have to file those weeks retroactively which adds even more time.

did u try the chat feature on the website? sometimes its faster then calling

One more thing to check - make sure you uploaded all your ID verification documents correctly. A lot of claims get delayed because of identity verification issues. Did you complete the ID.me verification process when you applied?

I filed in February 2025 and got my first payment after about 5 weeks. It seems the timeline really varies. Once you do get approved though, they'll send all the back payments for the weeks you've been waiting and filing. That first deposit can be substantial, which helps make up for the wait (though doesn't help in the meantime, I know). While you're waiting, check out local food banks and assistance programs. In Harrisburg, try contacting Dauphin County Assistance Office at 717-787-2324 for emergency assistance options.

Update: I used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier today, got through to a rep in about 20 minutes. She was actually super helpful and looked up my claim. Turns out there WAS an issue - my employer hadn't responded to their request for separation information. She said she'd expedite it and I should see movement within 7-10 days instead of waiting the full 6-12 weeks. Worth the money just to know what's actually going on!

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now! Filed 2 weeks ago and feeling so stressed about how long this is taking. Reading through these comments is actually really helpful - I had no idea about needing to keep filing weekly claims while waiting for approval. @Andre Lefebvre thanks for that tip! Also going to look into that Claimyr service that @Ethan Clark and @StarStrider mentioned. Sounds like it might be worth the cost if it can actually get me through to someone who knows what's going on with my claim. The regular phone line has been completely useless. @Nia Wilson - have you tried calling your state representative yet like @Carmen Ruiz suggested? Might be worth a shot if the other options don't work out.