I went through this exact situation two years ago when I was 64! You absolutely can collect both PA UC benefits and Social Security - they don't interfere with each other at all. When I filed my UC claim, I just reported my SS income in the "other income" section like everyone mentioned, but it didn't reduce my weekly benefit amount one penny. A few practical tips from my experience: - File your claim the very first week you're eligible (the week you lose your job) - Keep meticulous records of your work search activities - I used a simple spreadsheet with dates, company names, and what I did (applied online, called, etc.) - Don't stress too much about the application - it's actually pretty user-friendly now The hardest part for me was adjusting to the job search at our age, but there are definitely opportunities out there. I ended up finding a great part-time position that worked perfectly with my Social Security. Hang in there - you'll get through this!

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I'm 63 and just got notice that my position is being eliminated in 6 weeks. I've been putting off applying for Social Security because I wanted to keep working, but now I'm wondering if I should apply for both SS and unemployment when the time comes. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - especially hearing from people who actually went through this process successfully. The tax implications that Tyler mentioned are definitely something I need to research more. I'm also going to start organizing all my employment documentation now so I'm ready to file immediately when my job ends. One question for anyone who's been through this: did you find that being on Social Security affected how employers viewed you during the job search process? I'm worried that some employers might assume I'm not serious about working long-term if they know I'm collecting SS benefits.

Great job resolving this! And congratulations again on the new position. Remember to keep track of your hours carefully these first few weeks. When you receive your first paycheck, take a moment to verify everything matches up with what you reported to UC. Best of luck with the new job!

Congrats on getting the job and getting your pay rate sorted out! Just wanted to add - since you mentioned potential commission, make sure to report any commission earnings in the week you actually receive them (not when you "earn" them through sales). Commission reporting can be tricky because it's often paid in a different pay period than when the sales were made. Also, $18.50/hr is pretty decent for retail management! Hope the new position works out well for you.

Hey Giovanni! 🎉 Huge congratulations on winning your appeal - that's absolutely incredible news! I'm brand new to this community but stumbled across your post and had to chime in. Your story really hit home for me because I'm currently going through my own UC nightmare and was starting to lose hope. Seeing someone go from their last $247 to getting $4,800 in backpay approved is exactly the kind of success story I needed to read today. I've been taking notes on all the amazing advice everyone's given you here, especially about continuing to file those weekly claims during the appeal process - that seems like such a crucial detail that I probably would have missed. The timeline updates you've shared have been super helpful too since I have no idea what to expect if I win my own appeal. Really hoping that Money Network card gets loaded up soon so you can finally catch up on those bills and breathe easy! Thanks for being so open about sharing your journey - it gives newcomers like me real hope that the system can actually work sometimes. This community seems amazing! 💪

Giovanni, what an incredible journey to follow! 🎉 I'm new to this community but your story has been so inspiring to read through. Going from your last $247 to winning your appeal and getting $4,800 in backpay approved - that's absolutely amazing! I'm currently dealing with my own UC issues and was feeling pretty overwhelmed by the whole process, but seeing your success gives me real hope. The advice everyone has shared here has been invaluable, especially the tip about continuing to file weekly claims during the appeal process. I probably would have made the mistake of stopping those certifications thinking they didn't matter while the appeal was pending. Really hoping that Money Network card gets loaded soon so you can finally catch up on those overdue bills! Thanks for being so open about sharing each step of your experience - it helps newcomers like me understand what to expect and know that persistence can pay off. This community seems incredibly supportive! 💪

I've been through the PA UC appeals process twice and want to offer some encouragement - your case actually sounds much stronger than many I've seen succeed. The combination of being hired as remote, the extreme distance (70 miles!), your housing crisis, and documented attempts to find alternatives creates a solid foundation for "necessitous and compelling reason." A few practical tips for your hearing: - Have a simple timeline written out (hired as remote → worked successfully → housing crisis → company policy change → attempts to accommodate → impossible situation → resignation) - If you get nervous, it's okay to pause and refer to your notes - The referee may ask hypothetical questions like "couldn't you have stayed at a different shelter closer to work?" Be prepared to explain why that wasn't realistic given your circumstances One thing that helped me was practicing my key points out loud beforehand. The phrase "I had no reasonable alternative but to resign due to the employer's change in working conditions during my housing crisis" captures your situation perfectly. Your employer may not even show up to contest it - many don't bother with appeals. But if they do, stay calm and stick to the facts. You've got documentation and a legitimate hardship case. Hang in there - Friday will be here before you know it, and you've prepared well!

Just wanted to chime in with some additional support - I work as a paralegal and have seen quite a few unemployment appeals, and your case has several strong legal elements. The fact that you were originally hired for remote work and then had the conditions changed during a personal crisis really strengthens your position under PA law. One document you might want to bring if you have it: any kind of written confirmation of your original remote work arrangement (offer letter, employee handbook excerpt, email confirming remote status, etc.). This helps establish that in-person work wasn't part of your original job requirements. Also, don't underestimate the power of being genuine and straightforward during your hearing. Referees can usually tell the difference between someone gaming the system and someone who genuinely had no choice. Your situation - losing housing, ending up in a shelter 70 miles away, company refusing accommodation - reads as a perfect storm of circumstances that would make continuing employment impossible for any reasonable person. You've gotten fantastic advice here from this community. Trust in your preparation and remember that you're not asking for something you don't deserve - you're asking for benefits you paid into when you were working. Best of luck on Friday!

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now! My check was for $1,380 and got sent to my old address when I moved last month. I filed the tracker form about 10 days ago and still haven't heard anything back. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying - sounds like I'm in for a long wait! Has anyone tried calling multiple times in the same week to check status, or does that actually slow things down? I don't want to be annoying but I'm also really anxious about when this will get resolved. My landlord is already asking questions about next month's rent and I'm running out of ways to reassure him that the money is coming. Also @Nina Chan - definitely try the state rep office! I called mine yesterday and they said they'd look into it, though they warned me it might still take 2-3 weeks even with their help. But at least it felt like I was doing something proactive instead of just sitting around waiting.

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress - the whole PA Treasury reissue process is such a nightmare when you need the money urgently! I went through something similar about 8 months ago and here's what actually helped me get results faster: 1. Call the Treasury number (717-787-6998) first thing in the morning around 8:15 AM - that's when I had the most luck getting through to someone who could actually look up my case 2. When you do get someone, ask specifically if your replacement has been "queued for the next check run" and what date that run is scheduled for 3. If they say it hasn't been queued yet, ask what's holding it up - sometimes there are simple verification steps you can complete over the phone The state rep suggestion is GOLD - mine was able to get my replacement processed in about 2 weeks instead of the 4-6 weeks they originally quoted me. Also, since your amount is over $1,400, there's a good chance it got flagged for additional fraud verification which adds time. But the good news is that once it clears that verification, the actual check gets issued pretty quickly. Document every call with dates and names - it really helps when you need to follow up. Hang in there, the check will come!