omg this happened to me too but then I waited 6 weeks with nothing lol. sometimes they give you the papers but then fight it anyway. crossing my fingers for you tho!!!

Based on what you've shared, you have a strong case for approval. "Position elimination due to departmental restructuring" is a clear non-fault reason. The fact that there were performance discussions in the past isn't disqualifying unless they can show you were fired specifically for misconduct or rule violations. Here's what to expect: 1. Initial "pending" status with "open issue" is normal 2. Your employer has 7 days to respond to your claim 3. If they don't contest, you could be approved in 2-3 weeks 4. If they do contest, you'll get a notice for a fact-finding interview 5. After the severance period, make sure you complete all weekly certifications 6. Document your job search activities (PA requires at least one per week) Stay positive - based on what you've shared, you'll likely be approved!

Update on my situation - the open issue cleared yesterday and I got my first payment deposited today! Took exactly 9 days from when it first showed 'open issue'. I never actually spoke to anyone at PA UC, it just resolved itself. For anyone dealing with eligibility question confusion, just pick the closest option, explain in notes, and upload documentation if possible. The system is frustrating but eventually works.

That's such a relief to hear! Gives me hope that mine might resolve without me having to spend days trying to get through on the phone. I'll keep certifying weekly and hope for the best. Thanks for sharing your experience!

My cousin works at the unemployment office (not in PA tho) and she says they always look at leave of absence claims with extra suspicion so definitely get that updated to layoff status asap!!!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the UC office! I used the Claimyr service someone suggested here and got connected in about 30 minutes. The agent was super helpful and immediately updated my separation reason from "leave of absence" to "lack of work" based on the HR email I uploaded. She said my claim should be processed within 3-5 business days and all my weekly certifications will be paid once it's approved. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

just wondering... did the tutoring place give you a 1099 form or were they paying you cash? if they didn't give you tax forms maybe UC won't be able to prove anything? just thinking out loud here...

One more important point: PA unemployment law provides some protection under Section 402(h) for individuals who are forced to take self-employment out of economic necessity while searching for regular employment. If you can demonstrate that you were actively applying for full-time traditional employment during this period, and only took the tutoring gig to temporarily supplement your benefits, this can strengthen your case. Also, if the amount you earned was truly minimal (which $95/week certainly is), examiners do have some discretion. Document every job you applied for during this time and have that information ready for your examiner. Maintaining an active job search is crucial in these cases.

did u check if ur payment has a pay date yet? theres always a pay date listed before the money actually hits ur card

If your pay date is listed as tomorrow, you should see funds on your ReliaCard within 1-2 business days after that date. ReliaCard deposits usually happen very early in the morning, so check first thing. One last tip - make sure you've downloaded the ReliaCard mobile app if you haven't already. It will give you instant notifications when deposits hit your card, which is much more reliable than just checking your balance periodically. The app also lets you transfer funds to your regular bank account if needed.