Just wanted to share my experience from when I went through this same situation about 8 months ago. I was in week 24 of my benefits and panicking about what would happen when they ran out. I spent hours researching extensions and calling the UC office (which was a nightmare). What I learned is that you really do need to plan for just the 26 weeks. I ended up having to take a temporary job that wasn't ideal, but it helped bridge the gap while I continued looking for something better in my field. It actually worked out because that temp job led to a permanent position that I'm happy with now. My advice would be to start applying for anything that could work as a bridge job - even if it's not perfect. Part-time work, temporary positions, gig work, whatever keeps some income coming in. You can always keep looking for your ideal job while you're working. The stress of potentially having no income made it much harder for me to interview well, so having some kind of backup plan really helped with my mental state during the job search.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - week 22 of benefits and starting to really worry about what happens next. Reading through everyone's responses has been really eye-opening, especially learning that the Extended Benefits program has such specific requirements that aren't currently being met in PA. I think I've been holding onto false hope about extensions based on what I remembered from the pandemic era. It's tough to accept that those 26 weeks are really it, but I'd rather plan realistically than be caught off guard. The suggestion about PA CareerLink services sounds promising - I hadn't realized they offered free resume help and training programs. I'm also going to take the advice about considering bridge jobs seriously. I've been so focused on finding something in my exact field that I might be limiting myself unnecessarily. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge. It's stressful not knowing what to expect, but at least now I can make informed decisions about my next steps.

I received backpay in February for a similar situation and it took exactly 8 days to appear on my Money Network card after the determination letter date (which was a Friday, so maybe that extended it). Just to prepare you though - when I called to check my card balance after a week, the automated system said I had $0, but when I spoke to a human rep, they could see the payment was pending in their system. Sometimes there's a delay between when UC processes it and when it actually hits the card. As others have said, just keep checking your card balance, and if nothing shows up after a week, that's when you should start making calls.

Congratulations on finally getting your backpay approved! I went through something similar last year where my BYE expired before my wage correction came through. The good news is that PA UC will automatically deposit the backpay to your existing Money Network card - you don't need to file any additional weekly certifications or take any action on your part. In my case, it took about 5 business days for the money to show up after the determination letter date. One tip: if you have the Money Network app, enable push notifications so you'll get alerted the moment the deposit hits. Also, don't panic if the amount is slightly less than what's on your determination letter - they'll still withhold taxes and any other deductions you had selected during your original claim. Keep us posted on when it comes through! Fingers crossed it's quick and painless for you.

mine randomly showed up at like 10pm on a thursday lol. the money network system is weird about when it posts

I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate UC issues, and what you're experiencing is unfortunately very common with PA backpay right now. The system is backed up and large backpay amounts (especially 7+ weeks) are getting flagged for additional review even after showing "paid" status. A few things to try: 1) Call Money Network tomorrow to verify your card details are correct 2) Check your UC dashboard for any new messages or requirements 3) If nothing by day 10, try calling PA UC early morning (7:30am) for better chance of getting through. The good news is I've never seen a legitimate "paid" status not eventually result in payment - it's just taking longer than usual. Hang in there!

Glad you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone reading this - after you register and get that confirmation email, I'd recommend bookmarking the PA CareerLink site and setting a reminder to log in every month or so. Like Andre mentioned, if you don't log in for 90 days your account goes inactive, and reactivating it can be a real hassle. I learned this the hard way when I forgot about it for a few months and then had to scramble to get everything sorted when UC asked for verification. Better to just make it part of your regular routine!

Just wanted to add my recent experience - I registered online about 2 weeks ago and it was pretty straightforward, but make sure you have all your employment history details ready before you start. The system timed me out halfway through because I had to go dig up old employer info and phone numbers. Had to start over from scratch! Also, when you upload your resume, make sure it's in PDF format - I tried uploading a Word doc first and it kept giving me error messages. The whole process took me about 45 minutes once I had everything organized. Good luck with your registration!

I'm in a very similar situation - filed in late February after a layoff and have been stuck with the work separation issue for 2.5 weeks now. The stress is unreal, especially with bills piling up. Based on what everyone is saying here, it sounds like we just have to wait it out unfortunately. I've been trying the 8am calling strategy that Zoey mentioned but still no luck getting through. One thing that's helped my anxiety a bit is setting up text alerts in the UC portal so I'll know immediately if anything changes with my claim status. Also started applying for some temporary/gig work just to have something coming in while I wait. The backpay will be nice when this finally resolves, but man the waiting is brutal. Keep your head up Sophia - we'll get through this!

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was incredibly stressful. My work separation issue took about 5 weeks to resolve, but I did eventually get all my backpay once it was cleared. A few things that helped me: 1) I contacted my state representative's office and they actually reached out to UC on my behalf - sometimes that can help move things along, 2) I documented everything from my layoff (termination notice, final paystub, any communications) in case they needed proof later, and 3) I applied for emergency food assistance through 211 to help with expenses while waiting. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're stressed about bills, but hang in there - most people do get approved eventually and the backpay covers all the weeks you've been filing. Don't give up on the weekly certifications no matter how long it takes!