I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Filed 5 weeks ago with 2 initial issues, got the examiner assignment email last week. It's oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one going through this right now. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like the examiner step is just part of the normal process when there are questions to resolve - not necessarily good or bad, just necessary. The wide range of timelines people are sharing is pretty anxiety-inducing though! I've been obsessively checking my dashboard and making sure my phone volume is always up in case they call. Really hoping both of us (and everyone else waiting) hear something positive soon. This financial limbo is so stressful when you're trying to keep up with rent and bills. Thanks for posting this - it helps to know we're all in this together!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My claim went to an examiner about 3 weeks ago after having 2 initial issues, and I'm still waiting to hear back. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and stressful - the timelines seem to vary so much from person to person. Some people hear back in a week, others wait months! Your issues actually sound pretty standard based on what others have shared - layoff verification and identity checks are things they deal with regularly. The fact that you responded quickly with all your documentation should definitely work in your favor. I've been obsessively checking my dashboard and making sure I don't miss any calls from unknown numbers. The waiting is absolutely brutal when bills are piling up, but it sounds like most people do eventually get through the process. Keep filing those weekly claims like they told you - that seems to be crucial for getting back pay if you're approved. Hang in there!

Yes, the Sunday filings are your weekly certifications. Make sure when you do those, you're answering the work search question correctly. If you say you didn't complete work search activities when required, it will disqualify you for that week's benefits.

Just want to add that if you're in graphic design, don't overlook updating your portfolio on sites like Behance, Dribbble, or even LinkedIn - these count as work search activities! I've been updating mine weekly and documenting it. Also, reaching out to staffing agencies that specialize in creative roles is another good activity to track. Many of them in PA work with graphic designers for both temp and permanent positions. The key is being proactive about different types of activities so you're not just relying on job applications when openings are slim.

One important thing nobody mentioned: keep detailed records of your work hours, pay stubs, and any communication from your employer about the temporary nature of the work. If your claim gets flagged for review (which sometimes happens with partial work weeks), having this documentation ready will help resolve issues quickly. Also, Pennsylvania requires you to continue your work search activities even during weeks you work part-time, so don't forget to complete and log your required work search activities for that week as well.

Take the work! I was in almost the exact same situation last year - got called back for a 4-day project while on UC. I was terrified it would mess everything up but it was totally fine. Just make sure when you file that week you answer YES to working, put in your exact hours and gross pay, and the system calculates everything for you. I ended up getting a partial benefit that week since my earnings weren't super high, then went right back to normal filing the next week. Your claim stays open the whole time - no reapplying or waiting periods. The extra money from that week of work plus the partial benefit actually helped me a lot financially. Just keep all your pay stubs and documentation in case they ever ask for it later!

somethin else to consider- if u get that extra $30/week for ur 2 kids, that's like $1500 extra per year if ur on UC the whole year. might be worth thinkin about if switchin who claims the kids on taxes makes sense money-wise with ur ex

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through something similar last year. I was receiving the dependent allowance for my daughter on PA UC while my ex claimed her on taxes per our custody agreement. When I filed my 2024 return this year, there were absolutely no issues or conflicts between the two systems. The IRS doesn't ask about or verify UC dependent allowances when you file your taxes. I was initially paranoid about it too, but it turned out to be a non-issue. As long as you're being honest about your support obligations when you applied for UC benefits, you're in the clear!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare! Was denied for CareerLink registration, got called by an examiner who said I'm approved once I register, did everything perfectly, and now I'm stuck with "disqualifying weeks" too. It's like their system has no idea what their own examiners are telling us over the phone. I've been trying to call for 8 days straight with absolutely zero success - just endless busy signals or getting disconnected after hours on hold. The regular UC phone line is completely useless right now. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm convinced PA's system has a major bug where manual examiner approvals don't sync with the automated claim processing. Too many of us are having the identical issue for this to be coincidence. I'm going to try Claimyr first thing tomorrow morning based on all the success stories shared here. It's infuriating that we have to pay a third-party service just to reach our own state unemployment office, but honestly I'm at my wit's end. My rent is due and I can't wait for PA to figure out their broken system. Thanks to everyone for sharing - at least now I know this is a widespread problem and not something I'm doing wrong!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue and it's incredibly frustrating! I was also initially denied for the CareerLink registration, had an examiner call saying I qualified once I registered, completed everything they asked for, and now I'm seeing the same "disqualifying weeks" status with no clear explanation. What's really getting to me is how confident the examiner sounded when he told me everything would be resolved, but then their own system doesn't reflect what he approved. I've been trying the regular UC phone line for over a week with zero success - just busy signals and disconnections after hours of waiting. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a widespread system bug where manual examiner decisions aren't syncing properly with the automated claim processing. The pattern is too consistent across all of us to be individual errors. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow morning based on all the success stories shared in this thread. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay a third-party service to reach our own state unemployment office, but I'm honestly desperate to get this resolved at this point. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's both reassuring and infuriating to know so many of us are dealing with this identical problem. At least we know we're not going crazy and this really is PA's system failing us!