I'm going through this exact same thing right now! My claim was approved on Monday and it's been stuck on "in progress" since Tuesday morning. I was really starting to panic thinking my approval got reversed or something went wrong, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a lifesaver. It's incredible to see so many people experiencing this identical situation at the same time - definitely makes me feel less alone in the stress! The detailed timeline breakdown from @Aliyah Debovski was super helpful in understanding this is just their normal batch processing system, not a sign anything's wrong with our approvals. Still nerve-wracking when you're depending on the money for bills, but now I know to expect movement in the next couple business days instead of constantly refreshing the page. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been a huge relief!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! My claim was approved on Tuesday and it's been showing "in progress" since Wednesday morning. I was starting to get really worried that my approval somehow got reversed or there was a technical issue, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. It's amazing to see how many people are experiencing this identical situation at the same time - definitely makes the waiting feel less isolating! The detailed timeline breakdown from @Aliyah Debovski was super helpful in understanding that this is just their normal batch processing system and we're all basically waiting in the payment queue together. It's still nerve-wracking when you're counting on the money for rent and bills, but now I know to expect movement in the next couple of business days instead of constantly refreshing the page hoping for instant updates. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been such a lifeline during the stressful waiting period!

This is such helpful information! I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling I might need it someday. The fact that there are two separate portals for different types of overpayments is something they really should make clearer on the main website. It's crazy how many hoops people have to jump through just to pay money back to the state. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's clear the system is confusing but at least there are ways to handle it online instead of risking lost mail.

Just wanted to add another tip for anyone dealing with this - if you're having trouble finding your PUA claim number that you need for the separate portal, check your old emails from 2020-2021. I found mine in the original PUA approval email. It's formatted differently than the regular UC claim number (starts with different letters). Also, if you can't find it anywhere in your emails, you can call the PUA-specific hotline at 855-284-8545 - it's separate from the regular UC line and usually has shorter wait times. They can look up your PUA claim number with just your SSN and DOB.

Congrats on finally getting approved! That 7-week wait sounds absolutely brutal. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - got approved on a Thursday and my direct deposit hit the following Tuesday (3 business days). Since you got approved Friday, you should see something by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. The lump sum for all your back weeks is going to feel amazing after surviving on credit cards! Just keep checking that Payment History section in your dashboard and make sure to stay current with your weekly certifications and work searches while you wait. You've made it through the worst part - hang in there just a little longer!

Hey Kolton! First off, congrats on finally getting approved after that nightmare 7-week wait! I can't imagine how stressful that must have been with bills piling up and surviving on credit cards. I went through this exact same situation about 4 months ago and remember that anxious feeling of being SO close to relief but still waiting for the actual money to show up. In my case, I got approved on a Monday and the payment hit my account Wednesday morning (2 business days via direct deposit). Since you got approved Friday, I'd expect to see something by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. The great news is that all 7 weeks of back pay should come as one beautiful lump sum - after what you've been through, that's going to feel incredible! Keep obsessively checking that Payment History section in your dashboard (we've all been there!) and make sure your banking info is exactly correct in the system. Also definitely keep up with those weekly certifications and work search activities while you wait - you're so close, don't let anything mess it up now! You've survived the absolute worst part of this whole process. Just a few more days and you'll finally have that relief you've been fighting for!

I just went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago! That $20 difference is definitely federal tax withholding. When you first applied for UC, there was a question about whether you wanted federal taxes withheld from your benefits - sounds like you selected yes (which is actually the smart move!). What confused me at first is that PA doesn't calculate exactly 10% like they say - they use flat dollar amounts instead. So instead of taking $49.30 (which would be 10% of $493), they take a rounded $20. You can see the breakdown by logging into your UC dashboard and going to "Payment History" - it'll show your gross $493, the -$20 federal tax withholding, and your net $473 payment. I'd definitely recommend keeping the withholding active since unemployment benefits are 100% taxable income. Trust me, it's way better to have it taken out now than get hit with a surprise tax bill next April! The UC system really should explain this stuff more clearly upfront instead of leaving everyone to panic about "missing" money.

I went through this exact same confusion about 6 months ago! That $20 is definitely federal tax withholding from when you selected that option during your initial application. What threw me off at first is that PA doesn't actually calculate exactly 10% - they use flat dollar amounts instead, which is why you're seeing $20 rather than $49.30 (10% of $493). You can confirm this by going to your UC dashboard and checking "Payment History" - it'll show your gross benefit of $493, then the -$20 federal tax deduction, then your net payment of $473. I'd honestly recommend keeping the withholding active since unemployment benefits are fully taxable and you'll owe those taxes anyway when you file next year. Much better to pay as you go than get hit with a surprise tax bill in April! The UC system really could do a better job explaining this upfront instead of leaving everyone to panic about where their money went. You're definitely not alone in this confusion - seems like it's one of the most common issues new UC recipients face!

Thanks everyone for the info! At least now I understand what's happening. Still annoyed I have to wait so long for that first week payment, but at least I know I'll get it eventually. I'll keep claiming my weeks and hope the second week payment comes through soon.

I went through the same thing when I first started claiming! That "Not Applicable" status is definitely confusing - I thought there was an error with my claim too. Just to add to what others have said, make sure you keep track of when your benefit year started because that waiting week payment will come exactly one year later (or when you exhaust benefits if that happens first). I set a reminder in my phone so I wouldn't forget about it. Also, your second week should process normally and you should see that payment within a few days if there are no other issues with your claim.