This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm actually in a similar situation - just got offered seasonal work with a pool installation company that runs April through September. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence about making this decision. One thing I wanted to ask that I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know how PA UC handles seasonal work that involves travel? This pool company installs across multiple counties in PA and sometimes into neighboring states. I'm wondering if being away from my home county for work during the season affects my UC claim filing location or any of the requirements when I file in October. Also, the company mentioned they sometimes have emergency pool cover installations in late fall/early winter. Based on what others have said about reporting occasional work, I assume I'd just report those days when I certify and it would reduce my weekly benefits accordingly? The advice about saving 20-30% during the working months really hits home - I've been doing some rough calculations and even with UC benefits covering about half my income, that savings buffer seems absolutely essential for peace of mind during the off-season. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences! This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone considering seasonal employment in PA.

Travel for work within PA shouldn't affect your UC claim filing at all - you'd still file based on your home address/residence. Even if the work takes you to neighboring states occasionally, as long as your employer is PA-based and you're a PA resident, you'd file your claim with PA UC system. For the emergency pool cover work in fall/winter, you're exactly right - you'd report those earnings when you certify and they'd be deducted from your weekly benefit using the partial benefit credit system. Just make sure to track all those occasional work days carefully with dates, hours, and earnings. One thing to keep in mind with travel-heavy seasonal work - make sure you understand the company's policies about transportation/lodging if you're working far from home. Some cover expenses, others expect you to handle it yourself. This can affect your actual take-home pay and thus your off-season budget planning. Also consider how the travel aspect might affect your job search requirements during UC season. You'll still need to be "available for work" in your local area, so make sure you can commit to being home and available during your off-season claim period. The pool installation work sounds like a great seasonal opportunity! Just make sure they're registered as a seasonal employer and get all the employment terms in writing like others have suggested.

This thread is absolutely incredible and has been such a reality check for me! I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation - filed my claim about 3 weeks ago, shows "processed" but stuck at $0 with no determination letter. Like so many others here, I made the huge mistake of assuming everything would be digital in 2025 and have been completely ignoring my physical mailbox while obsessively checking the online portal. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both enlightening and infuriating - enlightening because now I know exactly what to look for, but infuriating because it's clear this is a massive systemic failure in how PA UC communicates with claimants. The fact that they send critical paperwork via regular mail with absolutely ZERO online notifications is just mind-boggling when people are already dealing with unemployment stress. I'm definitely going to check my mailbox today and look more carefully at that "Issues and Determinations" section that several people mentioned. Also planning to try the 8 AM calling strategy tomorrow - it sounds like that timing works much better than random calls throughout the day. What really strikes me is how this thread has become the unofficial PA UC survival guide that none of us should need but all of us desperately do! The community support here has been more helpful than anything I could find on the official website. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions - you've probably saved dozens of people weeks of confusion and financial hardship. This really should be required reading for anyone filing a PA UC claim!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm currently in week 2 of dealing with almost the exact same situation - filed my initial claim, shows "processed" but stuck at $0 with no determination letter. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a wake-up call about the importance of checking physical mail versus just relying on digital notifications. Like so many others, I made the classic mistake of assuming PA UC would operate like every other system in 2025 with proper email notifications. I've been obsessively checking my online portal and email while completely neglecting my actual mailbox! After reading all these stories, I'm honestly nervous about what critical paperwork I might have missed or accidentally thrown away. The fact that PA UC sends essential documents via regular mail with absolutely zero digital alerts is just baffling when people are already stressed about unemployment. It's clearly a widespread systemic issue affecting tons of claimants - this thread proves it's not just individual cases but a fundamental communication breakdown. I'm definitely heading to check my mailbox thoroughly today and will try that 8 AM calling strategy that so many people have mentioned works better than random calling times. Also going to examine that "Issues and Determinations" section more carefully since several people found important clues there. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this community support has been infinitely more valuable than anything on the official PA UC website! This thread really should be pinned as essential reading for anyone navigating PA unemployment claims.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my initial claim about 10 days ago and it just switched to "in progress" 2 days ago. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - it's amazing how much more informative this community discussion is compared to the official UC website. The uncertainty is definitely the most stressful part, especially when you're already dealing with the financial pressure of being unemployed. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like "in progress" for first-time claims can range anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on verification requirements. I'm going to follow the advice about checking once daily instead of obsessively refreshing and setting up those Money Network text alerts. It's reassuring to know that "in progress" is generally a positive sign that things are moving forward. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and practical tips - it really helps to feel less alone in this confusing process!

I'm currently in week 3 since filing my initial claim and have been stuck on "in progress" for about 8 days now. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - way more helpful than anything I could find on the official UC site! Reading everyone's experiences has helped me understand that this timeline is actually pretty normal for first-time claims, even though the waiting is incredibly stressful when you're unemployed and bills are piling up. I just set up the Money Network text alerts that several people mentioned, which should help reduce my compulsive balance-checking habit. It's frustrating that UC doesn't clearly communicate what "in progress" means or provide realistic timelines, but at least this community has filled in those gaps. Based on everyone's shared experiences, I'm planning to give it another few days before trying one of those callback services to reach an actual person. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their stories and practical advice - it really helps knowing we're all navigating this confusing process together!

I went through a PA UC appeal hearing about 6 weeks ago and wanted to offer some perspective as someone who was in your exact shoes! The nervousness is totally normal - I was a wreck leading up to mine. My employer did show up with their HR manager and supervisor. The hearing lasted about 75 minutes, but it went by faster than I expected once we got started. Here's what really helped me prepare: 1. I wrote out a simple chronological timeline of events with dates 2. I organized all my documentation (emails, performance reviews, etc.) in date order 3. I practiced explaining my situation to my spouse beforehand so I wouldn't stumble over words 4. I prepared specific questions to ask them about their policies and why they didn't follow progressive discipline Your case sounds really strong honestly. Firing someone for a 5-minute lunch extension with zero warnings after 3 years of perfect attendance? The referee is going to question why they jumped straight to termination without any progressive discipline steps. That's exactly what happened in my hearing - they kept pressing my employer on why they didn't give warnings first. Make sure to emphasize your clean 3-year record and ask them to show where and when this lunch timing policy was clearly communicated to you. If they can't prove you received specific training or warnings about exact timing, it's going to be very hard for them to prove willful misconduct. You've got this! Stay calm, stick to facts, and remember they have to prove their case, not you.

I had my PA UC appeal hearing about 2 weeks ago and wanted to share my experience since I know how nerve-wracking this whole process can be! My employer did show up - it was my former manager and someone from their HR department. The hearing lasted about an hour. Your situation honestly sounds very similar to mine, except mine was even more ridiculous - they terminated me for allegedly "excessive personal phone use" despite never giving me a single warning about it in my 4 years there. Just like your lunch break issue, it felt like they were grasping at straws to justify letting me go. Here's what really helped me during the hearing: I stayed super calm and factual, even when they made claims that weren't true. I had organized all my documentation beforehand and could reference specific dates and incidents. The referee spent a lot of time asking them about their progressive discipline policy and why they skipped straight to termination. The biggest thing that worked in my favor (and will work in yours too) was the complete lack of any prior warnings or documentation. With your 3 years of perfect attendance and no history of lunch timing issues, you have an incredibly strong case. The referee is going to want to know why a 5-minute difference warranted immediate termination without any attempt at correction first. I won my case and got my benefits approved! Stay confident - you're well-prepared and your situation screams wrongful termination to me. Good luck!

hey did anyone ever figure out if u need to keep filing the weekly claims even after benefits run out??? seems pointless but im worried about messing something up

I'm dealing with a similar situation - just exhausted my 26 weeks last month and the whole process has been so confusing! Reading through everyone's responses here has been more helpful than anything I found on the official PA website. One thing I wanted to add is that when I went to my local CareerLink office (took the advice from this thread), they helped me apply for several programs I didn't even know existed - including some emergency assistance funds that aren't well publicized. They also connected me with a job placement specialist who's been way more helpful than just applying online alone. Also wanted to confirm what others said about continuing to certify - I kept doing it for 3 weeks after my benefits ended and I'm glad I did because it helped when I applied for SNAP benefits. They wanted proof I was still actively looking for work and unemployed. Hang in there @Lilah Brooks - the healthcare job market is tough right now but there are people and resources out there to help bridge the gap!