Final update: My claim was FINALLY approved yesterday, after almost 8 weeks total! I received all my backpay for the weeks I filed. For anyone else dealing with a federal employment claim - be prepared to wait longer than normal, make sure you get that federal wages form, and keep filing every week while you wait. Thanks again to everyone who helped!

Congrats on getting approved Emma! This thread is super helpful - I'm in week 4 of waiting on my federal claim (worked for VA hospital) and was starting to panic. Sounds like I need to call and ask about that federal wages form specifically. Did Claimyr actually work well for getting through? The regular UC phone line has been impossible for me too.

Quick update I forgot to mention - when I used that service the first commenter mentioned (Claimyr) the UC rep told me they dont even look at claims with issues until they've been sitting for at least 3-4 weeks. So if your only a month in they probly havent even assigned it to anyone yet. So frustrating!!!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Filed my claim 3 weeks ago after getting laid off when my company "restructured" (aka fired half the staff), but my claim is stuck because I left a job about a year ago to take this position. It's so frustrating that they penalize you for making good career moves in the past when your current layoff has nothing to do with that old job. I've been checking my dashboard daily but no movement yet. Reading everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying - at least I know I'm not alone but the wait times sound brutal. Definitely going to look into contacting my state rep based on the suggestions here!

btw if ur really worried about timing u can switch to the Money Network card instead of direct deposit. payments usually hit that 1 day earlier than bank accounts

I can relate to this anxiety! I've been on UC for about 4 months now and have noticed the timing can be really inconsistent. Some weeks it hits my account at 9am, other weeks not until late afternoon or even the next morning. What I've learned is that as long as your payment status shows "paid" in the UC portal, you're good - it's just a matter of when your specific bank processes it. I actually started keeping a little buffer in my checking account specifically because of these timing variations. The stress of waiting for bills to clear when you're already dealing with unemployment is real!

Been through this exact situation! The timing can be nerve-wracking when you're waiting on that first payment. Since you got the credit union account set up, you should be in good shape - they're usually really reliable for UC deposits. Just keep in mind that if you updated your direct deposit info after they already started processing Friday's payment, this week's deposit might still try to go to whatever method you had before (or get delayed while they sort it out). The good news is that once you get past this first payment hurdle, the timing becomes super predictable. Also, definitely keep that Money Network card request active as a backup - even though it's taking forever, it's nice to have as a safety net. And don't stress too much about the 1-2 day delay after the payment date - that's totally normal even for people who've been on UC for months. The system just needs that processing time to push the money through!

I've been on PA UC for about 8 months now and can confirm what others are saying about the timing. Your payment date (Friday the 13th) is when they process it, not when you receive it. With direct deposit to a traditional bank account, it's typically 1-2 business days later - so you'd likely see it Monday or Tuesday. However, since this is your first payment, it could take a bit longer (3-4 business days) as they verify everything on their end. Regarding CashApp - unfortunately no, PA UC doesn't support payment apps like CashApp, Venmo, or PayPal for direct deposit. You need either a traditional bank account (checking/savings) or their Money Network debit card. Online banks like Chime, Ally, or Capital One work fine as long as they provide proper routing and account numbers. If you're in a time crunch, I'd suggest opening a basic checking account at a local bank or credit union ASAP. Many can give you the account details immediately so you can update your direct deposit info. Just keep in mind that if Friday's payment is already being processed, the change might not take effect until your next payment cycle. Good luck!

This entire thread has been so helpful to read through! As someone who's currently waiting on a different type of UC issue (separation pay), seeing the real experiences and timelines gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. The healthcare staffing crisis angle is particularly eye-opening - it makes total sense that performance issues in that industry are often systemic rather than individual failures. @Charlee Coleman congratulations on getting your approval! Your willingness to keep updating this thread with your progress has created such a valuable resource for others. The fact that your claim was actually approved a week before the system showed it really highlights how unreliable the online portal can be. For anyone else reading this who's dealing with performance-related issues, the documentation tips and early morning calling strategy seem to be the key takeaways. It's also reassuring to see that PA UC does recognize when workplace conditions contribute to performance problems. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support makes such a stressful process feel more manageable!

Wow, this thread has been such a rollercoaster to read through! @Charlee Coleman I'm so relieved you finally got approved - what a nightmare that you were actually approved a week earlier but the system glitch kept you in the dark! That's absolutely maddening but I'm glad your persistence paid off. I'm dealing with my first ever UC claim right now (got laid off from my job at a medical supply company two weeks ago) and honestly this whole thread has been more educational than anything I've found on the official PA UC website. The real-world timelines, the calling strategies, the documentation tips - it's all gold. The healthcare worker stories really hit me hard too. It's infuriating that people are getting flagged for performance issues when they're dealing with impossible working conditions that are completely systemic problems, not individual failures. Really glad to see that PA UC is starting to recognize these situations for what they really are. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who came back with updates. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these stressful bureaucratic processes feel less overwhelming!