I'm also going through this exact same situation! I was working full-time as a customer service representative while doing some freelance virtual assistant work on weekends (brought in about $200/month). I completely stopped the VA work in January when my main job got busier, and then got laid off in mid-March due to company restructuring. My UC claim has been stuck on "self-employment investigation" for about 2 weeks now. Before finding this thread, I was absolutely convinced I'd be denied and was losing sleep over it. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a relief - it's clear this is just their standard verification process for anyone who mentions any self-employment history. I have all my documentation organized - final client emails from January saying I was discontinuing services, last invoices, bank statements showing no VA income since then. Based on all the similar success stories here, it sounds like I just need to be patient and wait for whatever questionnaire they send. The financial pressure while waiting is definitely stressful, but seeing so many people with nearly identical situations (minimal side income, stopped before layoff, good documentation) eventually get approved gives me hope. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know this is normal and that we're not alone in this process!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! I was working full-time as a warehouse supervisor while doing some freelance photography on weekends (maybe $300/month). I stopped taking photo gigs in early February when work got crazy busy, and then got unexpectedly laid off last week due to company downsizing. My claim just got flagged with "self-employment investigation" a few days ago and I was totally freaking out until I found this thread. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief - it sounds like this is just standard procedure rather than them looking for reasons to deny us. I have good documentation ready - emails declining new photo shoots, my last invoices from February, bank statements showing no photography income since then. Based on all these similar success stories, it seems like I just need to be patient and wait for whatever forms they send me. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking financially, but seeing so many people with nearly identical situations (stopped self-employment before layoff, minimal side income compared to main job) eventually get approved is really encouraging. Thanks to everyone for sharing - it helps so much to know we're all going through this together and that there's light at the end of the tunnel!

Just wanted to update everyone - I called PA UC using that Claimyr service and finally got answers! The rep confirmed my check was mailed on Friday and should arrive by Wednesday. She also explained that this Money Network transition is happening in waves based on when your benefit year started. If your BYB date falls between the 15th-31st of any month, you're getting switched to paper checks first while they migrate your account. The whole process takes about 3 payment cycles, then you either get the new debit card or go back to direct deposit. It's frustrating but at least there's a clear timeline. For anyone still waiting, definitely call to get your specific mailing date - it really helped ease my anxiety about when the money would actually arrive!

This just happened to me too! Got the same letter about "may receive paper checks" with zero explanation. I've been on direct deposit since last summer with no problems whatsoever. Called my bank thinking maybe there was an issue on their end but nope - PA UC just decided to switch me to checks without warning. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here because I was completely in the dark about what was happening. Going to try that Claimyr service to get through and find out when my check was actually mailed. This timing couldn't be worse with bills due but at least now I know it's temporary!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and got approved! Was let go for "not meeting performance standards" after almost 4 years with zero documentation - no write-ups, no formal warnings, no performance improvement plan. Just like you, I had one vague meeting where my manager mentioned some concerns but nothing was ever put in writing. The whole process took about 2.5 weeks from filing to approval. My employer contested it of course, but during the fact-finding interview the UC representative kept asking them for specific dates, documentation, and details about their progressive discipline policy. When they couldn't provide anything concrete beyond "we had discussions," I was approved pretty quickly. A few things that really helped my case: - I requested my personnel file immediately after termination (in writing via certified mail) - it showed absolutely no performance-related documents - I had my timeline ready with exact dates of any conversations about work - I mentioned my previous performance reviews were satisfactory/good - I was very factual and didn't get emotional during the interview The UC interviewer actually told me that PA expects employers to follow proper progressive discipline procedures before terminating for performance issues. One informal conversation definitely doesn't meet that standard. Based on what you've described, you have a really strong case - probably even stronger than mine was. Don't let anxiety stop you from filing, you've got this!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying here - your situation sounds very similar to mine and I got approved without any major issues! Got terminated for "inadequate performance" after 3.5 years with literally zero written documentation. Just one brief conversation with my supervisor about some missed deadlines, but nothing formal or documented. The most important thing I learned through this process is that PA unemployment really does look at whether your employer followed proper progressive discipline procedures. They can't just decide one day that your performance isn't good enough and fire you without giving you a real chance to improve with formal warnings, improvement plans, etc. When I had my fact-finding interview, the UC representative asked my employer very pointed questions about what specific warnings they gave me, when, and whether they had documentation. When they couldn't provide anything beyond "we talked to her about her work," it was pretty clear the decision would go in my favor. My advice: File your claim ASAP and don't let fear hold you back. Be completely honest about what happened - that you were terminated for alleged poor performance but never received any formal warnings or disciplinary action. The lack of documentation on their end is actually your strongest asset here. You've got a really solid case based on everything you've described. Good luck!

I'm in the exact same boat right now! Just went back to full-time work on Monday after being on partial benefits for about 2 months. I was so worried about the proper procedure, but this thread has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like the process is much simpler than I was making it out to be - just report my last partial week's earnings accurately and then stop filing weekly certifications. I really appreciate everyone sharing their actual timelines and experiences, especially knowing that getting an "inactive claim" letter in a few weeks is totally normal. It's such a relief to know the claim stays open as a safety net for the full benefit year in case anything changes with work. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to help newcomers like me navigate this transition!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago! I was on partial UC for about 3 months and was really nervous about how to properly handle going back to full-time work. Like everyone else has said, the process is much simpler than you'd expect - just report your final week's earnings accurately (including any partial days worked) and then stop filing weekly certifications. No formal withdrawal or notification needed! I got my "inactive claim" letter exactly 19 days after my last filing, and it clearly stated that the claim remains available for reactivation within the benefit year if needed. The hardest part was just trusting that it was really that simple, but it absolutely is. Make sure you're precise with those final earnings (gross wages before any deductions) and you'll be all set. Congrats on getting back to full-time work - it's such a relief to have that stability again!

I made the switch from Money Network to Chime about 3 months ago and it's been one of the best decisions I've made! My PA UC payments now hit my Chime account every Tuesday around 6:30-7:00pm, which is definitely faster than the Wednesday morning timeline I had with the Money Network card. The transition took about 10 days for me - I submitted the direct deposit change on a Thursday and got my first Chime deposit the following week. A few tips from my experience: definitely keep screenshots of your routing and account numbers before submitting, double-check everything multiple times, and don't deactivate your Money Network card until you've received at least 2-3 successful direct deposits on Chime. I was spending about $20-25 monthly on ATM fees with the old card, so the savings have been significant. Plus Chime's instant deposit notifications are a game changer - no more constantly checking your balance on payment day! The earlier timing has really helped with my monthly budgeting too since I can pay bills on Tuesday night instead of waiting until Wednesday afternoon.

I switched from Money Network to Chime about 6 weeks ago and can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - Chime is faster! My payments consistently hit on Tuesday evenings between 7-9pm now, compared to Wednesday mornings with the card. The transition was smooth and took about 12 days from when I updated my info to getting the first direct deposit. One thing I'd add is that during the switch period, I actually got one payment split between both - part went to my remaining Money Network balance and part to Chime, which was weird but worked itself out by the next payment cycle. The ATM fee savings have been great too - I was easily spending $30+ monthly on those fees before. If you're on the fence about switching, I'd say go for it! Just make sure to verify your routing and account numbers multiple times when entering them.