I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago and just got through to someone yesterday (took 38 calls!) who told me my employer never responded either. I was laid off due to "company restructuring" and have been so anxious about the outcome. Reading Romeo's success story and everyone else's experiences here is incredibly reassuring! It's amazing how much less stressful this feels when you can learn from people who've actually been through it. I've been filing my weekly claims and doing work searches, but wasn't sure if I was doing everything right. Going to upload my layoff documentation to the dashboard today based on all the advice here. This thread is honestly a lifesaver - the waiting game is so nerve-wracking but knowing that non-responsive employers usually work in our favor gives me hope. Thank you to everyone for sharing your real timelines and experiences!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently in week 2 of waiting after being told my employer didn't respond to PA UC's request. I was laid off when my company had to cut costs and eliminate several positions, including mine. Reading Romeo's success story and everyone's detailed timelines really helps ease the anxiety of not knowing what to expect. It's so reassuring to see that non-responsive employers typically work in our favor rather than against us. I've been keeping up with my weekly filings and work search activities since day one, but honestly had no idea about uploading documentation to the dashboard until reading this thread - doing that first thing tomorrow! The 8am calling tip is also incredibly helpful for anyone still trying to get through to speak with someone. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences and creating such a supportive space for people navigating this confusing process. The waiting game is brutal but all these success stories give me hope that I'll be posting good news soon too!

I'm currently on week 7 and this thread has been absolutely crucial - thank you everyone for sharing such detailed real experiences! Like so many others here, I had no clue about the harsh 26-week cutoff regardless of remaining balance. I still have about $8,500 left and was naively thinking I could stretch that out for months. Reading about people losing thousands of dollars at week 26 is terrifying but SO important to know now while I can still do something about it. I'm immediately shifting from casual job browsing to treating this like a full-time emergency. Starting tomorrow I'm setting daily application goals, reaching out to my network, and looking into temp agencies as backup. The anxiety is definitely kicking in but having 19 weeks left feels manageable if I use the time strategically. One question for those who've been through this - should I be applying to jobs that are below my previous salary level now, or wait until closer to the deadline? I'm torn between being strategic about my career vs. ensuring I have income after week 26. This community's honesty has been a wake-up call I desperately needed!

@Angelina Farar As someone who's been through this exact situation, I'd strongly recommend applying to jobs below your previous salary level NOW rather than waiting. I made the mistake of being too picky early on and it nearly cost me everything. The reality is that you can always negotiate up once you have leverage, but having NO income after week 26 puts you in the worst possible negotiating position. Plus, taking a lower-paying job doesn't mean you stop looking - you can continue searching for better opportunities while having steady income. Many people I know used "stepping stone" jobs to avoid that financial cliff, then moved to better positions within 6-12 months. The key is keeping cash flowing so you're not desperate. Also consider that some lower-paying positions might lead to unexpected opportunities or help you build new skills. With 19 weeks left, you have time to be somewhat selective, but don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Cast a wide net salary-wise and focus on finding something sustainable rather than ideal. Your future self will thank you for having income on week 27!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm 64 and facing a similar situation - got laid off from my logistics coordinator position last month after 15 years with the same company. What really stands out to me from all these responses is how important it is to think long-term rather than just focusing on immediate income needs. The $180,000 lifetime difference someone calculated really puts the early Social Security decision in perspective. I've already filed for UC and registered with CareerLink, and honestly their mature worker resources have been better than expected. My plan is to give myself 6-8 months of active job searching while on unemployment before even considering Social Security. At 64, I'm close enough to full retirement age (66 for me) that waiting makes even more financial sense. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know others have successfully navigated this path and found good positions even in their 60s!

This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who works in HR and frequently helps employees navigate layoff situations, I wanted to add a few practical tips for the application process itself. When you file your initial PA UC claim online, make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months ready. The system will ask for specific dates and wages, so having your final pay stub and any severance documentation handy will speed things up. Also, PA allows you to backdate your claim up to one week from when you file, but you can't go back further than that - so don't delay thinking you can catch up later. One last tip: if you get any error messages during the online application, take screenshots. The system can be glitchy, and having documentation helps if you need to call for assistance. Given everything discussed here about the Social Security timing decision, getting your UC benefits started promptly will give you the financial breathing room to make that choice thoughtfully rather than out of immediate necessity.

This thread is such a valuable resource! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - got the "monetarily ineligible" status yesterday after being laid off from my barista job at an independent coffee shop. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! @StellarSurfer - so glad you got the SSN issue sorted out! That must have been such a huge relief to finally identify what was wrong. It's insane how a simple transposed number can cause such chaos. I'm now wondering if my issue might be similar to what @Emma Thompson mentioned about payroll quarters getting mixed up. My coffee shop owner handles all the payroll manually and honestly isn't the most organized person. I worked there for about 8 months but started mid-quarter, so there could definitely be some reporting wonkiness. Planning to file the UC-700 form today and gather all my paystubs. Question though - for those who successfully got through the phone lines, what time of day worked best? I've seen mentions of early morning, but wondering if there are any other "sweet spots" during the day when the lines aren't completely jammed? Also keeping my fingers crossed that the wage investigation process goes smoothly. This community has been incredibly helpful for understanding what to expect!

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now! Got laid off from my restaurant job two weeks ago and just received the "monetarily ineligible" status today. I've been working there for 14 months consistently, averaging about 28-32 hours per week, so I was completely blindsided by this. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both terrifying and reassuring - terrifying because of how many ways the system can mess up, but reassuring because it sounds like most of these issues are fixable once you identify the root cause. My situation is probably similar to yours @StellarSurfer - I'm guessing it's either a data entry error with my SSN or name, or some kind of tip reporting issue. My manager was always pretty disorganized with the paperwork, so who knows what got submitted incorrectly to the state. I'm planning to file the UC-700 form first thing tomorrow morning and then try the phone line marathon. Does anyone know if having your employer's federal tax ID number (from the W-2) ready actually helps speed up the phone conversation, or is that just for documentation purposes? Also, huge thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and experiences. Knowing that most people got this resolved within 2-3 weeks makes the situation feel way more manageable. The panic of seeing "monetarily ineligible" without any explanation is just overwhelming when you're already stressed about finances.

I'm new to this community but stumbled upon this thread while researching my own similar situation and I'm so grateful I found it! My employer is trying to relocate me from my current office to a facility 42 miles away, which would completely wreck my ability to pick up my daughter from daycare on time. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that PA had such strong protections for workers facing unreasonable relocations, or that childcare obligations were taken so seriously in determining "suitable work." The fact that so many people here have successfully won their UC cases, even after employers contested them, gives me real hope. The documentation strategies shared here are invaluable - I'm already starting to save every email about the proposed move and plan to formally request accommodations in writing so I have their inevitable refusal documented. The tips about getting daycare provider letters, calculating actual rush hour commute times, and creating a comprehensive "hardship impact statement" are brilliant approaches I never would have thought of. What really strikes me about this whole discussion is how these employers seem to think they can just arbitrarily change fundamental job conditions after years of loyal service and force us into impossible family situations. But it's clear that PA law recognizes this as unreasonable and genuinely protects workers who refuse these unsuitable changes. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and expertise - this community has been a lifeline for understanding that we have real legal grounds to stand our ground on these unreasonable demands!

I'm brand new to this community and found this thread while desperately searching for answers about my own situation. My employer just informed me they're relocating my position 48 miles away after I've worked at my current location for 8 years, and it would make picking up my kids from after-school care completely impossible. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to panic thinking I had no options and would have to choose between my job and my family responsibilities. The detailed advice about documentation, specific language to use like "material change in employment conditions," and the importance of letting them terminate you rather than quitting has been incredibly valuable. What gives me the most hope is seeing how many people have successfully won their PA UC cases in these exact situations, even when employers contested them. It's clear that Pennsylvania genuinely recognizes childcare obligations as legitimate constraints when determining "suitable work," and that major relocations after years at the same location are considered unreasonable changes to employment conditions. I'm planning to follow all the strategies outlined here - document everything in writing, formally request reasonable accommodations, get a letter from my childcare provider, and create that "hardship impact statement" approach. The support and shared experiences in this thread have been incredible - it's so reassuring to know we have strong legal protections and aren't just being difficult employees. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and expertise - this community has been a lifeline for those of us facing these impossible situations!