I'm currently in week 9 of waiting for my employer dispute resolution and this thread has been incredibly helpful - both reassuring and eye-opening about how long this process can really take. The key takeaway I'm getting is that as long as we keep filing weekly claims, we won't lose those weeks if/when our claims get approved. That's huge relief because I was also worried about "using up" my 26 weeks while waiting. For anyone else going through this nightmare - I've started keeping a spreadsheet tracking every week I file, all my job search activities, and any communication attempts with PA UC. I also screenshot my dashboard weekly just in case there are any discrepancies later. One thing that's helped my sanity is setting a specific day each week to try calling (usually Tuesday mornings) instead of calling randomly throughout the week. Still can't get through most of the time, but at least I'm not driving myself crazy trying every day. The wait is absolutely brutal but seeing people eventually get their backpay after 11-17 weeks gives me hope. We just have to keep pushing through this broken system and not let them wear us down!

I'm currently on week 10 of waiting for my employer dispute to resolve, and this thread has been both a lifesaver and a reality check! Like many of you, I was panicking about potentially "losing" my 26 weeks while waiting for a decision, so it's huge relief to understand that the benefit year is actually 52 weeks and we'll get backpay for all properly filed weeks. My situation is similar - former employer is claiming I quit when I was actually terminated for "performance issues" (which conveniently happened right after I reported safety violations to OSHA). I have email documentation of the real reason, but PA UC is taking forever to review everything. I've been following a lot of the strategies mentioned here: filing every single week religiously, keeping detailed records of all work search activities, and trying to call on a set schedule (Wednesdays seem to work better for me than other days). Still haven't gotten through to a human yet though! The idea about contacting state representatives is definitely going on my list if I hit the 12-week mark. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to resort to political pressure just to get basic updates on our own claims, but here we are. Hang in there everyone - we've got this! The system is broken but we can't let them wear us down.

This whole thread is making me feel so much better about my situation! I've been dealing with the exact same nightmare for the past two weeks. My payments stopped after I reported earnings from a freelance graphic design project, and I've been stuck in this endless cycle of 90+ minute hold times with no resolution. What really hit home was reading about everyone getting disconnected right before someone picks up - that happened to me yesterday after waiting 2 hours and 23 minutes. I actually started crying! It's beyond frustrating that we need survival kits just to contact our own state's unemployment office. I had no clue about the "Issues and Determinations" section either until reading this thread. Just checked and yep - "employment information" issue pending. Why don't they explain this stuff anywhere?! The PA UC website is absolutely useless. Going to try the 7:59 AM strategy tomorrow with a portable charger, snacks, and realistic expectations. This community has been more helpful than any official resource. Thank you all for sharing - knowing I'm not alone in this broken system actually helps me feel less like I'm losing my mind!

Wow, I just joined this community after searching for help with PA UC issues and this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm dealing with the same nightmare - my payments stopped two weeks ago after I reported income from a temporary office job, and I've been completely lost trying to figure out what's happening. Reading everyone's experiences has been both reassuring (I'm not alone!) and horrifying (this system is truly broken). I had my first attempt at calling yesterday and waited 2 hours and 14 minutes before finally hanging up when I realized I was going to be late picking up my kids from school. I felt so defeated, like I was doing something wrong or missing some obvious solution. But seeing that literally everyone here has gone through the same thing makes me realize it's not me - it's the system that's completely broken. Thank you especially to @Natasha Volkov for explaining the "Issues and Determinations" section - I just logged in and found I have an "employment information" issue pending too. At least now I have some idea what's causing the holdup instead of just wondering why my payments vanished without explanation. I'm going to try the 7:59 AM calling strategy tomorrow with a full phone charge and realistic expectations. This community has already been more helpful than the entire PA UC website. It's ridiculous that we have to crowdsource basic information about how their own system works, but I'm grateful to have found you all!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! My husband got a job offer in Texas and we moved last month. I filed my PA UC claim about 4 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything beyond the initial confirmation. It's reassuring to hear that others have been approved for spouse relocation, even though the wait times seem really long. I'm a teacher so remote work definitely wasn't an option for me. Has anyone had experience with the fact-finding interview? I'm nervous about what kinds of questions they'll ask and want to be prepared when they finally call.

I went through this same situation in 2023 when my husband got transferred to North Carolina. The waiting is brutal, I know! Mine took about 9 weeks total for the determination. A few tips that helped me: 1) Keep detailed records of every conversation with UC - dates, times, who you spoke to 2) Set up call forwarding to make sure you don't miss their call (they usually call between 9-11am) 3) Have a folder ready with all your docs - spouse's job offer, your resignation letter, lease/mortgage info for new state, marriage certificate. The interview was pretty straightforward - they mainly wanted to confirm the timeline and that you had no choice but to move. Since you're a nurse, emphasize that patient care requires physical presence and remote work wasn't possible. Hang in there, it does eventually work out for legitimate spouse relocations!

I'm in a similar boat and feeling the stress too. Been waiting 18 days since filing and just got the "assigned to examiner" update yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! Based on what I'm seeing, it sounds like 1-2 weeks from assignment is the most common timeframe, though some people have waited longer. I'm going to follow the advice about answering all unknown calls and keeping my documents ready. Has anyone tried reaching out to their state representative's office? I'm wondering if that's worth doing now or if I should wait a bit longer since I'm not quite at the 3-week mark yet.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim 4 weeks ago and just got the "assigned to examiner" update 3 days ago. The financial stress is unreal - I've been living off credit cards and my landlord is starting to ask questions. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying at the same time. It sounds like the timeline varies wildly, but most people seem to hear back within 1-2 weeks of assignment. I've already updated my voicemail to be super brief and I'm answering every single call, even the obvious spam ones. Has anyone had luck with explaining financial hardship to speed things up? I'm worried about being too pushy but I'm also worried about losing my apartment.

Really glad to hear you got the 7-day extension and that your state rep is helping! That's fantastic progress. Just wanted to add - if you haven't already, make sure to document EVERYTHING about your case (dates you called, reference numbers, names of people you spoke with, etc.). Keep a written log because if there are any issues later, having that paper trail can be super helpful. Also, some food banks in PA can help with utility assistance too if you need additional resources. Fingers crossed your examiner contacts you soon!

Hey Scarlett, I just went through this exact situation about 3 months ago. Had an examiner assigned for a separation issue and was facing utility shutoffs too. Here's what helped me get through it: First, you're doing all the right things by calling 211 and your state rep - that's huge! The 7-day extension gives you some breathing room. For the examiner timeline, mine called exactly 9 business days after assignment. When they do call, make sure you answer - they usually only try a few times before moving on to the next case. Have all your documentation ready and be very clear about why leaving was necessary for you. Also, if you haven't already, check with your local Salvation Army or Catholic Charities - they often have emergency utility funds that are separate from what 211 offers. Sometimes you can stack assistance programs. One more thing - when the examiner does contact you, ask them directly if there's anything else you can provide to speed up the determination. Sometimes they'll tell you exactly what they need to make a quick decision. Hang in there! The waiting is the worst part but it sounds like you're being proactive with all the right steps.