when this happened to me i just lied about my hours the next time so my claim wouldn't close again... probably not the best advice but it worked lol

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now, except I work part-time as a substitute teacher. My hours change every week depending on who needs coverage. It's such a headache having to potentially reopen my claim every other week! What I've started doing is calculating exactly how many hours I can work before hitting that 140% threshold, and then I try not to exceed it. Might be helpful for you too if your retail job will work with you on scheduling.

To answer your original question directly - yes, you can call and ask for a waiver, but based on current PA UC policies, they're very unlikely to grant it in your specific situation. If you do decide to call, be prepared with documentation showing your current part-time status and the written confirmation of your full-time transition date (if you have it). The more documentation you have, the better your chances, even if they're still slim.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! I've been part-time since December and keep getting stuck doing these pointless job searches when I already have work lined up. What's really helped me is treating the CareerLink workshops like @StarStrider mentioned - they have virtual ones almost every day and they count as your work search activities. I've been doing things like "Resume Writing Best Practices" and "Interview Skills" workshops instead of applying for random jobs. It feels way more productive and you're actually learning something useful. Plus some of the networking events they host are surprisingly good for making connections in your field, even if you're not actively job hunting.

I'm going through something really similar right now! Got my eligible determination on Monday and then the disqualification letter on Tuesday - it's like they're playing some cruel joke on us. From what I've learned lurking in this group, the "able and available" issue usually comes down to how you answered those weekly certification questions. I made the mistake of answering "no" to being available one week because I had a dentist appointment and thought I needed to be honest about not being available that specific day. Apparently that was wrong! The good news is that if the rep gave you specific payment dates, it sounds like they've already identified and fixed whatever triggered the disqualification. I'd definitely recommend checking your past weekly certifications like others suggested - you might find the exact week that caused the issue. Also, keep that chat transcript! I've heard so many horror stories about reps giving different information, so having documentation of what they told you about the 8/19 payment could be crucial if anything goes wrong. Fingers crossed we both get this sorted out soon. The stress of not knowing if money is coming is the worst part of all this.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this Ruby! The contradictory determinations are unfortunately really common with PA UC - I went through the exact same thing a few months ago and it was incredibly stressful. What likely happened is that your separation issue (the reason you lost your job) was approved, but there was a flag on your "able and available" status for one or more past weeks. This often happens when people accidentally answer "no" to being able/available on their weekly certifications - even something like having a doctor's appointment can trigger this if you're not careful how you answer. The good news is that the chat rep giving you specific dates (waiting week 8/12, payment for 8/19) suggests they've already identified and resolved whatever caused the disqualification for future weeks. That's actually a really positive sign! My advice: 1. Log into your UC account and check your past weekly certifications to see if you can spot where you might have answered differently 2. Keep that chat transcript - screenshot everything for your records 3. Going forward, always answer "yes" to able/available unless you're literally hospitalized or something that prevents you from working entirely 4. If you do need to appeal the disqualification for past weeks, you have 15 days from the determination date Hang in there - it sounds like you're actually in a much better position than it initially seemed!

Good luck with your certification on Sunday! Just a heads up - when you report your earnings, make sure you report the gross amount (before taxes) for all hours worked this week, including Monday-Wednesday before you reopened. The system is pretty good at calculating the partial benefits automatically once you enter the correct wage info. Hope you get your payment processed quickly!

Just wanted to add - if you're getting reduced hours like this regularly, you might want to look into keeping a simple log of your weekly hours/earnings. I learned this the hard way when PA UC asked me to verify my earnings history during a review. Having records of when your hours dropped below full-time can really help if they ever question your eligibility for partial benefits. Also, some employers try to schedule you just under the threshold where you'd qualify for UC - knowing your rights helps you advocate for yourself!

I was actually able to get through to UC yesterday! I used that call service someone mentioned and got connected pretty quickly. The agent was super helpful and put detailed notes in my file explaining the situation. She said it was good I submitted the form with

That's great news that you got through and got it sorted out! For anyone else dealing with this - documentation is absolutely key. Always keep screenshots of any communications with your employer about your employment status. PA UC really does try to catch people on technicalities with these forms, but if you have proof that the employer initiated the separation (like Caleb's text message), you should be fine. The system is definitely frustrating but it sounds like you handled it the right way by being persistent and getting an agent to document everything properly.