I'm also new to this whole UC system and just started my first bi-weekly claims last month as a union pipefitter. All the advice here is solid - definitely answer YES to the work search question! One thing I learned the hard way is to also double-check that your union information is properly noted in your UC profile. I had to call and update mine because somehow it didn't carry over from my initial application correctly. Also, don't stress too much about the wording of the questions - they're confusing even for people who've done this before. The key things to remember: say yes to work search (union hall registration counts), report any earnings accurately even small amounts, and mark yourself available every day unless you genuinely weren't. My first few claims took me forever because I kept second-guessing myself on every question, but now it only takes about 5 minutes. You'll get the hang of it quickly! The hardest part is definitely behind you after getting through that ID.me nightmare.

As another newcomer who just started filing bi-weekly claims, I wanted to share what worked for me! I'm in the operating engineers union and was also super nervous about messing up after all the ID.me drama. Here's what I did that helped: Before my first filing, I called my union hall and asked them to email me a simple letter stating that I'm a member in good standing and that all my work comes through their dispatch system. When I filed my bi-weekly claim, I answered YES to the work search question and uploaded that letter as supporting documentation just to be extra safe. The whole process actually went smoothly and I got my payment without any issues. The questions are definitely confusing at first but everyone's advice here is right on - your union registration absolutely counts as work search activity. One small tip: I set a reminder on my phone to file every Sunday morning so I don't forget or miss the deadline. It's become part of my routine now and only takes a few minutes once you know what you're doing. Hang in there - you've got this!

As someone who's been navigating PA UC for a while now, I'm so glad to see this resolved! The RESEA exemption confusion seems to happen way more often than it should - I've seen probably a dozen posts about this exact issue over the past few months. Your experience really highlights how important it is to act quickly when you get those threatening emails from UC. The system errors are frustrating but they're usually fixable if you have the right documentation and can get through to someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks for sharing your resolution - it'll definitely help the next person who runs into this same problem!

This thread is such a perfect example of why I love this community! @Fatima Al-Mansour, I'm so relieved you got this sorted out quickly. The RESEA system issues are absolutely maddening - I went through something similar a few months back where the systems weren't syncing properly. The stress of potentially losing benefits over a technical glitch is just awful. For anyone else reading this who might face RESEA confusion: the advice here about screenshots is golden. Also, if you're exempt, make sure to check both your CareerLink dashboard AND your UC account periodically to catch any discrepancies early. Sometimes these system errors pop up weeks or even months later. The Claimyr service mention is interesting too - I've heard mixed reviews but it sounds like it worked well in this case. Sometimes paying a small fee is worth it when your benefits are on the line and you can't get through the regular phone lines. Thanks for updating us with the resolution - these success stories really help others know there's light at the end of the tunnel!

Congratulations on finally getting your hearing date! I'm going through a similar situation - been waiting 6 weeks for my appeal hearing after being denied for "voluntary quit" even though I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. My former employer apparently told UC that I quit, which is completely false. I've been calling the referee office every morning at 8am sharp like you suggested, but still haven't gotten through. Did you have to call multiple days in a row, or did you get lucky on your first attempt? Also, when you finally got through, were they able to schedule your hearing right away during that call? Thanks for sharing your experience - it gives me hope that persistence will pay off!

I'm dealing with a similar appeal situation right now - been waiting 7 weeks for my hearing date after being denied for "misconduct" when I was actually let go for refusing to work in unsafe conditions. Reading through all these experiences is really helpful! @Chloe Boulanger - your situation with the safety violations sounds very similar to mine. I also have documentation of the safety issues I reported and my employer's retaliation afterward. Did you end up submitting your documents before the hearing or just having them ready during the call? And how specific did the referee get about the timeline of events? I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy with two phones - that's brilliant! It's crazy that we have to resort to these tactics but it sounds like persistence really pays off. Thanks for sharing your experience and giving the rest of us hope that we can get through this process.

I'm on day 2 of waiting for my determination and already feeling anxious! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. It sounds like I need to adjust my expectations - I was hoping for a quick 2-3 day turnaround like some people got last year, but the 14-21 day range with the current 22% increase in claims makes total sense. I've already started my work search log and plan to file my first weekly certification this weekend. One question for those who've been through this - should I be worried if my dashboard just says "Under Review" with no other details? No open issues showing, just that basic status. Thanks for all the insights everyone - this community is already helping me feel less alone in this process!

I'm on day 5 of waiting for my determination and this entire thread has been such a relief! I was getting really worried when I hit the 3-day mark, but seeing everyone's experiences with the current 14-21 day processing time has helped calm my nerves. My temp contract ended and it was pretty straightforward, so I'm hoping that works in my favor. I've been keeping detailed records of my work search activities and filed my first weekly certification yesterday. The dashboard just shows "Under Review" with no open issues, which sounds normal based on what everyone's sharing. It's so helpful to know I'm not the only one constantly refreshing and checking for updates! The financial stress is real, but knowing the back pay will cover all certified weeks once approved definitely helps. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - this community support makes such a difference for first-time filers like me!

I totally get the anxiety of waiting for that first payment! I went through the exact same thing with PA UC about 6 months ago. My experience was similar to what others have shared - payment showed as processed on a Wednesday and hit my account Friday morning around 6 AM. One thing that helped me was setting up account alerts through my bank app so I got a notification the moment the deposit came through instead of constantly checking. Also, since you mentioned bills piling up, you might want to call any creditors and let them know payment is coming in the next few days - most are understanding about UC delays if you communicate proactively. The wait is brutal but you're so close to relief now!

I know exactly how you're feeling! I was in the same boat about 8 months ago - constantly refreshing my bank app every few minutes after my UC payment showed up in the portal. For Wells Fargo specifically, I've found they usually process UC direct deposits pretty early in the morning (around 5-6 AM) so if it doesn't show up tomorrow morning, definitely check Friday. One thing that helped my sanity was remembering that even though the UC system can be painfully slow with approvals, they're actually pretty reliable once payments are processed. You've made it through the hardest part - getting approved! The money is definitely coming, probably within 48 hours. Hang in there!