I just want to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! As someone who's about to turn 65 and face unemployment for the first time in decades, I was really anxious about navigating both Social Security and unemployment benefits. Reading all of your real experiences and practical advice has been incredibly reassuring. I feel so much more prepared now - from knowing I can file UC the Sunday of my last work week, to understanding the work search requirements, to having my Social Security award letter ready. It's also comforting to know that I'm not alone in this situation and that many people have successfully managed both benefits. This community is such a valuable resource. I'll definitely pay it forward by sharing my experience once I get through the process myself. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to help!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm 66 and facing a similar situation - my employer just announced they're closing our location in 8 weeks. I've been collecting Social Security for about a year now but obviously need additional income. What really struck me from reading everyone's experiences is how important it is to be proactive and organized. I'm going to start gathering all my employment records now and create that spreadsheet for tracking job search activities that Diego mentioned. The tip about filing the Sunday of your last work week is gold - I had no idea the timing was so important. It's also reassuring to hear that the PA UC system has improved and that the online application process is more straightforward now. I was dreading dealing with government bureaucracy, but it sounds manageable if you're prepared. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone found that certain industries or types of employers are more open to hiring people in our age group? I'm hoping my 40+ years of experience will be seen as an asset rather than making me seem overqualified or expensive.

I just wanted to add my experience from my PA UC appeal hearing about 4 months ago. One thing that really caught me off guard was that the referee asked very detailed questions about my job search efforts during the time between when I was laid off and when I filed my claim. I had been focusing so much on preparing evidence about the layoff itself that I didn't think to document my job search activities. Fortunately I had been keeping a simple list of where I applied, but I wish I had been more thorough about it. Also, something I found really helpful was that when my employer's HR representative made a statement that wasn't accurate, I didn't interrupt or get defensive. I just made a note of it and when the referee asked if I had anything to add, I calmly said something like "I'd like to clarify one point about the timeline" and then gave the correct information. The referee seemed to appreciate that I stayed respectful and factual. The whole hearing took about 70 minutes for me, and I got my decision letter exactly 2 weeks later - approved! The fact that you have documentation showing the company was having financial difficulties is really going to work in your favor. Just remember to stay calm, stick to the facts, and don't let nerves make you overthink your answers. You clearly know what happened and have the evidence to back it up. Best of luck!

I went through my PA UC appeal hearing about 6 months ago and can definitely understand your nerves! One thing that really helped me was creating a simple "cheat sheet" with key dates and quotes that I could reference during the call. I wrote down exactly what my manager said when they laid me off, the date it happened, and any relevant company communications about layoffs or budget cuts. During the hearing, the referee was very professional and made sure both sides got equal time to present their case. My employer tried to bring up some minor attendance issues from months earlier, but the referee kept the focus on the actual reason for my separation. The whole thing took about an hour, and I felt like I was able to clearly explain what happened. One tip that really helped me stay calm - I reminded myself that I wasn't on trial, I was just explaining the facts of what happened. You know you were laid off, you have documentation to support it, and that's really all you need to focus on. Don't let your employer's version of events throw you off track - stick to your timeline and the evidence you have. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process too! If you win (which it sounds like you have a strong case), you'll want to make sure you get paid for all those weeks. Good luck with your hearing - you've got this!

Update: I spoke with a UC examiner today (thanks for the Claimyr tip - it worked perfectly). They confirmed that the employer has to prove "good cause" for filing late, and forgetting or being busy isn't considered good cause. They also said the tip structure change should qualify as good cause to quit if it substantially reduced my income, which it definitely did. Feeling much more confident now but still preparing all my evidence just in case. Will update after the hearing next week!

That's great that you got confirmation from the UC examiner! Just wanted to add - during the hearing, if the referee does allow the late appeal to proceed, make sure to emphasize that the tip structure change was implemented WITHOUT your consent or input. In PA, courts have held that when an employer makes unilateral changes to compensation that result in a "substantial diminution" of wages, it can constitute constructive discharge. Your 30%+ pay reduction definitely meets that threshold. Also, document any other employees who may have quit due to the same policy change - it shows a pattern that the change was unreasonable. You've got this!

I'm dealing with a somewhat similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I wanted to add one thing that my union rep mentioned to me - if you're still employed, consider talking to your supervisor about whether you can take unpaid leave instead of accumulating more attendance points. Some employers are willing to work with you if you're upfront about health issues, and it might buy you time to either get better medical treatment or find another job before getting terminated. Also, I've been keeping a daily log of my health symptoms and any medical appointments, even if I don't miss work that day. It helps establish a pattern of ongoing health issues that could support your case later. Just a thought - sometimes the documentation you don't think you'll need ends up being the most important. Hope things work out for you! The fact that you're being proactive about understanding your options shows you're thinking ahead, which is smart.

I went through almost the exact same situation at a different warehouse in PA last year and wanted to share what ended up working for me. I was at about 8 months when I got fired for attendance points - mostly medical absences but a few instances where I couldn't call in time due to emergencies. Here's what I learned: PA UC really does care more about WHY you were absent than how long you'd been at the job. I had documentation for about 80% of my absences (urgent care visits, one hospitalization) but still got initially denied because of the few unexcused ones. However, I won on appeal because I could prove a pattern of legitimate health issues and show that I followed company call-out procedures whenever physically possible. The key things that helped my case: 1) I had saved all my text messages to supervisors when calling out sick, 2) I got a written statement from my doctor about my ongoing condition, and 3) I showed that the unexcused absences were genuinely emergency situations (one was when I was unconscious in an ambulance). It took about 4 months total to get through the appeal process and start receiving payments, but I did eventually get all the back pay. Don't give up if you get initially denied - attendance cases can definitely be won with proper documentation and a good explanation of circumstances. Also, start that paper trail with HR about your health condition ASAP like others mentioned. Even a simple email can make a huge difference later.

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!

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!