Congratulations on landing the new job! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - make sure to keep documentation of that $80 payment (pay stub, direct deposit record, etc.) in case PA UC ever audits your claim later. I had to provide proof of earnings from 8 months prior when they did a random review of my case. Also, since you mentioned budgeting for the transition week, remember that your unemployment payment might come a day or two later than usual if their system flags the earnings report for manual review (even though it shouldn't affect your benefit amount). Better to plan for a slight delay just in case!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with this exact situation! I had a similar 4-hour orientation before starting my new job last month and was worried about the same thing. Like everyone said, the 30% rule saved me - I got my full benefit amount that week even though I reported the small earnings from orientation. One thing I learned though is to make sure you answer "yes" when they ask if you're able and available for work during that certification week, since the 4 hours of training doesn't make you unavailable for other full-time opportunities. PA UC processed it smoothly and I got paid as usual. Best of luck with the new job!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just filed my claim on February 12th (a Wednesday) and was completely confused when they told me my waiting week wouldn't start until this coming Sunday. I honestly thought I had done something wrong during the filing process and was ready to call and try to re-file! Reading through all these experiences has been such a relief - it's clear that PA's Sunday-Saturday rule trips up pretty much everyone who doesn't file on a Sunday. The train schedule analogy really helped it click for me too. It's honestly frustrating that such a simple explanation could prevent so much anxiety if PA just included it on their filing page. I was up half the night worried I was going to lose benefits! Now I understand I'm not actually missing out on anything, just dealing with their specific calendar system. Going to make sure I file all my weekly certifications consistently and keep detailed records of my work search activities. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this thread has been a total lifesaver for understanding how this process actually works!

I just filed my claim on February 18th and was having this exact same confusion! Thank you so much to everyone who explained the Sunday-Saturday rule - it finally makes sense now why my waiting week starts this coming Sunday instead of when I actually filed. I was honestly spiraling thinking I had somehow messed up the entire process. The train schedule analogy really helped it click for me too - you can't count a partial trip! It's incredible how many people have gone through this identical panic. PA really needs to add a simple explanation about their weekly calendar system right on the filing page because this confusion seems almost universal. I was ready to call and re-file everything! Now I understand I'm not losing any benefits, just dealing with their specific timing rules. Going to make sure I stay consistent with weekly certifications and keep detailed job search records from day one. This community has been absolutely amazing for helping newcomers like me understand what PA should have explained upfront!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Just got terminated from my warehouse job last week for hitting their attendance point limit after missing several days due to a really bad case of bronchitis that turned into pneumonia. Even though I had medical documentation from my doctor and the ER, plus followed all their call-out procedures perfectly, their point system doesn't care about the reasons - you're just absent, period. I was absolutely terrified to apply for UC benefits because I thought being "fired" automatically meant I'd be denied, but reading through all these experiences has been such an eye-opener! It sounds like Pennsylvania really does examine the specific circumstances behind attendance-related terminations, especially when you have legitimate medical reasons like we do. I applied yesterday and made sure to be extremely detailed about each absence, the medical reasons, and included all my documentation - doctor's notes, ER discharge papers, pharmacy receipts, everything. I'm expecting my employer to contest it based on what everyone's saying, but it's really encouraging to see how many people with similar situations have been approved on appeal. The advice about starting work search activities immediately and keeping detailed logs has been super helpful - I had no idea you needed to do that even while waiting for a decision. Also the reminder about back pay covering from the application date is exactly what I needed to hear for my own rent panic! Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these unfair point systems that treat genuine illness the same as just skipping work. Fingers crossed we all get through this okay!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress right now! I went through something very similar about 6 months ago when I got terminated from my job at a major grocery chain for attendance points after getting hit with a really nasty stomach virus that kept me out for several days. Just like your situation, I had proper medical documentation and followed all their call-out procedures, but their point system doesn't differentiate between legitimate illness and just choosing not to show up. I was initially terrified to apply for UC because I thought being "fired" automatically meant denial, but Pennsylvania really does look at the specific circumstances behind attendance terminations. The key is proving your absences were due to circumstances beyond your control - which genuine illness with medical documentation definitely is! I ended up getting approved after about 4 weeks, even though my employer contested it automatically (seems like standard practice for these big companies). The appeals process was actually pretty straightforward - I just had to present my medical records and explain each absence. The hearing officer made it clear that documented illness isn't considered willful misconduct under PA law. My advice: apply immediately if you haven't already, be extremely detailed about each absence and include ALL your medical documentation, and start keeping detailed logs of your job applications right away (PA requires 3 work search activities per week). Don't get discouraged if there's an initial denial - most people with legitimate medical situations win on appeal. Remember that any benefits will include back pay from when you first applied, which should help with your rent situation. You have proper documentation and followed the right procedures - that puts you in a really strong position. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now too! My claim was approved last Tuesday and it's been stuck on "in progress" since Wednesday. I was getting so anxious about it, especially since I have rent due next week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea this was just standard processing time. It's wild how many of us are all experiencing this simultaneously! The timeline breakdown from @Aliyah Debovski really helped me understand this is just how their payment batching system works. Still stressful when you're depending on the funds, but now I know to expect the payment date to show up in the next business day or two rather than panicking that something went wrong with my approval. Thanks to everyone for sharing - it really helps to know we're all in the same boat waiting for the system to process!

I'm experiencing the exact same thing right now! My claim was approved on Friday and it's been showing "in progress" since Monday morning. I was really starting to worry that something went wrong with my approval, especially after waiting so long for the initial review. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I had no idea this was just their standard processing time! It's amazing to see how many people are going through this identical situation. The timeline @Aliyah Debovski provided really helped me understand that we're all just waiting in the normal payment queue for the next batch to process. It's definitely stressful when you're counting on the money for upcoming expenses, but now I know to expect movement in the next couple of business days rather than constantly refreshing hoping for instant updates. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this waiting game!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to reach out because your situation really highlights how broken the childcare system is, especially in rural areas. What you're going through sounds incredibly stressful, and I think it's important that you know you're not alone in facing these impossible choices between work and your children's safety. From reading through all the responses here, it seems like you have a really solid case for unemployment benefits. The combination of your documented accommodation requests, the 20+ job applications within your company, and the sudden safety crisis with your previous childcare provider creates a compelling narrative that you truly exhausted all options before quitting. One thing that hasn't been mentioned much is that you might want to consider reaching out to local social services or family resource centers while you're waiting for your UC decision. Even in rural areas, there are sometimes emergency childcare assistance programs or sliding-scale daycare options that aren't widely advertised. It won't help with your current UC claim, but it might provide some backup options as you look for new employment. Also, don't let anyone make you feel guilty about prioritizing your children's safety. A 15-minute schedule accommodation after 4+ years of employment should have been completely reasonable, and their refusal to work with you shows they weren't acting in good faith either. You made the right choice protecting your kids, and hopefully the UC system will recognize that. Keep us updated on how your case progresses!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share some encouragement as someone who recently went through a similar UC appeals process in PA. Your situation sounds like it has all the right elements for approval - the documented accommodation requests, safety concerns for your children, and the rural childcare desert you're dealing with. One thing that really helped my case was creating a simple one-page timeline that I could reference during my phone interview. It showed: when my childcare situation changed, each date I requested help from my employer, when they denied me, and finally when I had no choice but to quit. Having that visual really helped me stay focused and not get flustered during the interview. Also, since you mentioned you're finishing college courses - that actually might work in your favor too. It shows you're actively working toward improving your employment prospects and weren't just looking for an excuse to quit. Make sure to mention that you're a student when you speak with UC representatives. The fact that your employer used the union negotiations as a blanket excuse to deny ALL schedule changes seems particularly unfair, especially for such a minor 15-minute adjustment after you'd been there 4+ years. That kind of inflexibility from management often doesn't look good to UC reviewers. Stay strong - you clearly did everything possible before making this difficult decision!