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I went through RESEA about a month ago and completely understand your nervousness! I had the exact same concerns after reading horror stories online. Here's what actually happened: my appointment was at the Allentown CareerLink office and took exactly 90 minutes. The counselor was really professional and started by explaining that RESEA is designed to help, not penalize people. She thoroughly reviewed my work search records (bring printed copies with company names, dates, positions applied for, and application method - this is crucial!), helped me optimize my resume keywords for online applications, and showed me how to set up customized job alerts on PA CareerLink. The most valuable part was when she identified some local employers I hadn't considered and explained how to research company culture before applying. She also mentioned that some people get selected for a follow-up appointment in 6-8 weeks, but not everyone. At the end, you get a completion certificate that you must upload to your UC dashboard within 5 business days - set a phone reminder for this! The whole experience was actually helpful and way less intimidating than I expected. Just schedule ASAP since appointments book out 2-3 weeks, arrive 10 minutes early, and bring all your documentation. You've got this!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for being so thorough about what to expect. I'm actually in the Allentown area too, so it's really helpful to know specifically how that office handles things. The 90-minute timeframe seems pretty consistent with what everyone else has shared, which helps me plan my day. I'm definitely going to set that phone reminder for uploading the certificate - I can already picture myself forgetting that step and then panicking about it! The part about optimizing resume keywords for online applications sounds super valuable since I've been wondering if that's why I'm not getting responses. I'm feeling much more confident about this whole process now thanks to everyone sharing their experiences. Going to call first thing Monday to schedule and make sure I have all my work search documentation printed and organized. Thanks again for taking the time to share such detailed info!
I went through RESEA about 2 months ago and totally understand your anxiety! I was selected randomly after about 6 weeks of claiming benefits. The whole process was actually much more helpful than I expected. My appointment at the Pittsburgh CareerLink office lasted about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The counselor was really knowledgeable and patient - she reviewed my work search activities in detail (definitely bring printed records with company names, dates, and application methods), helped me revamp my resume to better highlight transferable skills, and showed me advanced search features on PA CareerLink I never knew existed. She also connected me with a local networking group in my industry. The most important things: don't miss your appointment (they're very strict about this affecting benefits), bring all documentation organized and printed, and arrive a few minutes early. At the end you get a completion certificate to upload to your UC dashboard within 5 business days. The whole experience actually boosted my confidence and gave me some concrete new job search strategies. Schedule as soon as you can since appointments book out 2-3 weeks. You'll do great!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience from the Pittsburgh office! It's really encouraging to hear that it actually boosted your confidence and gave you concrete strategies. I've been feeling pretty discouraged with my job search lately, so the idea that this could actually help rather than just being another hurdle is really motivating. The networking group connection sounds amazing - I hadn't even thought about that as a potential benefit. I'm definitely going to make sure I have everything printed and organized before I go. It's also helpful to know the timing since I'll need to plan around my current job search activities. Everyone's responses have really helped calm my nerves about this whole process. I'm going to call tomorrow to schedule my appointment and stop overthinking it!
I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation! Got my disqualification notice yesterday for missing the CareerLink registration deadline and I'm honestly kicking myself for not knowing about this requirement. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring though - especially seeing Owen's successful resolution in 4 business days and Kara's in 5 days. I completed my registration this morning and it shows as "Completed" on the CareerLink portal, so now I'm just playing the waiting game. It's such a relief to know that the system does update automatically, even if it takes a few business days. I'm definitely going to keep filing my weekly certifications and stay on top of my work search activities going forward. Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - this community is honestly a lifesaver when navigating all the confusing UC requirements!
@Brooklyn Foley You re'definitely in good company - it seems like the CareerLink registration requirement catches a lot of people off guard! The fact that your registration already shows as Completed "is" a great sign. Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, you should see your disqualification lifted sometime between Thursday and early next week. I know the waiting is stressful, but try not to refresh your UC portal every hour easier (said than done, I know! .)The automatic system update really does seem to work consistently based on everyone s'stories here. Just keep doing those weekly certifications and work search activities like you planned. You ve'got this!
I just went through this same exact situation two months ago and wanted to share my experience! Like many of you, I completely missed the CareerLink registration deadline and got hit with the disqualification. I was panicking because I couldn't afford to miss any payments. I completed my registration on a Tuesday afternoon, and my benefits were restored the following Monday - so it took about 4 business days, which matches Owen's timeline perfectly. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely must continue filing your weekly certifications even while disqualified, and make sure you're doing your work search activities. I also took screenshots of everything (my completed CareerLink registration, my weekly filings, etc.) just to have documentation in case there were any issues later. The waiting period is nerve-wracking, but the system really does update automatically. For anyone currently going through this - hang in there! The stress is temporary and it will get resolved.
I'm in a similar situation - my hours just got cut from 35 to 20 per week at my warehouse job. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful! I had no idea about the work search requirements for partial UC. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - when you're doing the weekly claims, do you report your gross pay before taxes or after taxes? And is there a specific day of the week that's better to file your weekly claim? I want to make sure I do everything right from the start. Thanks!
You report your gross pay (before taxes) when filing your weekly claims. This is super important - they want to know your total earnings before any deductions. As for timing, you can file your weekly claim starting on Sunday for the previous week, but I'd recommend filing on the same day each week to stay consistent. Most people I know file on Sunday or Monday. Just make sure you file every single week even if you're still waiting for your initial claim to be approved - you can't go back and claim those weeks later if you miss them!
I just went through this process myself a few months ago when my retail hours got slashed from 32 to 16 per week. The partial UC benefits definitely helped bridge the gap while I looked for additional work. One thing I wish someone had told me upfront - when you're reporting your weekly earnings, make sure you include ALL income from that week, even if it's from different pay periods. I made the mistake early on of only reporting based on when I got paid rather than when I actually worked those hours, and it caused some confusion with my claim. Also, don't be discouraged if your first few weekly benefit amounts seem lower than expected - it takes a couple weeks for the system to calculate your exact benefit rate based on your reported earnings. The key is staying consistent with filing every week and keeping detailed records of everything!
This is such great advice about reporting earnings for the actual work week vs when you get paid! I'm just starting this process and hadn't thought about that distinction. Quick follow-up question - if my employer pays me biweekly but my work schedule spans across different UC claim weeks, do I need to calculate and split up my paycheck to match the specific weeks I worked? Like if I worked Mon-Wed one week and Thu-Fri the next week, but got one paycheck covering both weeks? I want to make sure I'm reporting everything correctly from the beginning.
I just wanted to echo what others have said about being persistent with the process. I went through WIOA training for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in 2023 and it completely changed my career trajectory. The program was 100% covered including books, supplies, and even help with transportation costs. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that some training providers have direct partnerships with CareerLink, which can streamline the approval process. When I was researching programs, I found that certain community colleges and vocational schools already had pre-approved curriculum with WIOA, so the funding approval was much faster. Also, don't overlook the job placement assistance that comes with these programs. My training provider had relationships with local hospitals and nursing facilities, and I had a job offer before I even finished the program. The pay increase from my previous warehouse job was significant too. For anyone on the fence about this - healthcare is desperately short-staffed right now, especially in entry-level positions like CNA, Medical Assistant, and Phlebotomy. It's truly a great time to make this career switch with government support!
This is such valuable insight about the job placement assistance - I hadn't even thought about that benefit! The fact that you had a job offer before finishing the program is incredible. Can I ask what kind of pay increase you saw moving from warehouse work to CNA? I'm currently making about $16/hour in my warehouse job, so I'm curious if healthcare entry-level positions are competitive salary-wise. Also, do you know if the pre-approved partnerships vary by region, or is there a way to find out which schools in my area have those streamlined WIOA arrangements? Thanks for sharing your success story - it's really encouraging to hear from someone who made a similar career transition!
I'm so grateful for this entire thread! I was just laid off from my retail job three weeks ago and have been feeling really lost about what to do next. Healthcare has always interested me but I never thought I could afford the training. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially Aisha's success story and Amun-Ra's career transformation - has given me the confidence to finally take action. I'm planning to call CareerLink tomorrow to schedule my appointment. Based on everything I've read here, I'm going to ask specifically about WIOA funding for Medical Assistant or CNA programs, bring all my documentation, and be prepared to be persistent throughout the process. One quick question for the group: For those who completed healthcare training through these programs, how supportive were your instructors about working with students who were career-changers versus traditional students? I'm a bit nervous about being in classes with people who might be much younger or have more recent education experience. Any advice for someone who hasn't been in a classroom setting for over 10 years? Thank you all for sharing such detailed, helpful information. This community is amazing!
Sean O'Brien
This entire thread should honestly be pinned or turned into a FAQ! As someone who's been working remotely from PA for a California-based company for 2 years, I had absolutely no clue about any of these wage reporting complications. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and slightly terrifying - I could easily find myself in the exact same situation if I ever get laid off. The checklist that's emerged from all your collective wisdom is gold: verify wage reporting state with HR/payroll, keep detailed documentation of home office setup, save all paystubs and employment letters, and be prepared for potential interstate delays. It's crazy that in 2025 we still don't have streamlined systems for what's become such a common work arrangement. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions - this is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that makes this community so valuable!
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Victoria Brown
•I completely agree this should be pinned! As someone just starting to work remotely from PA for a company in another state, this thread has been incredibly valuable. It's concerning how many potential pitfalls there are that most people (including me) would never think about until it's too late. The fact that even HR departments don't always know which state they're reporting wages to really highlights how unprepared everyone was for the remote work boom. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and follow the checklist you outlined - verify reporting state, document everything, keep records. It's frustrating that remote workers essentially have to become experts in interstate employment law just to protect themselves, but at least this community is sharing the knowledge to help each other navigate it!
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Kaylee Cook
This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! As someone who just started working remotely from PA for a New York-based company, I'm realizing I need to get ahead of this potential issue. After reading all these stories, I'm going to contact our payroll department tomorrow to confirm which state they're reporting my wages to. It's mind-boggling that in 2025, with remote work being so common, we still don't have clear, standardized processes for these situations. The documentation checklist that's emerged from everyone's experiences (paystubs, home office photos, utility bills, employer letters) is going to be my new remote work safety net. It shouldn't be necessary, but clearly it is. Thanks for turning what could have been individual nightmares into community knowledge that helps protect other remote workers!
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Keisha Jackson
•This really has become such a comprehensive resource! I'm also a remote worker in PA (for a company based in Ohio) and had no idea about any of these potential complications until stumbling across this thread. The collective knowledge here is incredible - it's like getting a crash course in remote work unemployment pitfalls that nobody warns you about when you start a remote job. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about proactively checking with payroll and documenting everything. It's wild that we have to essentially create our own safety protocols for what should be a straightforward process. Hopefully as more companies and government systems catch up to remote work reality, these kinds of complications will become less common. But until then, this community knowledge-sharing is absolutely essential!
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