I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the uncertainty is the worst part! Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like you have a really strong case for your appeal. That reorganization letter mentioning 12 positions is gold - it clearly shows this was a legitimate layoff, not misconduct. I've been reading through unemployment forums for months while dealing with my own claim issues, and the pattern everyone's describing (approval then quick disqualification due to employer reporting errors) is unfortunately super common with large employers like hospitals. Their HR systems often default to coding terminations as "discharge" even when it's actually a layoff. The good news is these cases usually get resolved favorably once a human reviews the actual evidence. File that appeal ASAP with all your documentation, keep certifying weekly, and try not to panic - you're going to get through this!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what happened to me recently since it sounds so similar to your situation! I got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant in January due to "economic restructuring" (they eliminated our entire quality control department). Got my approval letter for $394/week, then 5 days later received the disqualification notice citing Section 402(e) - misconduct. I was absolutely devastated because I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. After reading through posts like this one, I realized my employer probably reported it incorrectly in their system. I filed my appeal immediately and included my termination letter that clearly stated "position elimination due to restructuring" along with an email from my supervisor explaining the department closure. The hearing was nerve-wracking but straightforward - the referee could see it was obviously an employer reporting error. Took about 4 weeks total but I got approved and received all my back pay. The key things that helped me were: 1) Filing the appeal within 15 days, 2) Continuing to file weekly claims during the process, 3) Having clear documentation of the layoff reason, and 4) taking screenshots of everything in my dashboard. Your reorganization letter mentioning 12 positions being eliminated sounds like perfect evidence. Don't let this discourage you - from what I've learned lurking in these forums, hospital HR departments are notorious for these kinds of reporting mistakes. You've got this!

Based on what I've seen recently, the system is processing most standard claims (where there's no dispute about the reason for separation) within 2-3 weeks. The pandemic backlog is completely gone. However, there are still some common causes of delay: 1. Identity verification issues 2. Employer disputes about separation reason 3. Recent receipt of severance pay (needs to be properly reported) 4. Previous overpayments that haven't been resolved 5. Working part-time while claiming benefits If none of these apply to you, you should have a relatively smooth experience compared to 2021. And remember - if your claim shows 'Open Issue' status for more than 2 weeks, don't wait - call them to find out what's needed!

Filed for PA UC in November 2024 and got my first payment in exactly 3 weeks. Much better than the horror stories from 2021! A few things that really helped me: 1. I called the week after filing just to confirm everything looked good - caught a small issue with my employer's address that could have caused delays 2. Made sure to file my biweekly claims on the same day each time (Sundays work well) 3. Keep detailed records of your work search activities from day one - don't wait until they ask for proof The phone lines are still busy but not impossible like before. If you do need to call, try right when they open at 8am or around 4pm - had better luck those times. Good luck with your claim!

Great to hear you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for anyone else dealing with this - when you hit the benefit year end, make sure to keep filing your weekly certifications even while the new claim is being processed. Sometimes people think they should stop filing until the new claim is approved, but you need to maintain your filing schedule or you could lose benefits for those weeks. The system will backdate your new claim to cover any gap once it's approved, but only if you kept filing. Learned this the hard way during my first BYE transition!

Just went through this exact same situation last month! The benefit year end (BYE) requirement caught me completely off guard too. One thing I wish someone had told me - when you file the new claim, they'll ask about any work you did during your previous benefit year. Make sure you report ALL work, even short-term or part-time jobs, because they cross-reference with wage records. If there are discrepancies, it can delay your claim for weeks while they investigate. Also, if you had any overpayments or issues with your previous claim, now is when they might bring those up again. The whole process took about 10 days for me from filing to getting my first payment on the new claim. Hang in there!

I've been reading through this thread and wanted to add some insight from someone who recently went through the appeals process. I'm a retired nurse who gets a pension from the hospital system where I worked for 20 years, and I also work part-time at a seasonal garden center. When I first applied for UC after my seasonal layoff, I was completely honest about my pension but the system initially flagged my claim and reduced my benefits. I thought that was wrong based on what I'd read, so I requested a phone hearing to appeal the decision. During the hearing, the judge determined that since my hospital pension and garden center job were from completely different employers with no base year overlap, there should be NO reduction to my UC benefits. The key documentation that helped my case was: 1) My pension award letter showing the exact dates of my hospital employment, 2) Pay stubs from the garden center showing my recent work history, and 3) A statement I wrote explaining the timeline of both jobs. The whole appeals process took about 6 weeks, but I eventually got back-paid for all the weeks they had incorrectly reduced my benefits. My advice would be to apply honestly as everyone has suggested, but don't be afraid to appeal if they initially make a mistake on your claim. Sometimes the automated system gets it wrong, especially with more complex situations involving pensions. The appeals officers and judges seem to have a much better understanding of the nuanced rules. Good luck!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm actually in a very similar situation - I'm semi-retired and work seasonally at a Christmas tree farm that just laid everyone off for the winter. I have a pension from my old job at the county government that I worked at for 22 years. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity about how the "different employer" rule works. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else reading this - I called my pension administrator last week to ask about the timing of starting benefits, and they told me that once you start collecting a pension, you typically can't stop it and restart it later. So if you're thinking about delaying your pension like someone mentioned above, make sure you understand whether that's actually an option with your specific plan. Also, I noticed several people mentioned keeping detailed records. I'd recommend taking screenshots not just of your application, but also of the weekly certification questions about pension income. That way if there's ever a discrepancy, you have proof of exactly what you reported each week. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to save me a lot of stress and confusion when I apply next week!

I'm in a very similar boat! Got laid off from my warehouse job in December after 14 years, still working my part-time delivery gig on weekends, and just started an HVAC certification program. The whole UC system is so confusing when you're trying to better yourself! From what I've learned so far, you definitely need to keep doing those 2 weekly work searches even with school and part-time work. But I've been taking everyone's advice here about making them relevant - I focus on applying to maintenance positions at hospitals, schools, or office buildings where HVAC skills would be useful. Makes it feel less like busy work and more like I'm actually building toward something. The UC-1921W form is crucial - I just submitted mine last week after reading all these comments. Better safe than sorry, especially since it sounds like it protects you if UC questions your school schedule later. One thing that's helped me stay organized is using a simple notebook to track everything - my weekend delivery hours, what work searches I did each week, and any school-related activities that might count. Keeping it all in one place makes the weekly certifications way less stressful. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - it really helps to know we're not alone in trying to juggle all this stuff while getting back on our feet!

I'm dealing with a really similar situation right now! Got laid off from my logistics job in January after 11 years, still working my part-time evening cleaning job at a medical office, and just started a dental hygienist program. The work search requirement was stressing me out too, but after reading all these comments I feel way more confident about my approach. I've been focusing my applications on dental office positions - receptionist, dental assistant, or even sterilization tech roles. It's actually been helpful because I'm learning about different dental practices in my area and some have even mentioned they'd be interested in talking when I graduate! Definitely file that UC-1921W form ASAP. I submitted mine about a month ago and it gave me so much peace of mind knowing my program is officially documented with UC. The processing took about 3 weeks like others mentioned. One thing I've learned is to be super detailed when logging your work search activities. I write down the exact job title, company name, date applied, and how I applied (online, in person, etc.). Same with reporting my part-time hours - I keep a running total each week and double-check everything before submitting. It's tough juggling everything but reading all these success stories from people in similar situations gives me hope that we can make this work. The fact that so many people are using their layoffs to get into healthcare and skilled trades shows we're making smart moves for our futures! Good luck with nursing school - you're going to do great!