This helps a ton! I updated my LinkedIn and looked at a couple job boards the day after being laid off, so I'll document those. Thanks for all the great advice - feeling much more confident about filing now.

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The key thing to remember is that PA UC is actually pretty straightforward once you understand the weekly structure. Since you were laid off Wednesday, you'll report that as your last day worked and include your Mon-Wed earnings for that benefit week. The login delays are unfortunately super common - I had the same issue and it didn't affect my claim at all. The system automatically calculates your partial week benefits based on what you earned versus what you would have earned for the full week. Don't stress too much about the timing of when you filed - as long as it's within a reasonable timeframe (which yours definitely is), you'll be fine. The most important thing is being accurate about your last work day and earnings.

UPDATE: I finally got through! I followed the advice to try after midnight and it worked perfectly at 12:30am. For anyone else having this issue, definitely try during off-hours. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Same thing happened to me last week! The PA UC system seems to have these random outages pretty regularly. I've found that if you're getting the spinning/timeout issue, sometimes refreshing the page and starting over works better than trying to hit submit again. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere with the submission process - I had to disable my ad blocker to get mine to go through. The late night trick definitely works too, but I know it's frustrating when you just want to get it done during normal hours!

lucky you!!! make sure to check if they took taxes out if thats what u wanted. they messed mine up and i had to call to fix it

Congratulations on getting your payments processed so quickly! That's really encouraging for others going through appeals. For anyone else reading this thread - it sounds like the key factors are: 1) making sure all weekly certifications are complete for back weeks, 2) having payment method properly set up, and 3) being persistent with calling if there are delays. Fiona, I hope your money hits your account soon and you can get caught up on rent!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago - got denied for "transportation issues" when my car was in the shop for a week. What really helped me win my appeal was creating a detailed timeline showing: 1. Exact dates my car broke down and when it was repaired 2. Screenshots of bus routes from my address to at least 5-10 job locations I'd applied to 3. A sworn statement that I was willing to use rideshare/public transit for work The referee seemed most interested in seeing that I had actually researched realistic transportation alternatives rather than just saying "I'll figure it out." I also brought up jobs I'd applied to that were specifically accessible by bus during that time period. The whole appeal took about 7 weeks from filing to getting the decision, but I got all my backpay eventually. Stay strong - these transportation denials are really common but very winnable if you show you were genuinely able to work despite the car issue.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got denied after being honest about temporary car trouble during a phone interview. Reading through everyone's advice here is giving me so much hope - especially seeing that multiple people have successfully won these transportation-related appeals. I'm definitely going to follow the suggestions about getting a mechanic's letter, documenting bus routes, and creating that timeline showing this was just a temporary issue. It's so frustrating that they twist honesty against you, but at least the appeal process seems more fair than dealing with the regular UC staff. Has anyone here had experience with how long it typically takes to get the hearing scheduled? I just filed my appeal yesterday and I'm worried about how long I'll be waiting without any income.

Glad to hear your roommate got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, here's a quick summary of options for payment/card problems with PA unemployment: 1. Call Money Network directly: 888-233-5916 for card issues 2. Use Claimyr to reach PA UC agents for claim/payment problems 3. Visit a local CareerLink office in person 4. Contact your state representative's office 5. Request address verification if payments are returned Also, it's good practice to set up direct deposit if possible through the PA UC portal once you have access, as it's generally more reliable than the card system.

As someone who works in social services, I want to add that if anyone is facing eviction or urgent financial hardship while waiting for UC payments, there are emergency assistance programs that can help bridge the gap. Many counties in PA have emergency rental assistance funds, and 211 (dial 2-1-1) can connect you to local resources for food banks, utility assistance, and emergency housing support. Don't wait until you're actually evicted - these programs often have waiting lists, so apply early. Also, document all your UC communication attempts as this proof of delayed benefits can sometimes help expedite emergency aid applications.