Just a heads up for anyone still struggling with the CareerLink website - if you're getting error messages or the site keeps timing out, try clearing your browser cache and cookies first. I was having issues for days and this simple fix solved it immediately. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might block scripts or cookies, as CareerLink needs these to function properly. If you're still having trouble after that, the mobile version of the site (on your phone) sometimes works better than the desktop version. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through!

Another tip for anyone booking CareerLink appointments - if you're in a rural area or your local office has limited availability, you can schedule virtual appointments too! I live pretty far from my nearest office and was worried about travel time with my work schedule. Found out they offer video call appointments that count the same as in-person visits for UC requirements. Just select "Virtual Appointment" when choosing your appointment type. You'll need a computer or phone with camera/microphone, but it's super convenient. Still brings the same required documents (ID, resume, etc) but you can do it from home. The counselor was just as helpful as an in-person visit would have been!

This whole thread is so validating - I thought I was the only one dealing with this nightmare! I'm a freelance graphic designer who occasionally takes on small projects while collecting UC, and even when I report $30-50 for a logo design, my claim gets flagged for review. It's been 2.5 weeks now and I'm starting to panic about rent. The most frustrating part is that I'm being completely honest and following all the rules, but somehow that makes everything MORE complicated than if I just did nothing. Reading about everyone's experiences with Claimyr and getting the right documentation ready gives me hope though. Going to try calling them first thing Monday morning. Also wanted to add - for anyone keeping track of gig earnings, I use a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, client/platform, gross amount, fees deducted, and net amount. Makes it super easy to pull up the info when UC inevitably asks for verification. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and solutions!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through the exact same thing with my Wag dog walking earnings - about $60-80 per month, completely sporadic schedule, and now I'm on week 4 of "pending review" status. It's so reassuring to know this is a widespread issue and not something I did wrong. Based on everyone's advice here, I've already signed up for Claimyr and I'm organizing all my Wag payment records into a spreadsheet like @Sarah Ali suggested. One question though - has anyone had luck with the live chat feature on the PA UC website? I noticed it's available during business hours but wasn't sure if it's just as useless as the phone system or if they can actually help with review issues. Also want to echo what others have said about how backwards this system is. The fact that we're being punished for trying to earn a little money while job hunting is absolutely insane. At least knowing there's a path forward through Claimyr gives me some hope!

I'm new to PA UC and just filed my first weekly claim this morning (Wednesday). Based on everything I'm reading here, it sounds like I should expect to see the payment on my Money Network card by Friday or possibly Monday since weekends don't count as processing days. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the Money Network app notifications or that you could call their customer service line to check for pending payments! I'm definitely downloading the app right now. It's reassuring to see so many people confirming the 2-3 business day timeline is pretty reliable once you get past that first payment. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and tips - it really helps ease the anxiety of not knowing what to expect with this whole process!

I'm also brand new to PA UC and just filed my first weekly claim on Monday morning! This thread has been so incredibly helpful - I had no idea what to expect for timing and was getting really anxious about when the money would show up. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should see my payment hit the Money Network card by Wednesday or Thursday, which is such a relief to know! I'm definitely downloading that Money Network app right now for the push notifications. It's amazing how much peace of mind comes from just understanding the timeline. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for those of us navigating this system for the first time! I'll make sure to keep my work search documentation accurate and detailed based on all the great advice here.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Had my examiner interview three days ago about being laid off due to company restructuring, but my employer is trying to claim performance issues even though I never had any formal disciplinary actions or negative reviews. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're already stressed about job hunting and making ends meet. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful for someone new to this process - it's both nerve-wracking and oddly reassuring to see so many of us dealing with nearly identical situations where employers are trying to rewrite the narrative about our terminations. From what everyone's sharing, the timeline seems to range anywhere from 3 days to over 2 weeks, but it's really encouraging that most people eventually got approved when employers couldn't provide solid documentation. I had no idea about continuing to file weekly claims during the waiting period until I saw it mentioned here multiple times - such a crucial tip that could have cost me if I'd missed it! Also good to know I can stop obsessively checking my dashboard since it won't update until the actual determination is made. The financial anxiety while waiting is honestly worse than the job loss itself. You're already trying to figure out how to pay bills without a paycheck, and then you have this additional stress about whether you'll even qualify for benefits. But reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that when it's really about budget cuts but employers try to claim misconduct without documentation, the system usually works in our favor. Thanks for starting this discussion - knowing we're not alone in this stressful process makes such a difference!

I'm dealing with this exact situation too! Had my examiner interview on Monday about a layoff that my employer is trying to claim was performance-related, even though they eliminated my entire position due to budget constraints. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you're already stressed about finances and job searching. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what to expect! I had no idea I should continue filing my weekly claims during the waiting period until reading everyone's comments here - that could have been a costly mistake. It's both scary and oddly reassuring to see so many of us going through nearly identical situations where employers are trying to rewrite the narrative about our terminations. The financial pressure while waiting is honestly overwhelming. You're already trying to figure out how to make ends meet without a paycheck, and then you have this additional anxiety about whether you'll even qualify for the benefits you've been paying into. But reading about how most people eventually got approved when employers couldn't provide solid documentation gives me hope. From what everyone's sharing, the timeline seems completely unpredictable (anywhere from 3 days to 2+ weeks), but it sounds like the burden of proof is on employers to show actual misconduct with documentation. Since mine was clearly a budget-related elimination and they have no written warnings or disciplinary actions on file, I'm cautiously optimistic. Thanks for starting this discussion - knowing we're not alone in this stressful waiting process makes such a difference. Fingers crossed we all get positive determinations soon!

This thread is absolutely amazing - thank you everyone for documenting your experiences so thoroughly! I'm actually in the middle of dealing with this exact same issue right now. Got the dreaded notice about CareerLink registration failure yesterday, and like everyone else here, I was completely confused because I thought I had done everything right. I created my account months ago, uploaded my resume, filled out my profile, and have been applying for jobs regularly. But clearly I missed that crucial "Register for Work" button that seems to trip up literally everyone! Reading through all the detailed solutions here, especially Javier's step-by-step instructions, has given me so much confidence that I can fix this without having to go through phone call hell. I'm logging in tonight to find that elusive button and complete all the steps properly. It's honestly infuriating that PA's system is designed so poorly that we need a whole community thread to figure out basic requirements, but I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who shared their solutions. This is exactly the kind of practical help that makes all the difference when you're stressed about potentially losing benefits!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! I'm not dealing with this specific issue right now, but as someone who's been on UC for several months, reading through all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about the separate "Register for Work" button and honestly thought I was all set with just my CareerLink account and job applications. I'm definitely going to proactively check my registration status tonight using all the detailed steps everyone shared here. It's really frustrating that PA's system is so confusing that we need community threads like this to figure out basic requirements, but I'm so grateful for everyone who took the time to share their solutions and experiences. This kind of mutual support is invaluable when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares. Bookmarking this thread for future reference - the step-by-step instructions and tips about screenshots are going to help so many people avoid this stressful situation!