btw if u worked at a school have u tried applying at daycares or afterschool programs?? they always need people with experience working w/ kids and it might be easier to get in there vs regular office jobs esp if u have special needs experience

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help while you're job searching. Since you have experience with special needs students, you might want to look into home health aide or personal care assistant positions. Many families need support workers for children or adults with disabilities, and your school district experience would be valuable. Companies like Comfort Keepers, Home Instead, and Visiting Angels are often hiring. The pay is usually decent and some offer flexible scheduling. Also, don't forget to check with your local Area Agency on Aging - they sometimes have listings for disability support services. Hope this helps and good luck with your job search!

So glad to see this worked out! Your situation is exactly why I always tell people in seasonal work to keep filing weekly - even when things get uncertain. The fact that you were honest about the childcare emergency and it was approved shows the system does work when you follow the proper procedures. Thanks for updating us on the outcome, it's really helpful for others who might face similar situations with their seasonal UC claims.

This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with seasonal work and UC! I'm new to the community but have been struggling with similar questions about my part-time restaurant job that has unpredictable scheduling. Reading through everyone's experiences really helps clarify the process. It's encouraging to see that @Yuki Watanabe's honest approach with reporting the childcare emergency actually worked out - I was under the impression that any missed work would automatically disqualify you. The advice about continuing to file weekly even during uncertain periods makes so much sense now. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially the detailed explanations about PA UC regulations and "good cause" exceptions!

I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother, Malik. Losing a parent is devastating and you shouldn't feel guilty about not being able to handle work immediately after such a traumatic event. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like you have a good chance on appeal even though PA UC will likely deny you initially. The fact that you've already started grief counseling shows you're taking steps to address your mental health, which will help your case. Make sure to emphasize in your appeal that your mother's death was sudden and unexpected, and that you were in such severe emotional distress that you couldn't think clearly enough to request leave. A reasonable person in your situation would understand why continuing to work felt impossible. Stay strong and don't give up if they deny you first - many people win these appeals when they have legitimate good cause like you do.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Malik. Losing your mom suddenly like that is incredibly traumatic. You did what you felt you had to do in an impossible situation - don't beat yourself up about not requesting leave first. When you're in the middle of grief that intense, you're just trying to survive moment to moment. The fact that everyone here is telling you similar stories and many won their appeals should give you confidence. PA UC might deny you initially but that's just their standard playbook. With your documentation (death certificate, therapy letter, etc.) and the sudden nature of your loss, you have a strong case for good cause. Take care of yourself first - the appeals process is manageable when you're ready for it.

UPDATE: I finally got through the application process for my new benefit year. For anyone who might have a similar situation in the future - yes, you MUST file a new application after your benefit year ends, even if you still have a balance. I did lose the remaining balance from my previous claim, but my new weekly benefit amount is actually $25 higher because of the temp work I did. They scheduled me for a phone interview next week to review my job search activities. Thanks everyone for the advice! This process would have been so much more confusing without your help.

I went through this exact same situation back in March! The "standby status" is basically PA UC's way of saying your claim is in limbo while they wait for you to file a new application. Don't panic - this is totally normal when your benefit year ends. Here's what I learned the hard way: you absolutely MUST file a new claim even with money left in your balance. That remaining $2,600 will unfortunately disappear - it doesn't roll over to your new benefit year. I know it feels unfair, but that's how the system works. The good news is that since you worked temp jobs during your benefit year, those wages will count toward your new claim calculation. My weekly amount actually went up by $40 because of part-time work I did while collecting benefits. Pro tip: keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the new application to process! I missed one week because I thought I had to wait, and it created a whole mess to fix later.

Hey Malik, congrats on winning your appeal! I just went through this same situation a few months ago. From what I experienced and what I've seen others post here, the timeline is usually 5-7 business days for the system to update after an appeal win. The frustrating part is that it's not automatic - a human has to manually process the referee's decision and flip your status from disqualified to eligible. A couple things that might help while you wait: First, definitely keep filing your weekly certifications like others mentioned. Second, try logging in at different times of day - sometimes the system updates overnight and you might catch it early morning. Third, when it does update, all your back weeks should automatically become payable and you'll get a lump sum for everything you were wrongfully denied. I know the waiting is stressful, especially with rent hanging over your head. But having solid evidence like you did usually means a clean win, and once the system catches up, you should be all set. The fact that the referee called you right after the hearing is actually a really good sign - shows it was a clear-cut decision in your favor. Hang in there!

Congrats on winning your appeal, Malik! I went through the exact same thing about 6 months ago - won my appeal but then had to wait for the system to catch up. In my case, it took 9 business days for my claim status to flip from disqualified to eligible. I remember checking obsessively multiple times a day! Here's what I learned: The referee's decision has to go through several processing steps before it hits your account. First it goes to a claims examiner who reviews the decision, then they have to manually update your claim status, and finally each individual week gets processed for payment. It's all manual work which is why it takes time. The good news is that once it updates, you'll get all your back pay in one lump sum. I received payment for 8 weeks all at once when mine finally processed. Make sure your direct deposit info is current because that's the fastest way to get your money. One tip - when you do start getting payments again, take screenshots of everything just in case there are any future glitches. I learned that lesson the hard way when I had a different issue later on. The waiting is brutal when you're stressed about rent, but it sounds like you have a solid win so it's just a matter of time now!