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!

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!

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 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! 🍀

As a career counselor who works with the PA CareerLink system, I can tell you this is a common issue. Here's what you need to do: 1. Log out completely and clear your browser cache 2. Log back in and go to your dashboard 3. Look for a section called "Action Items" or "Required Steps" 4. Make sure there's a green checkmark beside EVERY item 5. If all items show complete but the link is still greyed out, there's likely a synchronization issue between systems In that case, call your local CareerLink office directly (not the UC service center) and ask for the Career Services department. Tell them you have a "scheduler synchronization issue" - using those exact words will help them understand the technical problem. They can manually enable scheduling on their end. Also, make sure you're eligible for scheduling - if you just completed orientation today, the system typically updates overnight, so try again tomorrow morning.

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! What finally worked for me was logging in through the PA.gov portal instead of going directly to the CareerLink site. For some reason the scheduling button worked when I accessed it that way. Also make sure you're using the "full site" version if you're on mobile - the mobile version has tons of bugs with the scheduling feature. If you're still stuck after trying all these browser fixes, you can also try calling during their least busy times (Tuesday-Thursday mornings around 8-9am seem to work best for getting through). Good luck!

I'm new to this community but dealing with almost the identical situation! My PA UC benefits were approved about a month ago and I just received an appeal notice from my former employer yesterday. I was initially told my position was eliminated due to "organizational restructuring," but like many of you, I'm worried they'll try to twist some earlier performance conversations into grounds for misconduct. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational and honestly a bit of a rollercoaster - scary to hear about cases where people had to pay benefits back, but also reassuring to see so many success stories and practical advice. I had no idea that benefits continue during the appeal process, which was my immediate panic when I opened that letter! I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about documentation seriously - spending this weekend creating a detailed timeline and gathering every email, text, and document related to my layoff. The fact that so many employers seem to appeal legitimate layoffs just to avoid higher tax rates is frustrating but helpful to understand their motivation. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences - this community support is invaluable when dealing with something this stressful!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with the exact same situation! My PA UC benefits were approved about 3 weeks ago after what my employer called a "department consolidation," and I just got the appeal notice yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both terrifying and incredibly helpful - I had no idea that benefits continue during the appeal process, which honestly saved me from a complete meltdown when I saw that letter! My situation sounds very similar to many of yours - they officially told me it was due to restructuring, but my manager had made some comments about my work quality a month before the layoff, so now I'm terrified they'll try to claim it was performance-related. The advice about gathering documentation immediately really hit home - I'm going to spend tonight creating that timeline everyone mentioned and collecting every email and text about the layoff. It's both frustrating and enlightening to learn that employers often appeal legitimate claims just to avoid higher unemployment taxes. Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories and advice - knowing there's a whole community of people who understand this stress and have successfully fought these appeals gives me so much more confidence going into this process!