I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My previous employer didn't report about $4,500 in bonuses I received last quarter, so my weekly benefit is way too low. I filed my wage protest 7 weeks ago and still nothing. It's so frustrating because I know I'm entitled to more money but the system is just broken. I've been trying to call every single day but like everyone else said, I just get disconnected after being on hold forever. I'm definitely going to try that Inquiry Form through the dashboard that someone mentioned, and maybe look into the Claimyr service too. This whole process is making an already stressful situation so much worse. At least reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel less alone in dealing with this nightmare!

I'm so frustrated reading all these stories because they mirror exactly what I'm going through right now! Filed my wage protest 8 weeks ago because my employer "forgot" to report my quarterly bonus of $2,100. Eight weeks! And every time I call, I get the same runaround - "it's being processed" or "we'll escalate it" but nothing actually happens. What really gets me is that this money directly impacts how much I can pay for rent and groceries while I'm looking for work. The system shouldn't make us wait months for money we're legally entitled to. I'm definitely going to try the Inquiry Form and maybe the Claimyr service people mentioned. Has anyone had success getting their state representative involved? I'm at the point where I might need to escalate this politically because the regular channels clearly aren't working.

I'm going through this nightmare too! Filed March 16th, got my eligibility letter March 30th, but still zero dollars on my card. The online portal is showing that same contradictory "eligible but disqualified" status that everyone's describing. What really gets me is that I called last Tuesday and the rep said she "submitted the purge request" but couldn't do it herself - had to send it to some mysterious back office team. After reading all these responses, I'm realizing she probably just gave me the brush-off! It sounds like any regular UC rep should be able to clear these conflicting codes immediately. I'm definitely trying the 8 AM strategy tomorrow. From what everyone's sharing, the key seems to be: 1) Don't accept "we'll handle it later" 2) Make them do the purge while you're on the phone 3) Have them confirm the conflicting codes are actually gone before hanging up 4) Get their rep ID for your records This whole situation is insane - we're all approved for benefits but can't get paid because their computer system can't figure out if we're eligible or not! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's really helpful to know the right questions to ask and not feel like I'm going crazy.

I'm dealing with this EXACT same situation right now! Filed my claim on March 10th after being laid off from my construction job, got my eligibility determination letter on March 24th, but my Money Network card is still showing zero balance and my online account has that same maddening "eligible but disqualified" status everyone's describing. I've called UC three times in the past week and each time they give me a different story - first rep said it was a "system delay," second one said my employer hadn't responded yet (even though my determination letter clearly shows they did), and the third one finally mentioned this "purge" thing but said she'd "escalate it to the technical team." After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm realizing I've been getting the runaround! It sounds like any UC rep should be able to do this purge immediately, not send it off to some mysterious back office. I'm definitely trying the 8 AM strategy tomorrow and not hanging up until they actually fix the conflicting codes while I'm on the phone. This is so helpful to know I'm not alone in this - the PA UC system is clearly broken if this many people are dealing with the same issue. Thanks for sharing all your experiences, it's giving me the ammunition I need to push back harder tomorrow!

Adding to all the great advice here - I've been on PA UC for about 2 months and can confirm that using Indeed, LinkedIn, and company websites instead of CareerLink works perfectly fine. The system really isn't as scary as it seems at first! My weekly routine: I do all my applications on Sundays, immediately screenshot each confirmation page, and update a simple spreadsheet with company name, position, date, and source. Takes maybe 10 extra minutes but gives me total peace of mind. One tip I haven't seen mentioned: if you're having trouble finding 3 suitable jobs some weeks (especially in specialized fields), remember you can count things like updating your LinkedIn profile, attending virtual career fairs, or even reaching out to your network for informational interviews. Just document it the same way you would a job application. The weekly certification really is just clicking "yes" when it asks if you completed your work search. No need to enter details unless you're audited, which honestly seems pretty rare based on everyone's experiences here. Don't overthink it - consistency with record-keeping is way more important than using any specific platform or format. You've got this!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm just getting started with PA UC and was totally overwhelmed by the job search requirements. Reading everyone's real experiences has made this so much less intimidating. I love seeing all the different systems people use - from the official UC-304 form to custom spreadsheets to Google Drive folders. It's clear that consistency matters more than the specific format. I'm going to start with a simple approach: download the UC-304 form, create a weekly screenshot folder, and maybe set up a basic spreadsheet as backup. The confirmation that we don't need CareerLink is huge for me - I tried using it when I was job hunting two years ago and it was such a frustrating experience. Knowing I can stick with Indeed and LinkedIn (where I actually find relevant opportunities) is a big relief. One question for the group: for those who've been doing this for a while, have you found certain types of work search activities are better than others? Like, do networking events or online courses seem to "count" just as much as job applications in terms of meeting the requirements? I'm in graphic design so there are always relevant webinars and portfolio sites I could be working on, but I want to make sure I'm not shortchanging myself if audited. Thanks everyone for creating such a supportive and informative discussion!

I had the exact same panic when I first saw that term! Everyone here has given you amazing explanations, but I'll add that when I called PA UC about this last year, the representative told me to think of it as the "wage determination freeze date." It's simply when they stop allowing any changes to the earnings records they used to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Your actual payments continue flowing normally as long as you keep filing weekly and meeting work search requirements! I received my regular unemployment for 6+ months after my monetary finality date passed with zero issues. The date that actually matters for when benefits end is your benefit year end date. Don't let PA UC's confusing terminology stress you out while you're already dealing with job search pressure - you're doing everything right and your payments will continue as expected!

I had this exact same worry when I first saw "monetary finality date" on my claim a few months ago! I was absolutely terrified it meant my benefits were ending early. Like everyone has perfectly explained, it's just when PA UC locks in your wage calculation - think of it as the "earnings record final deadline." After that date, they can't change how much your weekly benefit is based on your previous job wages, but your actual payments keep coming normally! I continued receiving my regular weekly unemployment for over 5 months after my monetary finality date passed without any problems. The key is just to keep filing your weekly claims on time and meeting those work search requirements (2 job applications + 1 work search activity per week). The date you should actually pay attention to is your benefit year end date - that's when your claim truly expires. PA UC is absolutely awful at explaining these administrative terms clearly, which is why so many of us go through this unnecessary panic. Don't let their confusing bureaucratic language add stress to your job search - you're doing everything right and your payments will continue as expected!

I'm in week 7 of review and this thread is giving me life right now! @Sophia Russo I'm so glad you took everyone's advice and went the multi-pronged approach. That's exactly what I'm going to do starting tomorrow. I've been hesitant to contact my state rep because I thought it might seem like I'm being dramatic, but clearly this is a widespread issue that they deal with regularly. For anyone else reading this - I wanted to add that I discovered you can also file a complaint with the PA Department of Labor & Industry's Bureau of Unemployment Compensation if your claim has been pending for over 6 weeks without explanation. It's form UC-44B and you can find it on their website. I haven't tried it yet but planning to submit it along with contacting my rep. At this point I'm throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks! The financial stress is unreal - I've had to move back in with my parents temporarily just to keep afloat. But reading about everyone getting backpay once approved does give me hope that this nightmare will eventually end.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice! I'm in week 3 of review myself and was starting to panic, but seeing that so many others are going through the same thing makes me feel less alone. @Sophia Russo I'm really impressed that you took action on multiple fronts with the state rep, hardship form, and Claimyr - that seems like the smart way to approach this broken system. I wanted to add something I learned from a friend who works in social services: if you're struggling financially while waiting, many counties have emergency rental assistance programs that are separate from state UC. In my county (Allegheny), they have a program that can help with 1-2 months rent while you're waiting for benefits to kick in. Worth checking with your local county assistance office or calling 211 like @Mei Liu mentioned. Also keeping detailed notes of everything seems crucial based on what everyone's saying. I started a Google doc tracking all my call attempts, reference numbers, and what each agent tells me. This system is so frustrating but at least we're helping each other navigate it! Hoping everyone sees movement on their claims soon.