Ugh, I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying to get through for over a week about a payment issue. One thing I discovered is that if you call right at 12:01pm during their lunch hour, sometimes you can slip through when other people aren't calling. Also, try pressing different numbers in their phone tree - sometimes pressing 0 or # repeatedly will get you to a different queue. I know it sounds desperate but when you're dealing with rent money, you gotta try everything! Let us know if any of the suggestions here work for you.

I had this exact same problem a few months ago - the busy signal nightmare is so frustrating when you need to resolve payment issues! One trick that finally worked for me was calling exactly at 4:25pm, about 5 minutes before they close. I think most people assume it's too late to call then, so there might be less volume. I got through on my second try that way. Also, if you're specifically dealing with Money Network card issues, definitely try calling them directly first at the number Zoe mentioned - sometimes the delay is on their end, not UC's. The Money Network reps can tell you if the payment was actually sent and when to expect it. Hang in there, the phone system is definitely broken but you'll eventually get through!

Pro tip: Once you get the Money Network Mobile app set up, enable push notifications for deposits and low balance alerts. Really helpful to know right away when your weekly benefits hit your card. Also, if you're having trouble with the app crashing like some others mentioned, try force-closing it completely and reopening rather than just switching between apps - seems to help with the stability issues.

Another useful feature in the Money Network Mobile app is the ATM locator - it shows you nearby fee-free ATMs where you can withdraw cash without extra charges. Just tap the "Locations" tab in the app. This saved me a lot in ATM fees since some machines charge $3-4 for non-network withdrawals. Also, you can set up direct deposit to move funds to your regular bank account if you prefer, though there might be a small transfer fee depending on how you do it.

Update: I submitted my new application yesterday and the system is showing an "open issue" already. Is this normal? Should I try calling them to find out what the issue is? I'm getting really anxious about this whole process.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My benefit year just ended last week and I'm terrified about reapplying. Reading everyone's experiences here is both helpful and scary - sounds like it really varies from person to person. I've been working part-time too (about 20 hours/week at a restaurant) so I'm hoping that's enough to qualify for a new claim. The waiting period is what's killing me though. Bills don't stop coming just because UC takes weeks to process applications! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it helps to know I'm not alone in this stressful situation.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago! The benefit year transition is definitely confusing but everyone here gave you solid advice. One thing I'd add - when you're filling out that new initial claim, be super careful about the dates for your temporary job. Make sure you report the exact start and end dates because any mistakes there can delay your approval. Also, if your new weekly benefit amount ends up being lower than before (which happened to me), you can sometimes appeal that determination if you think they calculated it wrong. The appeals process isn't fun but it's worth it if there's a significant difference. Hang in there - the whole system is frustrating but you'll get through it!

Hey Amina! I just went through this same exact thing about 3 months ago when my benefit year ended. It's definitely confusing but you're on the right track now that you filed the new initial claim. A few things that might help while you're waiting: 1. Keep a spreadsheet or notes of when you filed your new claim and any confirmation numbers - it makes it easier if you need to call later 2. Continue filing those weekly certifications like you did - even if the system seems glitchy, keep doing it every week 3. Start documenting your job search activities NOW even while waiting for approval (companies applied to, dates, positions, etc.) because they'll want that info once you're approved The 2-3 week timeline is usually pretty accurate for new claims. In my case, I got approved in exactly 16 days and they released all the weekly payments I had filed while waiting. The hardest part is just the waiting and uncertainty, but it sounds like you did everything right! Keep us posted on how it goes.

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same message issue for the past 3 days and was starting to panic that I'd miss something important. Reading through everyone's solutions gives me hope that I can actually fix this. I'm going to start with the Shift+refresh method that worked for Dmitry, and if that doesn't work I'll try switching to Firefox and clearing my browser data completely. The tip about accessing during off-peak hours is really smart too - I've been trying to check messages during lunch breaks when the servers are probably overloaded. It's honestly embarrassing that Pennsylvania's unemployment system is this broken, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other instead of just complaining. I'll report back on what ends up working for me in case it helps anyone else who finds this thread in the future!

I just want to echo everyone's gratitude for this amazing thread! I stumbled across this while frantically googling "PA UC messages won't open" at 2am because I was so stressed about potentially missing something important. Reading through all these detailed solutions has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that this is a widespread technical issue with the portal, not something we're doing wrong. I'm especially grateful for the step-by-step troubleshooting approaches and the fact that people actually follow up to share what worked for them. I'm going to try the Shift+refresh method first thing in the morning, and if that doesn't work, I'll move through the other suggestions systematically. The tip about setting up text alerts is brilliant - I had no idea that was even an option! It's honestly mind-boggling that we need this level of technical expertise just to access basic government services, but at least we have this community to help each other navigate the broken system. Thank you all for turning what could have been an isolated, panic-inducing experience into a solvable problem with multiple potential solutions!