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THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!!! They NEVER give you the full 26 weeks unless you made BIG MONEY! I worked 18 months and only got 18 weeks, how is that fair?? My friend worked only 9 months and got 22 weeks because she had a higher paying job! It's all about how much you earned not how long you worked, which is TOTALLY UNFAIR to those of us in lower wage jobs!!!! 😡
While I understand your frustration, the system is designed this way because unemployment benefits are meant to partially replace wages. Higher wages = higher benefits, but everyone has the same percentage replacement rate. The duration is affected by total earnings because they're trying to ensure you have sufficient work history to qualify for the full benefit period.
Just got my Notice of Financial Determination today! They approved me for 20 weeks based on my earnings. Not the full 26 I was hoping for, but better than I expected after reading all your comments. Thanks everyone for your help explaining how this works!
congrats! make sure u do ur weekly claims on time, they r super picky about that
just wondering won't u have waiting week anyway if u reopen on 12/22? so maybe not even get paid for that one week?
Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm definitely going to reopen on 12/22 exactly, and file as quickly as possible after the week ends. Really hope the system handles it correctly because that week of benefits would really help with bills. Seems like timing is everything with PA UC!
One more tip - take screenshots of everything when you reopen and file that week. If there's any issue, you'll want documentation of what the system showed you and any confirmation numbers. Also, note that since you're returning to work on 1/3, make sure to report that correctly when you file for that partial week. Good luck!
UPDATE: Money just hit my card this morning (Monday)! So it ended up taking 5 business days rather than the 1-2 they promised. Thanks everyone for the reassurance - you were right that I just needed to be patient. For anyone else in this situation, definitely trust that the process is working but expect delays beyond what they tell you.
glad it worked out! always remember with PA unemployment, add at least 3 days to whatever timeframe they give you lol
THE PHONE HEARING IS ACTUALLY WORSE!!! I did that and regretted it because I couldn't see the referee's face or read body language. Plus my phone kept cutting out and I missed some questions. If your orientation is important, just ask for a postponement instead. The UC system is BROKEN and they don't care about our schedules AT ALL!!!
While phone hearings have limitations, they're often the only viable option for those with scheduling conflicts. A postponement is a valid alternative, but as I mentioned, it can significantly delay the process. Each situation is different - some cases are better suited for in-person hearings while others work fine via phone. The important thing is making the request promptly and properly documenting your need for accommodation.
I ended up having to postpone my hearing by almost 4 weeks because I didn't act quickly enough. Definitely don't wait! I finally got through to someone after using that service I mentioned, and they were able to help me figure everything out. Just make sure to have your appeal docket number ready when you call.
I just called the appeals office this morning and they said they'll need my request in writing! Going to fax it over today and follow up tomorrow. Fingers crossed they approve it. Thanks everyone for the advice!
Mei-Ling Chen
My sister works for Pennsylvania UC and she says they're always swamped after holidays. The payment system gets backlogged because everyone files at once when the system opens back up. I bet you'll see it tomorrow. Not much you can do but wait unfortunately.
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Abigail bergen
UPDATE: My payment just hit my Money Network card about an hour ago! So it took from Monday midnight filing until Thursday afternoon to show up. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance! For anyone else searching about holiday delays - expect an extra 1-2 business days after a holiday weekend.
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Anderson Prospero
•Great news! Thanks for updating the thread - it's helpful for others who might search for this issue in the future. The post-holiday delay is pretty consistent in PA's system.
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Ahooker-Equator
•told u so! :) glad u got paid
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