I'm in a similar boat - filed in mid-January and still waiting in week 9 with no reviewer assigned. The financial stress is overwhelming! I've been keeping detailed records of all my calls and attempts to get through. One thing that's helped me stay organized is creating a spreadsheet tracking my weekly certifications, work search activities, and every phone call attempt with dates/times. It's also useful if you eventually need to escalate to your state rep or senator's office. The system is definitely broken, but from reading everyone's experiences here, it seems like persistence eventually pays off. Keep filing those weekly certs and don't give up!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of waiting 10 weeks with no income is unimaginable! I filed my PA UC claim in late January and I'm now in week 8 with the same "in review" status. Like you, when I finally got through to someone last week, they told me it hadn't been assigned to a reviewer yet either. It's honestly criminal how they're treating people who desperately need these benefits. I've been surviving on credit cards and help from family, but that can't last forever. Reading through these comments gives me some hope though - sounds like many people do eventually get approved, it just takes way longer than it should. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service and calling right at 8am. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops just to talk to someone about our own claims! Hang in there - you're not alone in this nightmare.

Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you have the documentation needed to counter their false claims. Having that separation letter that specifically mentions "position elimination due to departmental restructuring" is extremely valuable evidence. Make sure to have it ready during your fact-finding interview. One important thing to remember during your interview: stick to the facts and avoid expressing anger about your former employer's false claims, even though it's justifiable. UC examiners respond better to calm, factual responses. When they ask about the childcare allegation, simply state that it was never mentioned during your employment, you had no attendance issues related to childcare, and point to your separation letter as evidence of the true reason for termination.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's infuriating when employers flat out lie to avoid paying into the UC system. The good news is you have that separation letter explicitly stating "position elimination due to departmental restructuring" which completely contradicts their childcare claim. A few additional tips for your Tuesday interview: - Have all your documents organized and ready (separation letter, performance reviews, attendance records) - If asked about your childcare arrangements, briefly explain they were stable and never interfered with work - Mention the other employees who were laid off around the same time - this supports the restructuring narrative - Keep detailed notes during the interview in case you need them for an appeal You've got solid evidence on your side. Employers who make false claims often can't back them up with actual documentation when pressed by UC examiners. Stay confident and factual - you've got this!

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!! My employer did this exact same thing and the UC office took THEIR SIDE without even looking at my evidence!!! Had to appeal THREE TIMES before someone actually looked at my paystubs! Meanwhile I was living on credit cards for 2 months while they "investigated" what was clearly right there in black and white on my W-2!!! DON'T trust the UC office to do the right thing automatically. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Send CERTIFIED letters. RECORD phone calls (PA is two-party consent so tell them you're recording). The system is designed to wear you down so you'll give up!!!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at UC this morning! The rep explained that my former employer is claiming $4,200 of my earnings were actually "expense reimbursements" not wages (they weren't - it was a performance bonus they're now trying to reclassify). I uploaded all my paystubs showing the money was paid as regular wages with taxes withheld. The rep said this should be resolved within 7-10 business days and that I should receive all back payments once it's cleared up. Thanks everyone for your help! This forum has been so much more useful than the official UC website.

Wait so are interviews also work search activities?? I had a interview last week but still did 2 applications bc i didn't know if it counted

Just want to add that if you're using Indeed like you mentioned, make sure you're applying directly through the company's website when possible rather than just using Indeed's "Easy Apply" feature. I've heard some people say that PA UC might be more strict about one-click applications during audits, though I can't confirm this personally. Better to be safe and show you put in the effort for a proper application. Also, don't forget that following up on applications can sometimes count as additional work search activities too!