I just wanted to add something that might help - if you're getting close to exhausting your benefits, make sure you request your wage and benefit statement from PA UC online. This document shows exactly how your benefit year was calculated and confirms your maximum weeks available. Sometimes there can be small errors or additional quarters of wages that weren't initially counted that could give you a few extra weeks. Also, once your benefit year ends (which is different from exhausting your 26 weeks), you may be able to file a new claim if you've worked enough in recent quarters. The key is having sufficient wages in your new base period. It's worth checking with UC about this possibility, especially if you've done any part-time or gig work during your unemployment. Don't give up hope - I know several people who found jobs in their final weeks of benefits. Sometimes that deadline pressure actually helps motivate both you and potential employers to move faster in the hiring process.

I actually went through a wage calculation review last year and it did result in additional weeks! In my case, I had worked for a company that went out of business and initially PA UC couldn't verify those wages. After submitting my W-2 and pay stubs, they added about $3,200 in wages that increased my weekly benefit amount slightly and gave me 3 additional weeks. To explain the benefit year vs. weeks exhausted - your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from when you first filed your claim. You can receive a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits during that year. So if you filed your claim in January 2025, your benefit year runs until January 2026, but you'll exhaust your 26 weeks sometime around July 2025. After July, you can't collect more benefits until your benefit year ends in January 2026, at which point you could potentially file a new claim if you've earned enough wages. The wage calculation errors aren't super common, but they do happen - especially if you had multiple employers, worked for small businesses, or had any 1099 income that should have been W-2 income. It's definitely worth requesting that statement and reviewing it carefully. The worst they can say is no.

UPDATE: Just got my payment! It hit my Chime account about an hour ago, and the dashboard still shows "in progress" even though the money is already there. So for anyone else with this issue, check your actual bank account! Thanks everyone for the info and support.

Same thing happened to me! Filed Monday and was freaking out when I saw "in progress" with N/A paydate. Just checked my account after seeing your update and my payment is there too even though the dashboard still shows in progress! Seems like the system is just slow to update the status but the actual payments are going through. What a relief!

I went through something very similar when I started my insurance career in PA back in 2022. The key thing to remember is that during the unpaid training/exam period, you're not technically employed yet - you're in a conditional job offer situation. Here's what worked for me: - Report the job offer on your weekly claim but clearly state it's contingent on completing unpaid training/licensing - Continue filing weekly claims during the training period - Answer all questions honestly - when asked about training, specify it's unpaid and mandatory for future employment - Keep detailed records of your training schedule and exam dates The important distinction is that you haven't started "work" yet - you're preparing to work. Once you pass your licensing exam and officially start your first day of paid employment, THAT'S when you stop claiming benefits, even if your first paycheck comes later. I was able to claim for the full 3 weeks of my training period without any issues. Just be completely transparent on your weekly certifications and you should be fine. Good luck with your licensing exam!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this exact situation last year with a different type of licensing job. I was in limbo for about 4 weeks doing unpaid training and certification for a financial advisor position. The most important thing is documentation - I kept a daily log of my training activities, hours, and progress toward licensing. When I had to explain my situation during a later phone interview with UC (unrelated issue), having those detailed records made everything much clearer. Also, don't stress too much about the "job offer" question. The UC system is actually designed to handle these transitional situations. As long as you're honest about being in unpaid training that's required before employment officially begins, you're following the rules correctly. One practical tip: when you do start getting paid, make sure you understand exactly when your employment officially begins versus when you receive your first paycheck. For my job, I officially started work on a Monday but didn't get paid until the following Friday. I stopped claiming benefits starting that Monday, not when I got the paycheck. You've got this! The fact that you're asking these questions shows you're being responsible about following the process correctly.

Just to be super clear for everyone reading this thread: PA UC requires 3 work search activities EVERY WEEK, and you have to report these activities when you file your weekly certification. Many people get disqualified because they did the activities but forgot to report them. And yes, they can and DO audit people randomly!

I went through the exact same thing last year! The key is definitely appealing ASAP and being super organized going forward. One thing that helped me was creating a weekly checklist to make sure I hit all 3 activities. I'd recommend mixing up your activities too - don't just apply for jobs. You can also attend virtual job fairs (CareerLink hosts them regularly), take online courses through PA CareerLink, or even contact employers directly about potential openings. The variety shows you're actively engaged in your job search. Also, when you do your appeal, be honest about the confusion but emphasize that you were genuinely trying to comply and will follow the rules correctly moving forward. Good luck!