This thread is super helpful! I'm in a similar boat - just filed for UC after being laid off from my logistics job where I was working 60+ hours a week for the past year. I was also worried about whether all that overtime would cause problems with my benefit calculation. Reading everyone's explanations really cleared things up. It makes sense that PA would include ALL earnings since they're all wages that had unemployment tax withheld. I guess I was just nervous because the financial determination letter doesn't really break down HOW they calculate everything - it just gives you the final number. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences! It's reassuring to know that working all those extra hours actually helps rather than hurts when it comes to unemployment benefits. Now I can focus on job searching instead of worrying about potential overpayment issues.

I'm actually dealing with this exact same concern right now! Just got laid off from my manufacturing job where I was pulling 55-60 hour weeks consistently for the last 10 months. When I saw my determination letter showing a high weekly benefit amount, my first thought was "this has to be wrong" and I started panicking about potential overpayments. But reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It's clear that PA absolutely does include ALL your earnings - regular hours AND overtime - when calculating your weekly benefit amount. Since overtime wages have the same unemployment tax withheld as regular wages, they count the same way toward your benefit calculation. I think the confusion comes from the fact that the determination letters don't really explain HOW they calculate everything - they just give you the final numbers. But it sounds like once that monetary determination is issued, that's your locked-in benefit amount based on the official wage records they have on file. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here! It's such a relief to know that all those long hours and extra shifts actually work in our favor when it comes to UC benefits. Now I can stop worrying about overpayments and focus on finding a new job.

Wow, this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm coming up on my benefit year end next month and was already stressing about the timing. Reading everyone's experiences here makes it crystal clear - file the new claim immediately, don't wait around overthinking it like I was planning to do. It's honestly ridiculous how confusing PA UC makes this process when it's something that happens to everyone annually. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it when my time comes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, both the success stories and the cautionary tales about waiting too long. This community is so much more helpful than the official PA UC guidance!

Reading through this whole thread as someone who just went through their first benefit year transition - wow, what a learning experience! I made the same mistake of overthinking the timing and almost waited until Sunday to file. Thankfully I stumbled across some advice similar to what everyone's sharing here and filed my new claim the day after my benefit year ended. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected once I stopped second-guessing myself. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned - make sure you have all your employer information handy when you file the new claim, especially if you had multiple jobs during your base period. The system asks for a lot of the same info as your original claim, but having it organized ahead of time makes the process much faster. Great thread everyone - this kind of real-world advice is exactly what people need when navigating PA UC!

I've been through a similar situation in PA and want to add something important - make sure you organize your evidence clearly before the hearing. Label the write-up as "Exhibit A" or something similar so you can reference it easily during testimony. Also, if you have any witnesses who can testify about what actually happened (coworkers who heard the conversation), consider having them available by phone during the hearing. The referee will appreciate your preparation and organization. When employers contradict their own written records, it seriously damages their credibility. You've got this!

I went through a PA UC hearing last year where my former employer tried to embellish the reasons for my termination beyond what was in their original documentation. The key thing that helped me win was being extremely organized and prepared. I created a timeline of events, labeled all my evidence clearly, and practiced explaining the discrepancies calmly and factually. When the employer started adding details that weren't in the write-up, I simply said "I'd like to reference Exhibit A, the disciplinary notice from [date], which only documents [specific language from write-up]." The referee immediately picked up on the inconsistency. Also, don't forget that you can ask questions during the hearing too - if they claim you said things not mentioned in the write-up, you can ask them why those alleged statements weren't documented at the time if they were serious enough to warrant termination. Stay confident - the fact that you have contemporaneous documentation on your side is huge!

UPDATE: I got through on the phone after trying like 8 times! The actual ATM limit is $500 but you can go to a bank teller with your ID and card and withdraw up to $1000 in cash. Also my login problem was because I was trying to create my account too soon after activation. For anyone else with this problem, they said wait 48 hours after activating the card before trying to set up online access. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just want to add that if you're having trouble with the Money Network website, you can also download their mobile app which sometimes works better than the browser version. I had login issues for days on the website but the app worked immediately. Also, most Sheetz locations let you do cash back with no fees up to $100 per transaction if you buy something small like a drink. Not ideal for large amounts but helpful in a pinch when ATMs are charging $3-5 fees.

This is absolutely ridiculous and unfortunately way too common. I'm going through something similar right now - my employer has rescheduled twice claiming they need "additional documentation" but I suspect they're just buying time hoping I'll find another job or give up. What's really frustrating is that they had months to gather their so-called documentation before the initial hearing was even scheduled! From what I've researched, PA referees are supposed to be stricter about granting postponements after the first one, but it seems like enforcement is inconsistent. Definitely follow the advice about calling the Board of Review directly - I'm planning to do the same thing this week. Stay strong and don't let them wear you down, which is exactly what they're counting on!

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! My former employer has postponed my appeal hearing FOUR times - first for a "scheduling conflict," then claiming their legal rep was unavailable, then saying they needed more documentation, and now they're claiming a "family emergency" for their HR director. It's been over 3 months and I'm starting to think this is their strategy to make me give up. The financial stress is overwhelming and I feel like the system is completely broken. Reading through all these responses gives me hope though - I had no idea there were specific phone numbers to call or that I could file complaints about delay tactics. I'm definitely calling that Board of Review number tomorrow morning and documenting everything. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - it helps to know I'm not alone in this frustrating situation!