Just went through this exact same process recently! Got laid off from my roofing job in January and was totally clueless about how PA UC worked. Everyone here is spot on about the weekly payments - I file every Sunday night and get my direct deposit on Wednesdays consistently. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: if you have any issues with your claim or questions come up, try calling PA UC first thing in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) when they open. The phone lines get crazy busy later in the day. I had a question about reporting some cash side work I did and it took me 3 days of calling before I could get through, but when I finally called right at 8 AM I got connected in about 10 minutes. Also since you mentioned budgeting carefully - check if your local utility companies have any hardship programs for unemployed people. Mine gave me a reduced rate on my electric bill while I'm on UC, which has helped stretch those payments further. Every little bit helps when you're managing on unemployment income! The construction industry has definitely been picking up lately - I've seen way more job postings in the past few weeks than I did in January/February. Keep your head up and stick to that Sunday filing routine!

Just wanted to add my experience since I'm also pretty new to this! I got laid off from my landscaping job about 6 weeks ago and went through the same confusion about payment timing. PA definitely pays weekly - I file every Sunday around 8 PM and my direct deposit hits my account every Wednesday morning like everyone else is saying. The first payment after my waiting week did take about 4 days instead of 3, but after that it's been super consistent. One thing that really helped me was setting up account alerts through my bank's app so I get a text the moment any deposit hits. Saves me from constantly checking my balance and stressing about whether something went wrong. Also, I started using a simple envelope budgeting method where I immediately divide up my UC payment when it comes in - so much rent, so much for groceries, etc. Makes the money feel more manageable when you have a specific plan for every dollar. Since you're in construction, definitely check with any contractors you've worked with before about upcoming projects. I've gotten a couple leads just from reaching out to old contacts, and it counts toward your work search requirements too. The spring season is definitely bringing more opportunities - hang in there and you'll get back on your feet soon!

Just wanted to add my experience - I was having the same login loop issue with the Money Network app yesterday. What ended up working for me was a combination of the suggestions here: I used the website in incognito mode AND switched to mobile data instead of WiFi. Seems like there's some weird interaction between their security protocols and certain WiFi networks. The website worked perfectly and I was able to lock my card and check my balance. Also want to echo what others have said about setting up direct deposit - I just did it through my PA UC dashboard and it was super easy. Takes 2-3 business days to activate but then you can avoid all these Money Network headaches. For anyone still stuck, definitely try the website first before spending hours on hold with customer service!

I'm having the exact same problem! Just got my benefits deposited this morning and the app is completely unusable - just keeps spinning and kicking me back to login. I was panicking because I really need to access my funds today. Reading through all these comments has been so helpful though! I tried the website at moneynetwork.com in incognito mode with mobile data like some of you suggested and it worked perfectly. Was able to check my balance and lock my card right away. This is my second week on UC and I had no idea about the direct deposit option - definitely going to set that up today so I don't have to deal with this Money Network app mess anymore. Thanks everyone for sharing your workarounds, you've saved me hours of frustration!

I'm really sorry to hear about your sudden layoff - that must be incredibly stressful when you're completely unprepared for it. I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago and can definitely relate to that scramble to understand all the unemployment details quickly. Everyone has given you excellent information about the benefits. Just to add a few practical tips from my experience: 1. When you file your initial claim, make sure to do it on a computer rather than your phone if possible. The mobile version can be glitchy and you don't want any technical issues during that important first filing. 2. Keep a notebook or digital file specifically for your unemployment journey. Document everything - when you filed, confirmation numbers, job applications, networking activities. This will save you so much stress later. 3. Consider this an opportunity to be selective about your next role. With 26 weeks of benefits and your solid work history, you don't have to take the first thing that comes along. You can actually focus on finding something that's a better fit. 4. Join some professional groups on LinkedIn related to your field. Participating in discussions and commenting thoughtfully on posts counts as networking activity for your work search requirements. The system can be frustrating, but with your 5-year employment history, you should have no problems qualifying for full benefits. This community has been incredibly helpful for people navigating PA unemployment, so definitely come back if you have questions. You're going to get through this!

I'm so sorry to hear about your sudden layoff - that's really tough when you're completely blindsided by it. I went through something similar about 3 months ago and completely understand that initial panic of trying to figure everything out. Everyone has given you fantastic information about the $784 maximum and 26-week duration. One thing I learned that might help - when you're gathering your employment documentation, also collect any performance reviews or commendation letters you might have. While they're not required for the UC application, they can be really valuable for your job search and help boost your confidence during interviews. Also, consider reaching out to your state representative's office if you run into any issues with your claim. I had a problem with my application getting stuck in the system, and their constituent services team was able to help get it resolved much faster than trying to call the UC office directly. The work search requirements might seem overwhelming at first, but I found that creating a weekly schedule helped a lot - like dedicating Monday mornings to job applications, Tuesday afternoons to networking, etc. It made the whole process feel more manageable and less chaotic. With your 5 years of solid employment history, you should definitely qualify for the full benefits. Try to stay positive - sometimes these unexpected changes end up leading to better opportunities. This community is incredibly supportive, so don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions along the way!

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I'm 63 and just got notice that my position is being eliminated in 6 weeks. I've been putting off applying for Social Security because I wanted to keep working, but now I'm wondering if I should apply for both SS and unemployment when the time comes. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - especially hearing from people who actually went through this process successfully. The tax implications that Tyler mentioned are definitely something I need to research more. I'm also going to start organizing all my employment documentation now so I'm ready to file immediately when my job ends. One question for anyone who's been through this: did you find that being on Social Security affected how employers viewed you during the job search process? I'm worried that some employers might assume I'm not serious about working long-term if they know I'm collecting SS benefits.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! As someone who's about to turn 65 and face unemployment for the first time in decades, I was really anxious about navigating both Social Security and unemployment benefits. Reading all of your real experiences and practical advice has been incredibly reassuring. I feel so much more prepared now - from knowing I can file UC the Sunday of my last work week, to understanding the work search requirements, to having my Social Security award letter ready. It's also comforting to know that I'm not alone in this situation and that many people have successfully managed both benefits. This community is such a valuable resource. I'll definitely pay it forward by sharing my experience once I get through the process myself. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to help!

I'm on day 4 of an IP investigation and this thread has been a total lifesaver! Like so many others here, I'm dealing with what I'm pretty sure is multi-state wage verification - I worked in both Connecticut and Pennsylvania last year. Reading @Toot-n-Mighty's success story and @Keisha Jackson's detailed timeline has given me such hope and a clear roadmap to follow. I've been trying the 8 AM calling strategy for the past two days with no luck yet, but seeing that it took @Keisha Jackson 12 days of persistent calling before getting through helps me stay motivated to keep trying. I'm also religiously filing my weekly claims and checking correspondence twice daily like everyone recommended. The consistent pattern of 2-4 weeks for multi-state wage verifications that I'm seeing in everyone's stories gives me realistic expectations instead of just worrying endlessly. If I can't get through by phone in the next week, I'm definitely going to try Claimyr based on all the positive feedback here from @Jamal Brown and others. It's incredible how this community has turned what felt like a complete nightmare into something manageable with clear steps and realistic timelines. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - knowing that pretty much everyone here eventually gets their investigations resolved makes this waiting period so much more bearable!

I'm on day 8 of an IP investigation and this thread has been absolutely incredible for keeping me sane! Like so many others here, I'm pretty sure mine is related to multi-state wages since I worked in both Florida and Pennsylvania during my base year. Reading through @Toot-n-Mighty's success story about getting their multi-state wage verification resolved in 5-7 days after speaking to someone gives me so much hope, and @Keisha Jackson's detailed 3 weeks and 2 days timeline with specific action steps has been invaluable. I've been following the 8 AM calling strategy religiously for the past 5 days with no luck yet, but knowing that @Keisha Jackson had to try for 12 days before getting through helps me stay persistent. I'm also continuing to file my weekly claims and checking my correspondence section twice daily like everyone recommended. The consistent 2-4 week timeline for multi-state wage verifications that I keep seeing in everyone's stories really helps manage my expectations instead of just panicking about bills. If I can't get through by phone in the next few days, I'm definitely going to try Claimyr based on all the positive experiences @Jamal Brown and others have shared. It's amazing how this community has transformed what felt like a complete disaster into something with clear steps and realistic hope. Thank you all for sharing your journeys - knowing that virtually everyone's multi-state investigations eventually get resolved makes this stressful waiting period so much more manageable! I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.