I'm new to this community but have been following this thread closely as someone who's currently on PA UC and has been really anxious about these kinds of situations. This discussion has been incredibly reassuring! I love how everyone has shared their real experiences and given such consistent advice. It's clear that the golden rule is to always file your weekly claim and be completely honest about your availability, even if it means getting $0 for that week. The tips about filing early (up to 4 days before the week ends) and taking screenshots for peace of mind are brilliant. What really stands out to me is how many people have successfully handled vacation weeks without any issues by simply being truthful with the system. It seems like PA UC is actually designed to handle these situations smoothly - the problems only arise when people try to skip filing entirely. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences here. This kind of real-world advice is so much more helpful than trying to decipher the confusing UC website!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - I have a family wedding out of state next week and have been so stressed about how to handle my UC filing. Reading through everyone's experiences has completely put my mind at ease. It's incredible how consistent the advice is: always file your weekly claim and just be honest about not being available during vacation days. The fact that so many people have done this successfully without any issues really shows that the PA UC system is designed to handle these situations when you're truthful about it. I'm definitely going to use the early filing option (filing up to 4 days before the week ends) so I don't have to worry about finding good internet while I'm traveling. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical advice is worth its weight in gold when you're navigating UC for the first time!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help everyone who's been confused about this! I called the PA UC office last week (after many attempts) and the agent clarified that when you're doing your weekly certification online, there's actually a specific section where you log your work search activities. What I learned is that you need to enter: - Date and details for each of your 2 job applications - Date and type of your additional work search activity (workshop, resume update, etc.) The agent told me that as long as you're entering something for the work search activity going forward, you should be fine. She said they understand the requirements weren't clearly explained initially and they're more concerned with current compliance than retroactively penalizing people who were genuinely confused. For anyone still worried about documentation, she recommended keeping a simple log with dates and activities, but said the main thing is just making sure you complete the certification fully each week. Hope this helps ease some anxiety!

As someone who just went through this exact same confusion a few weeks ago, I totally feel your panic! The PA UC website is honestly terrible at explaining this clearly. I had the same realization around week 6 that I was only doing job applications and completely missing the separate work search activity requirement. Here's what I've been doing since then that's worked really well: **Easy weekly work search activities:** - Taking PA CareerLink's free online workshops (usually 30-45 mins, you get a certificate) - Creating job alerts on different sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster - literally takes 2 minutes) - Updating your resume or LinkedIn profile (add a skill, tweak your summary) - Posting your resume to a new job board I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking: date, activity type, and proof (screenshot, confirmation email, certificate). Takes 5 minutes but gives me peace of mind. For your past weeks, honestly I wouldn't stress too much. The system seems inconsistent about audits, and several people here have said agents are understanding about the initial confusion. Just start doing it correctly now and document everything going forward. The PA CareerLink workshops have actually been surprisingly helpful for my job search too! You can find them under "Events" on their website. Hang in there - once you get into a routine with this it becomes automatic! 💪

Just wanted to share my recent experience since this thread has been so helpful! I went through the exact same situation in February - had a confirmed start date with a new employer but got the RESEA notice. Following the advice here, I called the RESEA coordinator first thing Monday morning and submitted the UC-RESEA-EX form with my offer letter. The whole process took about 8 business days, but I got my exemption approved! The key things that helped me: 1) Called right at 8 AM to avoid hold times, 2) Had all my documents ready (offer letter, employer contact info), and 3) kept attending scheduled activities until I got written confirmation of the exemption. One tip I'd add - when you submit the form, ask for an email confirmation that they received it. That saved me when they initially said they had no record of my submission. Having that email receipt got everything sorted out quickly. The system definitely has its quirks, but the exemption process does work if you follow the right steps!

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm in almost the exact same boat - got laid off from my retail job 6 weeks ago and just accepted a position starting April 28th. Got the RESEA notice yesterday and immediately panicked thinking I'd lose my benefits right before starting work. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the UC-RESEA-EX form is definitely the way to go. I'm going to call first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM with my offer letter ready. The tip about getting email confirmation of submission is clutch - I've had PA UC "lose" paperwork before too. Quick question for those who've been through this - did anyone have issues because their new job is in a different field than their previous one? I'm going from retail to office admin work. Wondering if that complicates the exemption process at all or if they just care that you have a confirmed start date regardless of the type of work. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences! This community is way more helpful than trying to navigate the PA UC website maze.

I'm a newcomer to this community but unfortunately not new to the unemployment situation. Just wanted to chime in that everything folks are saying here is accurate - I also exhausted my 26 weeks in PA recently (in January) and there were absolutely no extensions available. What really helped me was calling 211 like someone mentioned. They connected me with local food pantries and also told me about a program through my county that helps with internet bills (which I needed for job searching). I had no idea these resources existed until I called. Also want to mention for anyone reading this - if you have any medical conditions that might qualify you for disability benefits, start that process ASAP if you haven't already. It takes forever but could be a lifeline if your job search goes on longer than expected. The whole situation is really stressful but this thread shows there are people willing to help each other figure out the next steps. Hang in there everyone!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately finding myself in a very similar situation. I have about 5 weeks left on my UC benefits and have been frantically searching for information about what comes next. This thread has been both incredibly helpful and sobering - I was really hoping there might be some kind of extension available. Like many others here, I've been in the hospitality industry (restaurant management) for over 8 years, and the job market in my field is still really tough. I've been applying to everything I can find, but most places are either offering significantly lower pay or want someone with different experience. Reading through everyone's advice, I'm going to start applying for SNAP and other assistance programs this week rather than waiting until my benefits run out. I had no idea about programs like utility hardship assistance or emergency rental help through counties. The 211 number tip is especially valuable - I'll definitely be calling them. For those who mentioned switching industries, how did you handle explaining the career change in interviews? I'm worried employers will see me as desperate or uncommitted if I'm applying for jobs completely outside my experience. But at this point, I need to be realistic about my options. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences so honestly. It's scary but better to know what I'm facing than to be caught off guard.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago - got denied for "transportation issues" when my car was in the shop for a week. What really helped me win my appeal was creating a detailed timeline showing: 1. Exact dates my car broke down and when it was repaired 2. Screenshots of bus routes from my address to at least 5-10 job locations I'd applied to 3. A sworn statement that I was willing to use rideshare/public transit for work The referee seemed most interested in seeing that I had actually researched realistic transportation alternatives rather than just saying "I'll figure it out." I also brought up jobs I'd applied to that were specifically accessible by bus during that time period. The whole appeal took about 7 weeks from filing to getting the decision, but I got all my backpay eventually. Stay strong - these transportation denials are really common but very winnable if you show you were genuinely able to work despite the car issue.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got denied after being honest about temporary car trouble during a phone interview. Reading through everyone's advice here is giving me so much hope - especially seeing that multiple people have successfully won these transportation-related appeals. I'm definitely going to follow the suggestions about getting a mechanic's letter, documenting bus routes, and creating that timeline showing this was just a temporary issue. It's so frustrating that they twist honesty against you, but at least the appeal process seems more fair than dealing with the regular UC staff. Has anyone here had experience with how long it typically takes to get the hearing scheduled? I just filed my appeal yesterday and I'm worried about how long I'll be waiting without any income.