I'm in the exact same situation! Just saw "Monetary Finality" appear on my account this morning and was completely lost about what it meant until I found this amazing thread. Everyone's explanations here have been so much clearer than anything on the official PA UC website - it's honestly ridiculous that we have to figure this out through community forums! Like pretty much everyone else here, I made the classic mistake of not filing weekly claims because I thought I had to wait for full approval first. I've been sitting around for almost 3 weeks thinking the system would tell me when to start filing. Definitely going to fix that tomorrow morning! I'm also going to try the 8 AM calling strategy that literally everyone who got through mentions. Seems like that's the secret time to actually reach a human being. My layoff happened about a month ago, so I'm probably dealing with the same employer verification delays that seem to be affecting most people here. It's actually really comforting to see so many others going through the identical process and eventually getting their back payments once everything clears. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and making this confusing process feel less overwhelming. At least now I know "Monetary Finality" is actually good news and means I'm one step closer to getting benefits!

I'm experiencing the exact same thing! Just checked my account this morning and saw "Monetary Finality" for the first time - was completely panicking until I found this incredibly helpful thread. You all have explained this so much better than anything on the official PA UC site! Like literally everyone else here, I made the huge mistake of not filing weekly claims because I assumed I had to wait for complete approval first. I've been waiting around for almost 4 weeks thinking the system would notify me when to start. Definitely going to start filing tomorrow morning! I'm also going to try that 8 AM calling strategy that seems to be the golden rule from everyone who actually managed to get through to a rep. I was laid off about 3 weeks ago due to company downsizing, so I'm probably stuck in the same employer verification delays that most people here seem to be dealing with. It's actually really reassuring to see so many others going through the identical process and eventually getting their issues resolved with back payments. This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding what's actually happening with our claims when the official system keeps us completely in the dark. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know "Monetary Finality" is actually progress toward getting benefits, not another roadblock!

Just wanted to update this thread for anyone who finds it later. Holiday processing delays typically resolve themselves in the following pattern: Day 1 after holiday - payments process internally but transaction numbers missing. Day 2-3 - transaction numbers appear but deposit may pend. Day 3-4 - everything normalizes. If you're seeing a payment as 'processed' without transaction numbers following a bank holiday, it's almost always just a temporary display issue.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking it for future reference. It's amazing how many UC issues end up being temporary glitches or processing delays rather than actual problems with our claims. The PA system definitely has its quirks but at least we have this community to help each other figure things out when stuff like this happens!

I've been using Chime for my PA unemployment benefits for about 7 months now and it's been absolutely reliable! Reading through this thread, I see a lot of great advice that matches my experience. My payments consistently arrive every Tuesday morning around 8:30 AM, and the instant notifications are such a peace of mind feature. For anyone still hesitant, here's what worked for me: I set up both direct deposit AND kept the Money Network card active for the first 3 payments, just as a safety net. Once I confirmed the direct deposits were working smoothly, I cancelled the card. That approach gave me confidence during the transition period. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you use Chime's "Pay Friends" feature or any other internal transfers, avoid doing those on the same day your UC payment is expected to arrive. I learned this the hard way when a large internal transfer temporarily flagged my account for review, which delayed access to my UC funds for about 6 hours. Not a huge deal, but definitely caused some unnecessary stress! The bottom line is that Chime works great with PA UC as long as you're careful with the setup details everyone has mentioned. Don't overthink it!

I've been using Chime for my PA UC payments for about 9 months now and can definitely confirm it works perfectly! My payments arrive every Tuesday morning like clockwork, usually between 8-9 AM. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - when you first set up direct deposit in the UC portal, take a screenshot of the confirmation page showing your banking info was successfully saved. I had a weird glitch once where the system seemed to lose my banking details (probably during one of their system updates), and having that screenshot made it much easier when I had to call and get it sorted out. Also, for anyone worried about the first payment delay - mine took exactly 5 business days to process initially, but every single payment since then has been perfectly on time. The key really is just making sure your names match exactly and entering those routing/account numbers carefully. Chime's customer service is also really helpful if you need to verify your account details - much easier to reach than PA UC! The mobile notifications and instant access to funds make it so much better than the Money Network card. Definitely worth making the switch if you're on the fence about it.

I'm so glad I found this thread! Just got approved for PA UC yesterday and was stressing about the whole Money Network card situation. After reading everyone's experiences, I think I have a solid plan now. Sounds like the 7-10 day window for card delivery is pretty accurate based on all the timelines shared here. I'm definitely going to set up direct deposit right away like several people suggested - seems way more reliable than dealing with potential Cash App linking issues. Quick question for those who went the direct deposit route: did you guys still activate the Money Network card when it arrived, or just leave it unused? I'm thinking I should probably activate it as a backup even if I'm using direct deposit, but wasn't sure if that causes any complications. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences! This community is incredibly helpful for navigating all the confusing UC stuff.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been through this whole process recently! Got my PA UC approval about 3 weeks ago and went through the same decision-making process about Cash App vs direct deposit. I ended up choosing direct deposit after reading similar experiences to what's shared here, and I'm really glad I did. Set it up immediately after approval (before the card even arrived) and my first payment hit my bank account exactly when expected - no delays or complications. My Money Network card arrived on day 9, and I did activate it as a backup like others suggested. The activation was super quick and hasn't interfered with my direct deposit at all. For anyone still on the fence about Cash App linking - while some people have had success, the potential for account freezes just isn't worth the risk when you're depending on these funds. The bank transfer route adds maybe one extra step but gives you way more peace of mind. Hope this helps anyone else trying to figure out the best approach!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! I've been lurking on this community for a while but never posted before. Reading through all these experiences and solutions has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about all the different types of holds and restrictions that can affect Money Network cards. I haven't had any card issues yet (knock on wood), but I'm definitely going to be proactive now. Setting up text alerts, making a small purchase every month to avoid that 90-day freeze, and already started the direct deposit process after seeing how long it takes. The specific questions to ask Money Network when calling (security holds, merchant restrictions, PIN locks, geographic limitations) are going in my notes. It's honestly shocking how many hoops we have to jump through just to access our own benefits. The fact that their system can say a card is "active" while it's simultaneously blocked for purchases is beyond frustrating. This thread should seriously be required reading for anyone getting a Money Network card - way more useful than any official documentation I've seen. Thanks for building such a supportive community where we can actually help each other navigate these unnecessarily complicated systems!

This thread is absolutely incredible - I wish I had found this months ago when I first started having Money Network card issues! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that so many of us have been dealing with the exact same frustrating problems but didn't know where to turn for real solutions. The biggest takeaway for me is that Money Network and PA UC are completely separate systems, which explains why calling the unemployment office never helps with card problems. The step-by-step breakdown of what to ask for when calling Money Network directly (1-888-233-5916) is pure gold - security holds, merchant restrictions, PIN locks, geographic limitations. I never would have known to be that specific. What really gets me is how they have all these "security features" that can randomly lock us out of our own money without any clear notification. The 90-day retail freeze thing is especially sneaky - why wouldn't they just send a text or email warning before implementing that? And the fact that ATM and retail purchases are treated completely differently by their system is something they should explain upfront, not leave us to figure out through trial and error. I'm definitely implementing the proactive strategies people mentioned here - setting up text alerts, making monthly small purchases to keep the card active, and starting the direct deposit process ASAP. This community knowledge is legitimately more helpful than anything I've gotten from official sources. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions!