I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to share what I learned from my experience. I hit my 26-week limit last month and was also confused about the remaining balance. What helped me was actually going to my local CareerLink office in person rather than trying to call. The staff there were much more helpful and walked me through exactly what happens after benefits end. They also signed me up for some job training programs that I didn't even know existed. For immediate help with expenses, definitely apply for SNAP like others mentioned. I also found out about emergency assistance through my county's social services office - they helped with a utility bill when I was really struggling. Every little bit helps when you're transitioning off UC. The job market is tough right now but don't give up! I ended up finding something through a temp agency that turned into a permanent position. It's not exactly what I was doing before, but it's keeping me afloat while I figure out my next move. Hang in there - you're not alone in this!

I just wanted to jump in with some encouragement - I was in your exact shoes about 8 months ago and I know how scary it feels when you're approaching that 26-week cliff. The stress is real! A few things that helped me through that transition: 1. Don't wait until your last week to start applying for other assistance programs. I wish I had applied for SNAP and looked into emergency rental assistance sooner rather than waiting until I was completely panicked. 2. Check if your local library has career services - mine offered free resume reviews and even had computers set up specifically for job searching. Some also have partnerships with employment agencies. 3. Consider gig work as a bridge - I did DoorDash and Instacart for a few weeks which wasn't great money but it kept some cash flowing while I job hunted. Just make sure to report any earnings if you're still claiming UC. The whole "leftover balance" thing drove me crazy too, but everyone here is right - that money was never really guaranteed to you, it was just the maximum possible benefit. Still frustrating though! You'll get through this. The fact that you're asking questions and planning ahead shows you're being smart about it. Good luck with your job search!

One more thing to consider: if your current unemployment is with the same employer as when you received PUA, that might complicate things. But if it's a different employer, your case for waiver is stronger since it's a completely different claim. Also, make sure you're accurately reporting any part-time/gig work on your new claim to avoid creating another overpayment situation.

I went through something similar last year and want to echo what others have said - definitely file for regular UC right away, don't let the overpayment stop you. In my case, they approved my regular claim but did set up automatic deductions of about 33% from each payment to pay back the PUA overpayment. The key thing that helped me was requesting a hardship waiver immediately after filing. I had to show that the deductions would prevent me from paying for basic necessities like rent and food. It took about 2 months to get approved, but once they did, they stopped the deductions and even refunded what they had already taken. Also, since your overpayment notice just came last week, you still have time to appeal if you think it was issued in error. You have 15 days from the date on the notice. Even if you're not sure you'll win the appeal, filing it can sometimes buy you time while they review your case. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but there are options available to help with situations like this!

Just wanted to add my experience from earlier this year - I was in a similar boat after being out of the UC system for a few years and came back to find everything had changed! The Money Network transition definitely threw me for a loop initially. One thing I learned that might help - if you're still waiting for your claim to be approved, you can actually set up your payment preferences (including direct deposit) RIGHT NOW in your PA UC dashboard even before you get your first payment. Don't wait like I did! Just log in, go to "Payment Options" and add your bank info. That way when your first payment gets approved, it'll go straight to your account instead of triggering a card to be mailed out. Also, if you end up needing to call UC for any reason during your claim process, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open - that's when I had the most luck getting through without waiting forever. The Money Network stuff is definitely an improvement, but the direct deposit route will save you so much hassle in the long run. Hope your claim gets processed quickly!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who recently navigated this whole Money Network transition too! I was also out of the UC system for a while and came back to find everything completely different. The Money Network app is definitely legit - search for "Money Network Mobile App" in your app store. It's so much better than that old automated phone system where you'd have to punch in your card number 50 times just to hear your balance! My advice echoes what others have said - go straight for direct deposit if possible. I made the mistake of waiting for the card first and it added an extra 10 days to get my money. You can set up direct deposit right in your PA UC dashboard under payment options, even before your first payment is approved. One heads up though - if you do get the Money Network card, don't panic if the app login seems confusing at first. It's a completely separate login from your PA UC account (which confused me for days!). You'll need the card number AND a security code from the paperwork, not just the CVV on the back. The whole system is honestly a huge upgrade from the ReliaCard days. Good luck with your claim!

One more thing to try: check if your claim is being processed under regular UC or if it might have been routed to the Shared Work program (if your employer participated in partial layoffs). Sometimes claims get misdirected in the system when large layoffs happen. Also, make sure you've set up your payment method (direct deposit or debit card) correctly in the system. Sometimes claims appear as "processing" when actually they're approved but there's a payment method issue. January is historically the slowest month for claim processing due to holiday backlogs and seasonal claim increases. If your separation reason is clearly "lack of work" due to layoff, your claim should eventually be approved without issues once they process it.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed in late December after being laid off and still stuck in "processing" hell. I've tried calling every single day, multiple times a day, and it's like they've designed the phone system to be impossible. The automated system just hangs up on you after making you jump through all the hoops. I'm definitely going to try some of these suggestions - especially contacting my state rep and checking out that Claimyr service. At this point I'm willing to try anything because my savings are almost gone and my landlord isn't going to wait much longer. It's so frustrating that we pay into this system our whole working lives and then when we actually need it, we can't even get through to find out what's wrong! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess. The PA UC system really needs a complete overhaul.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the waiting is absolutely brutal when you're depending on these benefits. I went through something similar last year where my claim sat in "under review" for 6 weeks. What finally worked for me was calling the UC office repeatedly using a redial app on my phone starting at exactly 7:58 AM. It took about 45 minutes of constant redialing but I finally got through to someone who could see that my claim was flagged for income verification from a previous employer. Once I provided the documents they needed, it was approved within 3 days and I got all the backpay. Don't give up on calling - it's frustrating but sometimes that's the only way to find out what's actually holding up your claim. Also make sure to check if there are any document upload requests in your online portal that you might have missed. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what!

I'm in week 4 of "under review" status and this thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! It's both reassuring and terrifying to see how long some of you have been waiting, but knowing that most people eventually get approved with full backpay gives me some hope. The complete lack of communication from PA UC is what's driving me crazy the most. @Kaitlyn Otto your redial app strategy sounds genius - I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. @Skylar Neal I'm also seriously considering that Claimyr service you mentioned since traditional calling seems nearly impossible. The financial stress is getting really intense but at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare. Going to keep filing my weekly claims religiously and documenting everything just in case. Hopefully we all get some movement on our claims soon!