UPDATE: You guys were right! Just checked my account and the money hit my Money Network card this morning! Just wanted to update in case anyone else has the same confusion I did. Took exactly 14 days from initial filing to payment. Thanks for all the help and explaining the different statuses!

Congratulations Carmen! This is such a relief to see a success story. Your timeline of 14 days from filing to payment is really helpful for others to know what to expect. I'm currently in a similar situation - filed 8 days ago and seeing "in review" with "in progress" for payments. Your update gives me hope that I'm on the right track. Thanks for coming back to share the good news with everyone!

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm in a similar boat as a seasonal custodial worker and this has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had. One thing I wanted to add based on my experience last year: if you're using direct deposit for your regular paychecks, make sure your bank account info is still current when you file your UC claim. I had switched banks during the school year and forgot to update it with UC, which caused a delay in my first benefit payment. Also, keep your employer contact information handy when filing - the system will ask for your supervisor's name and the main HR phone number, and having that ready speeds up the application process. Thanks again everyone for making this so much clearer!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm a seasonal bus driver and will be in the exact same situation in a few weeks when school ends. One question I have - does anyone know if the timing matters for when you actually file your initial claim? Like, should I wait until my last official day of work is completely over, or can I file the Sunday before my last week starts? I want to make sure I don't accidentally mess up the start date of my claim period. Also, for those who mentioned keeping documentation - should I also keep a copy of my employment letter that shows my expected return date in August? Thanks everyone for sharing so much detail!

I went through something very similar when I had my wisdom teeth removal last fall! The advice here is spot-on. I filed for my partial week (available 3 days, unavailable 2 days for surgery and immediate recovery) and got prorated benefits. Then I stopped filing completely for the 10 days I was on pain meds and couldn't work. When I reopened my claim, they asked the standard questions about why I hadn't filed, and I just explained it was for dental surgery recovery. The representative was totally understanding and said medical situations like this are common and handled routinely. The whole reopening took maybe 10 minutes online. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple log of my recovery dates and when my dentist cleared me to return to normal activities. Even though they didn't ask for documentation, having those dates organized made me feel more confident answering their questions accurately. The system is definitely set up to handle legitimate medical situations - just be honest and follow the rules!

I had a similar situation with my gallbladder surgery last summer and I want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely be completely transparent about everything! I made the mistake of overthinking it at first and almost tried to file during my recovery weeks because I was worried about gaps in my claim. Thankfully I asked a friend who had been through something similar and she told me exactly what everyone here is saying. For my surgery week, I filed normally and reported I was available Monday through Wednesday but unavailable Thursday and Friday (surgery was Thursday). Got about 60% of my weekly benefit which seemed fair. Then I didn't file at all for the 3 weeks I was recovering. When I reopened my claim, I just explained I had surgery and was medically unable to work during recovery - they didn't give me any hassle at all. The reopening process was actually much easier than I expected. They asked standard questions about why I hadn't filed and whether I had worked or earned money (I hadn't), and that was pretty much it. Back to normal weekly filings after that. The key really is just being honest from the start rather than trying to work around the system.

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you! Just filed my PA UC claim a few days ago after an at-will termination where my employer said there was "no specific reason" for letting me go. That "unknown reasons" status on my dashboard had me absolutely panicking, thinking I must have messed up something during my phone application. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver for my anxiety - I had no idea that "unknown reasons" was just a default system category rather than them actually being confused about what happened. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially knowing that the examiner will review all the documentation you uploaded and the notes from your phone filing, is so reassuring. My former supervisor also told me they wouldn't contest my claim, so seeing all these positive outcomes from people with similar circumstances is giving me so much hope. The hardest part is definitely the waiting and not knowing what's happening behind the scenes, but it sounds like 3-4 weeks is pretty typical for a determination once an examiner is assigned. I'm going to make sure I keep up with my weekly certifications and work search requirements while I wait, and definitely answer all calls including blocked numbers. Thanks for posting about your situation - it's incredibly comforting to know others are going through the exact same thing right now!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Just filed my PA UC claim yesterday after an at-will termination where my employer explicitly stated there was "no cause" for letting me go. That "unknown reasons" status appeared on my dashboard this morning and I immediately panicked thinking I'd somehow botched the phone application or failed to provide crucial information. Reading everyone's experiences here has completely eased my anxiety - I had absolutely no idea that "unknown reasons" was just a default system categorization rather than them actually being confused about what happened. My manager also confirmed during our exit conversation that they wouldn't be contesting my claim, so seeing all these positive outcomes from people with similar circumstances is giving me so much hope. I was already starting to obsessively check my dashboard after just one day, but now I understand nothing will change until the final determination comes through. Going to focus on staying consistent with my weekly certifications and making sure I'm documenting my work search activities properly instead of driving myself crazy with constant status checks. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and insights - this community is absolutely invaluable when navigating such a stressful and confusing process. It feels so much better knowing there are others going through the exact same thing and coming out successful!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Working full-time at an auto parts warehouse and just found out my weekend retail job is closing next month. This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I honestly had no idea partial UC benefits existed when you still have full-time work. The breakdown of actual numbers from people's experiences ($29-52/week range) really helps put it in perspective. Even $35/week would cover my monthly Netflix and Spotify subscriptions plus help with gas money. The tip about keeping all documentation from the store closure is super important too - I'm going to make sure I get something official in writing from my manager. Thanks @Christian Bierman for asking this question and thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences! I was just going to accept the income loss, but now I'm definitely going to apply when my store officially closes. Even if it's a small amount, every bit helps with how expensive everything is getting these days.

I've been working in unemployment law for about 5 years and wanted to clarify a few things I'm seeing in this thread. Pennsylvania absolutely does allow partial UC benefits when you lose one job but retain another, but there are some nuances worth understanding. First, your weekly benefit rate is calculated based on your highest quarter earnings during the base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). This includes wages from ALL employment, not just the job you lost. The partial benefit formula is: Weekly Benefit Rate minus (Current Weekly Gross Wages minus 40% of Weekly Benefit Rate). Second, you MUST be able to demonstrate that you lost the part-time job through no fault of your own (store closure definitely qualifies). You'll also need to show you're actively seeking replacement part-time work of similar hours and wages. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - if your part-time job was relatively new (less than 12-18 months), it might not significantly impact your benefit calculation since it may not fall within your base period. This could actually work in your favor for qualification but against you for benefit amount. My advice: definitely apply online. The system will do the math automatically, and even $25-30/week adds up. Keep detailed records of your job search activities and any communication about the store closure. The application process has improved significantly in recent years.