I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! I'm a roofer and got laid off twice this winter already due to weather. Both times I filed what I thought was a "new claim" and got hit with the waiting week. Reading through all these responses, I now realize I should have been reopening my existing claim instead. This is so frustrating - the PA UC website really doesn't make this clear at all. @Christopher Morgan thanks for posting this question because I was starting to think I was going crazy! Going to try the reopening process next time and hopefully avoid another waiting week. Really wish they had better instructions for seasonal workers who deal with this constantly.

This thread is a goldmine for anyone dealing with seasonal layoffs! I'm a landscaper and have been through this exact same nightmare multiple times. The fact that so many of us have made the same mistake really shows how poorly designed the PA UC system is for seasonal workers. What's really frustrating is that construction, roofing, landscaping - we're all dealing with the same weather-related layoff cycles, yet there's no clear guidance anywhere about how to handle repeated claims with the same employer. I've probably lost thousands in benefits over the years because of this waiting week confusion. Going to share this thread with my crew because I know at least half of them have probably made the same mistake. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really helpful to know we're not alone in this mess!

To address your follow-up question - there's currently no way for claimants to hide or remove these displays from their dashboards. It would require a system-wide update from the PA UC technical team. If it's genuinely bothering you, you can submit a message through your dashboard about the display issue, but I wouldn't expect any immediate changes. Just continue with your current claim and try to ignore the pandemic program displays.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Just filed a new claim after being laid off and saw those old pandemic benefits sitting there like some kind of cruel joke. It's honestly pretty frustrating that PA hasn't bothered to clean up their system after all these years - makes you wonder what other outdated info is floating around in there. Thanks everyone for confirming it's just a glitch, I was getting my hopes up for a second there! 😅

Congratulations on getting through the hearing! It sounds like you were really well-prepared and that made all the difference. The fact that your employer couldn't provide any documentation when the referee asked is a huge red flag for their case - employers are supposed to have policies in writing and proof that employees were trained on them if they're going to claim policy violations. I've seen so many cases where companies try to claim misconduct after the fact but have nothing to back it up. The referee asking for specific documentation and them coming up empty-handed is exactly what you want to see. Keep checking your correspondence regularly for the decision - it usually comes as a determination letter. Really hoping this works out in your favor after all the stress you've been through!

I'm so glad to hear your hearing went well! The fact that they couldn't provide any documentation when the referee specifically asked for it is a really strong indicator that you'll win this appeal. Employers love to throw around accusations of "policy violations" and "misconduct" but when push comes to shove, they often can't produce the actual written policies or proof that employees were properly trained on them. It sounds like your former employer is just fishing for reasons to deny your benefits after the fact. The referee has probably seen this exact scenario hundreds of times before. Stay positive - most decisions come within 7-10 business days, and based on what you've described, I'd be very surprised if they rule against you. Thanks for keeping us updated on your case!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at UC this morning! The rep explained that my former employer is claiming $4,200 of my earnings were actually "expense reimbursements" not wages (they weren't - it was a performance bonus they're now trying to reclassify). I uploaded all my paystubs showing the money was paid as regular wages with taxes withheld. The rep said this should be resolved within 7-10 business days and that I should receive all back payments once it's cleared up. Thanks everyone for your help! This forum has been so much more useful than the official UC website.

Wow, this is such a frustrating situation but I'm glad you got it resolved! Your story is exactly why I always tell people to keep EVERY piece of documentation from their jobs - paystubs, direct deposits, bonus letters, everything. What really gets me is how employers think they can just retroactively change how they classified payments once someone files for UC. A performance bonus that had taxes withheld is clearly wages, not expense reimbursements! The audacity is unreal. For anyone else dealing with this - don't let employers intimidate you. If they paid you money and withheld taxes, those are wages that count toward your UC benefits regardless of what creative accounting they try to do months later. Keep fighting and document everything!

This is such a frustrating situation but unfortunately pretty common in PA. I went through something similar where an old employer from my base period contested my claim months after I'd been laid off from a different job. The key thing to remember is that you have rights in this process - don't let them intimidate you into giving up. When you get your hearing scheduled, make sure to have all your documentation ready: termination letter, final pay stub, any emails or texts about being let go, employment contract if you had one. Also, if you have any coworkers who witnessed your layoff or can vouch for your employment status, their contact info might be helpful. The hearing officers are usually pretty good at seeing through bogus employer claims if you come prepared with facts. Hang in there!

This is such a common issue and it's really frustrating that PA doesn't explain this better to claimants upfront. I work in HR and see this happen all the time - employers from your base period absolutely can contest claims even if they're not your most recent employer. What many people don't realize is that all base period employers pay unemployment taxes that fund your benefits, so they have skin in the game financially. The good news is that if they're claiming you quit voluntarily, they need to provide documentation proving that - it's not just your word against theirs. Make sure you respond to every single piece of correspondence within the deadlines they give you, and start gathering any evidence you have about being let go (emails, texts, termination letter, final pay stub, etc). Don't let them wear you down - you earned these benefits!