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I'm dealing with this exact same issue and feeling so relieved to find this thread! I've been applying to jobs all week through CareerLink but when it redirects me to company websites or Indeed, nothing shows up in my dashboard. I was starting to think the system was broken or that I was doing something wrong. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I had absolutely no idea about manually adding activities in JobGateway! I'm about to go through and add all my applications from this week. It's honestly frustrating that PA UC doesn't explain this process clearly anywhere - seems like such a basic thing to mention when you're redirected to external sites. Thanks to everyone for sharing their tips about keeping records and screenshots too. This community has been way more informative than any official UC documentation I've seen!
Welcome to the club! I just went through this exact same panic last week - it's such a relief to know we're not alone in this confusion. The fact that so many of us are dealing with the same issue really shows how poorly PA UC explains their own system. I'm also brand new to unemployment and was completely lost until I found this thread. Just finished adding all my applications from the past two weeks and I'm already feeling less stressed about it. Definitely taking everyone's advice about keeping detailed records too - seems like that's really important for the long run. It's crazy that we have to figure this stuff out through trial and error instead of clear instructions from UC. Thanks for sharing your experience and good luck with your job search!
This is exactly the situation I'm in right now! I just started collecting UC benefits two weeks ago and have been applying through CareerLink, but when it sends me to external company sites to complete the applications, absolutely nothing shows up in my dashboard. I was getting really anxious thinking I was going to get flagged for not meeting the work search requirements even though I've actually applied to 7 jobs this week alone. After reading through all these comments, I immediately went and manually added all my applications in JobGateway - I had no idea that was even a thing! It's honestly ridiculous that PA UC doesn't explain this anywhere obvious. Like, why wouldn't there be a clear notice when you get redirected saying "Don't forget to manually log this application when you return"? I was literally about to call the UC office tomorrow morning thinking something was broken with my account. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice about keeping detailed records - I'm definitely going to start taking screenshots of every confirmation page and keeping my own spreadsheet. This thread probably saved me from a lot of stress and potential benefit issues down the road!
This thread has been such a comprehensive resource! I'm new to PA UC and was completely confused about how part-time work would affect my benefits, but everyone's explanations and real-world examples have made it so much clearer. The 30% rule breakdown with actual dollar calculations really helped me understand that the system genuinely encourages working rather than penalizing it. I'm definitely taking notes on the spreadsheet tracking system that multiple people mentioned - documenting work dates, hours, gross earnings, which benefit week it applies to, and when everything was reported seems absolutely essential based on all the audit stories shared here. What really stands out to me is how this community comes together to share practical knowledge that you just can't find in the official UC handbook. The emphasis on reporting ALL gross income (tips, gig work, freelance, everything) and keeping detailed records for potential audits is crystal clear now. I feel so much more confident about potentially taking on some part-time work while job searching. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this kind of peer support makes navigating these complex systems so much less intimidating!
I'm so glad this thread exists too! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, I finally feel confident enough to jump in. I'm in a very similar situation - just approved for PA UC and my old retail job wants me back for weekend shifts. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially the detailed explanations of the 30% rule and all the documentation tips, has been incredibly reassuring. I was honestly scared to work at all because I didn't want to mess up my benefits, but now I understand that as long as I'm careful about reporting gross earnings and keeping detailed records, I should be fine. The spreadsheet idea that multiple people mentioned is brilliant - I'm setting one up tonight before I even take my first shift. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive environment where newcomers like me can learn from your real experiences!
This has been such an amazing thread! I'm in exactly the same situation - just got approved for PA UC at the max benefit rate and was totally confused about how part-time work would affect my benefits. Reading through everyone's real experiences has been incredibly helpful. The 30% rule explanation with actual dollar examples makes so much more sense than the confusing UC handbook. I'm definitely setting up that spreadsheet tracking system that multiple people recommended - documenting work dates, hours, gross earnings, benefit week, and reporting dates. The emphasis on reporting ALL gross income and keeping meticulous records really hit home after reading about those audit situations. It's reassuring to know that the system is actually designed to encourage working rather than penalize it, as long as you're careful about proper reporting. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world advice - this community support makes navigating these complex rules so much less intimidating!
Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new to navigating PA UC and this thread has been such a lifesaver. It's great to see how everyone here shares their real experiences rather than just pointing to the confusing official documentation. The spreadsheet tracking system that people keep mentioning really does seem like the way to go - I started mine last week and it's already making me feel so much more organized and confident about my reporting. One thing I'd add that I learned from reading through all these comments is to also keep screenshots of your weekly certification confirmations, not just the earnings you report. Several people mentioned how this saved them when there were system glitches or discrepancies. The peace of mind from having everything documented is totally worth the extra few minutes each week. Good luck with your part-time work - sounds like you've got a solid plan in place!
This is so frustrating! I filed my weekly claim this morning and encountered the exact same thing - completely different form with tons of new questions I've never seen before. I've been on UC for about 5 weeks and it's always been the same simple process until today. The work search questions really threw me off because I've been applying to jobs but wasn't keeping detailed records with all the specific info they wanted (contact numbers, exact application methods, etc.). I ended up having to go back through my email and job sites to piece everything together. What used to take me 10 minutes took almost an hour! I'm relieved to see from all these comments that this seems to be a legitimate system update and not some kind of error on my end. Really wish PA UC would give us advance notice when they make these kinds of major changes to the process. Now I know I need to keep much better records of my job search activities going forward. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and tips!
I completely feel your frustration! The same exact thing happened to me when I filed earlier this week. I've been on UC for about the same amount of time and was totally blindsided by all those detailed work search questions. Like you, I had to spend forever digging through my email and LinkedIn to find all the employer contact info and specific dates they wanted. It's so annoying that they made this major change with zero warning! But I'm glad to see from everyone's comments that our claims are still processing normally despite the new format. I'm definitely going to start keeping a detailed log of all my job search activities from now on so I'm not scrambling like this again next week.
I just went through this same experience when filing yesterday! I've been on UC for about 6 weeks and was completely unprepared for all the additional questions. What really helped me was creating a simple document on my computer where I now track all my job search activities in real-time - company name, position, date applied, contact method, and any follow-up actions. For anyone still struggling with the new format, I found that having your email and job board accounts open in separate tabs makes it much easier to quickly reference the details they're asking for. Also, if you applied through staffing agencies, make sure to include both the agency contact info AND the actual company if you know it - I wasn't sure which one they wanted so I included both in the notes section. My payment processed normally despite the longer form, so it seems like they're just being more thorough with documentation now. Definitely frustrating that we got no heads up about this change, but at least we're all figuring it out together!
Hey Liam! Welcome to the forum! 👋 Just wanted to chime in with another confirmation about your base year question - everyone here is absolutely right that for your January 2025 filing, PA will use October 2023 through September 2024. That overtime from early 2024 will definitely help boost your weekly benefit amount! I filed my claim in November 2024 after my logistics company downsized, and I remember having the exact same confusion about which quarters would count. This community was a lifesaver for understanding all the ins and outs of PA UC. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think has been mentioned yet: when you're doing your weekly certifications, make sure you answer the work search questions honestly even if you haven't found anything that week. It's better to report "I searched but found no suitable opportunities" than to leave questions blank or give inconsistent answers. Also, keep an eye on your email and PA UC account for any requests for additional information. Sometimes they'll ask for wage verification or other documents, and responding quickly can prevent delays in your benefit payments. You're definitely taking the right approach by asking questions upfront and getting organized. This forum has been such a valuable resource for so many of us navigating unemployment - don't hesitate to post if you run into any issues along the way! Best of luck with your claim! 🤞
Hey Liam! Welcome to the forum! 👋 Just wanted to add one more confirmation to what everyone else has already told you - for your January 2025 filing, PA will definitely use October 2023 through September 2024 as your base year. That overtime from early 2024 is going to work in your favor for sure! I filed my claim in October 2024 after my distribution center closed, and I had similar questions about the base year calculation. This community was absolutely invaluable in helping me understand the process. One small tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: when you log into your PA UC account for the first time, take a screenshot of your confirmation page after filing your initial claim. Sometimes the system can be glitchy, and having that screenshot can be helpful if you need to reference your filing date later. Also, don't stress if the online system seems slow or times out occasionally - that's pretty normal, especially on Sundays and Mondays when lots of people are filing their weekly claims. Just be patient and try again later if needed. You're definitely on the right track by asking these questions early and finding this supportive community. Everyone here has been through the unemployment process and really understands how confusing it can be at first. Don't hesitate to post if you have any other questions as you go through your claim! Good luck - you've got this! 🍀
Zainab Ismail
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Just got terminated from my fulfillment center job for hitting 7 attendance points when the limit was 5. Like so many others in this thread, I had legitimate reasons - my babysitter quit unexpectedly leaving me scrambling for childcare, had to take my mom to several doctor appointments for her cancer treatment, and caught the flu twice this winter. I've been reading through everyone's experiences and it's giving me so much hope! I was terrified that being fired for attendance would automatically disqualify me, but seeing all these success stories where PA UC actually looked at the circumstances behind the absences is incredibly reassuring. I have documentation for everything - texts showing I notified my supervisor each time, medical appointment cards for my mom, doctor's notes for my illnesses. Going to file my claim tomorrow and prepare for a possible appeal if needed. This community has been amazing - thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and encouraged others to apply despite the scary situation!
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Malik Thomas
•@Zainab Ismail your situation with caring for your mom during cancer treatment and unexpected childcare issues sounds incredibly challenging, but you definitely have strong documentation that shows these were unavoidable circumstances! Medical appointment cards and doctor s'notes are exactly the kind of evidence PA UC looks for when determining good "cause. The" fact that you have texts proving you properly notified your supervisor each time really strengthens your case too. From everything I ve'learned reading this thread, PA UC seems to be much more understanding about family caregiving responsibilities and medical emergencies than employers sometimes are. Your documentation sounds even more comprehensive than some of the successful cases shared here. Definitely file tomorrow and don t'get discouraged if there s'any initial delay - it sounds like you have all the right evidence to show these weren t'irresponsible absences but necessary family care situations. This thread has been such a great resource for all of us navigating these stressful situations!
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Quinn Herbert
I'm in a really similar situation and this thread has been such a lifesaver! Just got terminated from my packaging job for hitting 9 attendance points when their limit was 7. Had legitimate reasons for most absences - my dad had a stroke and I was his primary caregiver for two weeks, car transmission went out twice, and caught COVID with a positive test. I was convinced being fired for policy violation meant automatic denial for UC, but reading all these success stories has completely changed my perspective! It's amazing how PA UC actually looks at "good cause" rather than just the rule violation itself. I'm gathering all my documentation - hospital discharge papers for my dad, repair estimates, COVID test results, and text screenshots showing I properly notified my supervisor each time. Planning to file my claim this weekend and prepare for a possible appeal if needed. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - knowing that so many people with legitimate reasons got approved despite exceeding attendance points gives me real hope during what's been an incredibly stressful time!
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Oliver Schmidt
•@Quinn Herbert your situation sounds incredibly difficult but you have some of the strongest documentation I ve'seen in this thread! Being your dad s'primary caregiver after a stroke is exactly the kind of unavoidable family emergency that PA UC considers good "cause. Having" hospital discharge papers, COVID test results, and repair estimates creates a really solid paper trail showing these weren t'casual absences. The fact that you properly notified your supervisor each time with (text proof demonstrates) you were being responsible about the situation. From all the success stories shared here, your case sounds even stronger than many who got approved - caring for a stroke victim is a legitimate family emergency that most people would understand. Definitely file this weekend and don t'let an initial denial discourage you if it happens. This thread has been such a great support system for all of us dealing with these stressful attendance point situations - it s'amazing how many people are going through similar circumstances with legitimate reasons but were afraid they wouldn t'qualify!
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