I'm in week 3 of my PA UC claim and this thread has been a lifesaver! I was doing the exact same thing - applying for jobs but constantly worrying that "work search activities" meant something completely different that I was missing. The PA UC website really doesn't make this clear at all. I've been applying to 2-3 jobs per week and keeping basic records, but after reading about the audit experiences here, I'm definitely going to step up my documentation game. The spreadsheet system that multiple people have mentioned sounds perfect for staying organized. I particularly like the idea of creating weekly folders for screenshots with clear file names. One thing that's been bothering me - when I submit applications through job boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter, sometimes I don't get a clear confirmation email, just a notification within the app. Do those in-app notifications count as sufficient documentation, or should I be taking screenshots of those as well? I want to make sure I'm covering all my bases from the start. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed advice and experiences. This community knowledge is way better than anything on the official PA UC site!

For those in-app notifications from Indeed or ZipRecruiter, I'd definitely recommend taking screenshots as well! While the notifications might be sufficient technically, having a screenshot with the date and confirmation details visible gives you much better documentation if you ever get audited. What I do is immediately screenshot any confirmation screen or notification I get - whether it's an email, in-app message, or webpage confirmation. Then I save it to my weekly folder with a clear filename like "2025-03-25_Indeed_HomeDepot_SalesAssociate_confirmation.png". It takes an extra 10 seconds but gives me so much peace of mind. Some job boards also let you view your application history later (like Indeed's "Applied" section), which can be a backup way to document things, but I still prefer having the immediate screenshot from when I actually applied. Better to have too much documentation than not enough, especially after reading all these audit horror stories in this thread! You're smart to be thinking about this systematically from week 3 - I wish I had been that organized from the start!

Oliver, I want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely apply! I'm 68 and went through this exact situation about 8 months ago. Got laid off from my job of 15 years and was terrified about the pension impact on my UC benefits. Here's what I learned: The PA UC system will walk you through reporting your pension during the application process. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get to that section. They'll ask for the monthly amount, who contributed to it, and when you started receiving it (or if you're just eligible but not collecting yet). One thing that really helped me was having my pension documentation ready before I started the application - things like your Summary Plan Description and any letters from HR about your pension eligibility. Makes the process much smoother. Also, don't stress too much about the work search requirements at our age. Yes, you need to do them, but the UC office understands that job searches take longer for older workers. Just be genuine in your efforts and keep good records. The bottom line is this: even with the pension deduction, I still get about $280/week in benefits, which has been a huge help while I'm looking for work. Every situation is different, but don't let anyone discourage you from applying based on your age or pension status. You earned these benefits through years of work!

Oliver, I just wanted to add something that might help ease your mind about the application process itself. I'm a former PA UC caseworker (retired now), and I can tell you that the system has actually gotten much better at handling pension-related cases over the past few years. When you get to the pension section of the application, there will be very specific questions about: - Whether you're currently receiving pension payments or just eligible - The exact monthly amount if you're receiving it - Who contributed to the pension (employee only, employer only, or both) - The name of the employer who provided the pension The system will automatically calculate any deductions based on your answers. If there's any ambiguity, they'll send you a questionnaire to clarify rather than making assumptions that could lead to overpayments later. One thing I always told people: it's much better to take a few extra minutes to be thorough and accurate on the front end than to deal with overpayment issues down the road. The folks here have given you excellent advice, and your situation (laid off at 66 with employer-contributed pension) is very common - the system handles it routinely. You've got a solid work history and a legitimate layoff situation. Don't let HR's confusion deter you from applying for benefits you've earned!

I had my RESEA appointment just last week and wanted to share my experience to help calm your nerves! When I first got that letter, I immediately thought I had done something wrong or that they were going to find some reason to cut my benefits. But honestly, it was the complete opposite - they were genuinely invested in helping me succeed. My counselor reviewed my job search records (which weren't perfect, by the way) and instead of criticizing me, she helped me understand how to make them more effective. She showed me how to use keywords from job postings in my applications and introduced me to some online resources I had never heard of. One thing that really stood out was how knowledgeable she was about the local job market trends - she told me which industries were growing in our area and which ones were contracting, which helped me refocus my search. She also helped me practice my elevator pitch and gave me tips for virtual interviews that I never would have thought of. The whole appointment took about an hour and by the end, I felt like I had a real action plan instead of just randomly applying to jobs. Definitely bring your job search log, ID, and come prepared with questions about anything you're struggling with. You'll do great!

I just had my RESEA appointment yesterday and wanted to add my experience to this thread! I was in the exact same boat as you - got that letter and immediately panicked thinking I was being targeted for some reason. Turns out it really is just random selection based on how long you've been claiming benefits and your industry. My counselor was incredibly helpful and spent almost 90 minutes with me going through everything. She helped me realize I was making some basic mistakes in my job applications (like not customizing my cover letter enough) and showed me some CareerLink features I didn't even know existed. The best part was that she had a list of employers in my area who were actively hiring but hadn't posted jobs yet - she actually called one of them while I was there to set up an informational interview for me next week! Definitely bring your job search records well-organized, your ID, and a list of specific questions about your search challenges. Don't worry about being "perfect" - they really want to help you succeed, not find reasons to penalize you. The whole experience left me feeling more optimistic about my job search than I have in months!

wait do we have to report hours or just days worked??? i thought we just had to tell them which DAYS we worked not the actual hours???

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! I forgot to report 8 hours of work and panicked when I realized it. I ended up calling the UC office (took forever to get through) but the rep was really understanding since I was being proactive about fixing it. They adjusted my claim for that week and I had to pay back about $60 in overpayment, but no penalties since I reported it myself. The key is to NOT wait - the longer you wait, the worse it looks. Also, definitely don't try to "fix" it by adding hours to next week's claim - that will just make things worse. Good luck getting through on the phone!

when i was on unemployment last year i totally forgot about the waiting week and was freaking out when my first payment didnt come. called like 50 times lol. just remember u gotta keep filing every week even if u dont get paid that first one!!!!

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The waiting week really is confusing at first. To add to what others said - make sure you keep detailed records of when you file each week. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking my filing dates and payment status because it helped me stay organized and know exactly where I stood with my benefits. Also, don't panic if your first payment seems to take forever - that's totally normal with the waiting week delay. The system will catch up once everything processes correctly.