I'm going through something similar right now! Got approved yesterday morning, then denied 2 hours later for the same 401(d)(1) reason. I'm perfectly healthy and was laid off from my retail job - never said anything about being unable to work. This is so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss! I'm definitely filing an appeal today after reading all this advice. It's crazy how common this system error seems to be. Really hoping they get this sorted out soon because people depend on these benefits to survive while job hunting.

This exact same thing happened to my brother in January! He got the approval email in the morning, then the 401(d)(1) denial that afternoon. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that was automatically flagging certain claims. He appealed it online and won his hearing about 3 weeks later. The key things that helped him: 1) He appealed within the 15-day deadline, 2) He kept filing his weekly claims during the appeal process, and 3) He brought documentation to his hearing showing he was actively job searching. The referee at his hearing even said they'd been seeing a lot of these system error cases recently. Don't stress too much - it sounds like you're already doing everything right by appealing quickly!

For future reference: If you encounter system maintenance during your filing period, you have three options: 1. Wait for the system to come back online (usually 24-48 hours for emergency maintenance) 2. Call the UC service center (though busy signals are common during outages) 3. If your benefits are at risk due to approaching deadlines, you can submit a request for backdating through your dashboard once the system is back up PA UC typically extends filing deadlines automatically when there are system-wide issues, but it's always best to file as soon as possible once service is restored.

Wow, what a nightmare! I'm so glad I found this thread. I was panicking yesterday when I couldn't access the site - thought maybe my account got suspended or something. It's ridiculous that they don't send out any kind of notification when the system goes down. At minimum they should put up a banner on the homepage or send an automated email. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and tips here, especially about the phone filing option and the deadline extensions. Going to sign up for those text alerts Paolo mentioned once everything is stable again!

To answer your original question directly: With 29 work weeks from June to December 2025, your friend has enough credit weeks (more than the required 18) IF those weeks are counted in his base year. The current base year for someone applying in December 2025 would be July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. Since he started in June 2025, most of his work would fall outside this period. However, the Alternative Base Year would be October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025, which would capture some of his work. The most favorable would be applying in January 2026, when the Traditional Base Year shifts to October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025, and the Alternative Base Year becomes January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 (capturing all his work). Advice: Apply immediately after job loss, but be prepared to reapply in January if necessary.

One more thing your friend should know - even if he qualifies for UC, there's a one-week waiting period before benefits start. So the first week he's eligible, he'll file but won't get paid for that week. With the holidays coming up, make sure he's prepared for that delay on top of the normal processing time.

dont forget u still have to file ur weekly claims even tho ur waiting for payment

Just a quick update check - has your payment come through yet? Should have hit your account by now if everything's processing normally.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep detailed records of everything during this process. I kept a journal with dates, times, and who I spoke with at UC - it really helped during my hearing when they asked about timeline details. Also, don't panic about the 2-week rent deadline. Many landlords will work with you if you explain you're waiting on UC appeal results, especially if you can show them your appeal paperwork as proof. I had to do this and my landlord gave me an extra 3 weeks once they saw I had a legitimate case pending. Your video evidence sounds really strong! Make sure to watch it yourself a few times and practice explaining what it shows in simple, clear terms. Sometimes what seems obvious to us isn't immediately clear to someone else viewing it for the first time.

I just went through this same situation about 6 months ago! My employer also lied about the reason for my termination and I was SO stressed about the whole process. Here's what helped me: For the hearing timeline - mine took about 5 weeks to get scheduled, but I've heard it can vary. The good news is that your video evidence sounds like exactly what you need! I had text messages that proved my case and they made all the difference. About lawyers - I was torn on this too but ended up representing myself and won. The referee was actually really patient and helped me understand the questions. Just make sure you practice telling your story clearly and stick to the facts that directly relate to why they said you were fired. One thing that really helped my stress was calling the local legal aid office. Even though I didn't hire a lawyer, they gave me a free 30-minute consultation where they explained what to expect at the hearing. Might be worth looking into if you have something similar in your area. Hang in there - having that video evidence puts you in a much stronger position than a lot of people! The hardest part is just waiting for the hearing date.