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Back to the tax question - make sure you also see if you qualify for the Tax Forgiveness program in PA. If your total income is below certain thresholds (which vary based on number of dependents), you might not owe any state tax on your UC benefits. This is especially important if unemployment was your main source of income last year. You'll need to fill out Schedule SP with your PA return to claim this benefit. The income limits are fairly generous.
Great to see you got it figured out! Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone else dealing with this - if you're using TurboTax and can't find the "Less Common Income" section, you can also search for "1099-G" in the search bar at the top and it should take you right to the unemployment income entry page. Also, definitely check that Tax Forgiveness program - I was surprised how many people qualify but don't know about it. The income thresholds are updated each year so even if you didn't qualify before, you might this time around!
That search tip is super helpful! I didn't know you could search for specific forms in TurboTax. Also really glad to hear about the Tax Forgiveness program - seems like a lot of people don't know about it. Quick question though - do you know if there's a deadline for applying for Tax Forgiveness or is it just part of filing your regular return?
So I've been collecting partial unemployment for about a year now and every Tuesday I get my deposit on my money network card at about 5:00 in the morning. The email I received says that the time stamp is around 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning. Which I always thought was weird. But the money was always there by 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. today for some reason nothing showing up nothing showing up pending has anyone else experienced this at all? There's no holidays there's no issues with my claim I have a transaction number. And an amount that was confirmed. Just wondering if anyone's experiencing any issues like this today or has experienced this in the past where for some strange reason the deposit was delayed. I'm not a fan of the money network card as it is but this just doesn't make any sense.
@Jen Snell I haven t'experienced this specific issue since I m'still waiting for my claim to be approved, but from what I ve'seen in other threads, PA UC payment timing can be unpredictable sometimes. It could be a processing delay on their end - maybe try checking again later today or tomorrow morning? If it doesn t'show up by tomorrow, you might want to call the Money Network customer service line the (number should be on the back of your card to) see if there s'an issue with the card itself. Hope it gets sorted out quickly!
I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and just got my Money Network card yesterday, but my claim status still shows "under review" with no details about what the hold-up is. Reading through everyone's comments here has been super helpful - I had no idea the card was just sent automatically to everyone who applies. The part about continuing to file weekly certifications even while under review is really important info that I almost missed. I've been doing them but wasn't sure if I should since nothing's been approved yet. Sounds like that would have been a costly mistake! I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service @Dana Doyle mentioned since calling PA UC directly seems like a waste of time based on everyone's experiences. Has anyone else tried it recently and can confirm it actually works? The regular phone system is absolutely useless - I've gotten nothing but busy signals for days. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. At least now I know the card doesn't mean anything special about my claim status, but I'll go ahead and activate it just to have it ready when/if my benefits get approved.
Update: I started the new job and so far it seems good! But I'm still nervous since my last two positions seemed stable at first too. At least now I know what to expect with UC if things go south again. Thanks everyone for the helpful info!
That's such a stressful situation to be in, but I'm glad you got some clarity here! I went through something similar a few years ago with unstable employment in the restaurant industry. One thing I learned is to also keep track of your exact start/end dates and hours worked at each job - UC sometimes asks for really specific details when you have multiple employers in your base year. Also, if you do end up needing to file again, try to do it online first thing Monday morning around 6 AM - that's when I've had the best luck getting through their system without crashes. Wishing you the best with your new position!
That's really good advice about keeping detailed records and the Monday morning filing tip! I've been pretty good about saving my pay stubs and employment letters, but I'll make sure to note down exact dates and hours too. The 6 AM thing is genius - I never would have thought of that timing. Hopefully I won't need to use any of this info, but it's reassuring to know there are strategies that actually work. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Good luck with getting this resolved! I went through a similar situation last year with my freelance graphic design work while on UC. Just wanted to add a couple things that helped me: When you submit the UC-1487 form, also include a cover letter explaining your situation clearly - mention that you've been operating the AirBnB for 2 years prior to unemployment and that your work hours/effort haven't increased. The examiners see tons of these cases and a clear summary helps. Also, if you do end up getting connected through Claimyr or finally get through to UC directly, ask them to add a note to your file that you're waiting for a sideline business determination. This can help prevent automated flags if there are any reporting inconsistencies while you're waiting. The waiting is definitely the worst part, but it sounds like you have a strong case for the sideline business exclusion given that you've been running it for 2 years. Keep us posted on how it goes!
This is such great advice about the cover letter! I wouldn't have thought to include that but it makes total sense - anything to make the examiner's job easier and help them understand my specific situation quickly. I'm definitely going to write up a clear summary explaining the 2-year history and consistent work hours. The tip about asking for a note on my file is also really smart - I've been worried about those automated flags you mentioned. It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through something similar and got it resolved. Thanks for taking the time to share these practical tips!
I've been dealing with a similar situation with my side business (dog walking/pet sitting) while on UC. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything week by week - the date I certified, which screens I saw, what income I reported, and screenshots of each step. The inconsistent certification screens are SO frustrating, but I found that clearing my browser cache before certifying each week seemed to help get more consistent results. Also, I always certify early Sunday morning (like 6-7 AM) when the system is less busy. Just wanted to echo what others said about continuing to certify while waiting for your determination - I made the mistake of stopping for 3 weeks thinking I shouldn't certify until I knew how to report properly, and it took months to get those weeks reinstated. The system definitely punishes you for NOT certifying more than for reporting incorrectly (as long as you're making a good faith effort). Hope you get through to someone soon! The waiting is absolutely the worst part of this whole process.
The spreadsheet tracking idea is brilliant! I wish I had started doing that from week one - I've been trying to remember what I reported each week and it's become a mess. I'm definitely going to set that up today and start taking screenshots of every screen. The browser cache tip is really helpful too - I never thought about that being part of the problem with the inconsistent screens. I'm so sorry you had to deal with losing those 3 weeks of benefits! That's exactly the kind of nightmare scenario I'm trying to avoid. It's crazy that the system punishes you more for not certifying than for potential reporting errors, but I guess that makes sense from their perspective. I'll make sure to keep certifying no matter what while waiting for the determination. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this confusing process!
Roger Romero
I work in HR (not giving legal advice) but I've seen many UC cases. Here's what often gets overlooked: If your employer did not enforce their attendance policy consistently, that MATTERS. Were other people allowed to have 3+ tardies without being fired? That's important. Also, did they ever formally warn you about your attendance before termination? If they didn't follow a progressive discipline process that they use with others, mention that. Lastly, UC referees are generally fair in my experience. They follow the law, not just what employers want. I've seen plenty of employees win these appeals when the facts support their case.
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Cole Roush
•Actually now that you mention it, I know at least two coworkers who had more tardies than me and just got verbal warnings. Should I bring that up? And yes, I never received any formal written warnings about my attendance before they fired me.
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Scarlett Forster
Yes, absolutely mention both of those points! Inconsistent enforcement of rules and lack of progressive discipline are both factors that can help your case. PA unemployment referees often consider these elements when determining if there was actual misconduct. Document the names of coworkers with similar or worse attendance who weren't fired if you can. The more specific details you can provide, the stronger your case will be. Best of luck with your hearing!
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Cole Roush
•Update: I WON MY APPEAL!!! The referee agreed that 3 tardies when policy allowed 5 wasn't willful misconduct, especially since two were due to documented bus delays. They're releasing all my back benefits now. Thanks everyone for your help and encouragement! This group was a lifesaver!
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Sofia Price
•Congratulations Cole! That's amazing news and such a relief! Your victory gives hope to others facing similar situations. It really shows how important it is to gather documentation and present the facts clearly. Thanks for updating us - stories like yours help other community members know that these appeals can be won when you're prepared. Enjoy those back benefits and best of luck with your job search!
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