UPDATE: Finally got through to someone at UC after calling repeatedly this morning! Turns out there was an overpayment of $1,450 from when I started my part-time job. They say I reported my start date incorrectly (though I'm 99% sure I didn't). The good news is I was able to set up a payment plan - $60/month which I can manage. They're sending me all the paperwork so I can review exactly what happened. The person I spoke with said I can still file an appeal if I have documentation showing I reported correctly. Thanks everyone for your advice! Definitely don't ignore these notices like I almost did.

So glad you got through and got it sorted out! $60/month is definitely manageable. Definitely get that "record of claim" document Emma mentioned - I had a similar situation where I was 100% sure I reported correctly, and the record showed I was right. Ended up getting the overpayment reversed completely after my appeal. Keep copies of EVERYTHING they send you, and if you do decide to appeal, don't let the payment plan stop you from fighting it if you truly believe you reported correctly. You can maintain the payment plan while the appeal is pending. Good luck!

As another newcomer who just started filing bi-weekly claims, I wanted to share what worked for me! I'm in the operating engineers union and was also super nervous about messing up after all the ID.me drama. Here's what I did that helped: Before my first filing, I called my union hall and asked them to email me a simple letter stating that I'm a member in good standing and that all my work comes through their dispatch system. When I filed my bi-weekly claim, I answered YES to the work search question and uploaded that letter as supporting documentation just to be extra safe. The whole process actually went smoothly and I got my payment without any issues. The questions are definitely confusing at first but everyone's advice here is right on - your union registration absolutely counts as work search activity. One small tip: I set a reminder on my phone to file every Sunday morning so I don't forget or miss the deadline. It's become part of my routine now and only takes a few minutes once you know what you're doing. Hang in there - you've got this!

I'm also new to PA UC and just went through my first bi-weekly filing last week as a union member (sheet metal workers). All the advice here is spot on! The work search question definitely confused me at first, but answering YES because union hall registration counts as your search activity is absolutely correct. One thing that really helped me was printing out the PA UC handbook section about union members before I filed - it clearly states that being registered with a hiring hall satisfies the work search requirement. Having that reference made me feel more confident about my answers. Also, just want to echo what others said about being consistent with your answers week to week. The system flags unusual changes, so if you're available Monday through Friday one week, don't randomly change it the next week unless your actual availability changed. The whole process is much less scary once you do it the first time. After dealing with ID.me verification (what a nightmare!), filing bi-weekly claims feels easy in comparison. You've already survived the worst part of this whole system!

One more important thing - when you file, you'll have what's called a "between school terms denial" issue placed on your claim automatically. This is standard for all school employees. You'll need to request a determination on this issue explaining why you believe you should qualify despite the reasonable assurance letter. Be very specific about how the school district's actions have invalidated the reasonable assurance - namely: 1. They initiated a new hiring process requiring an interview (suggesting the position wasn't guaranteed) 2. They failed to complete the interview process 3. They stopped responding to inquiries about employment status You'll likely need to wait for a UC examiner to review your case, but if you're persistent and document everything, you have a good chance of qualifying.

I went through something similar as a cafeteria worker a few years back. Got the reasonable assurance letter in May, then they kept saying they were "reviewing staffing needs" all summer. Finally filed for UC in late July after getting the runaround for weeks. The key thing that helped my case was that I documented EVERY contact attempt - emails, phone calls, even showing up in person to HR. UC ruled in my favor because the school couldn't prove they had maintained the reasonable assurance after failing to provide concrete employment details for over 6 weeks. One tip: when you file, make sure you mention that you were actively seeking clarification about your employment status and they failed to respond. That shows you were willing and available to work but the employer didn't hold up their end. Good luck!

One more thing worth mentioning - if you're in healthcare admin, have you tried looking at the PA state jobs website? They often have decent-paying administrative positions at state hospitals and healthcare facilities that might match your background better than what you're finding elsewhere. Just another option to consider while you're job hunting!

Hey everyone! I'm new to PA unemployment and this thread has been SO helpful - I was totally stressing about the same thing. I registered with CareerLink a few days ago and was wondering if I had to use only their site. Reading through all your responses, it sounds like I can use Indeed and company websites too, which is such a relief! I've been keeping a detailed log in Excel with all the info mentioned (dates, company names, positions, how I applied, etc.). One question though - does networking count as a work search activity? Like if I reach out to former colleagues or contacts on LinkedIn about potential opportunities? Thanks for sharing all this info, it's way clearer than anything I found on the official PA UC website!

Glad you got it resolved! This is exactly the kind of minor discrepancy that trips up the system all the time. And for future reference, you can actually request an IDme profile reset once per year if needed - though it's easier to just have UC modify their records to match as you did.

So glad you got this sorted out! This is exactly why I always tell people to keep detailed records of how their name appears in different systems. It's amazing how something as small as "Michael" vs "Mike" can cause such a headache. For anyone else dealing with this - definitely try Claimyr if you're stuck. I used it last year when I had a similar issue with my quarterly filing and it saved me weeks of frustration. The small fee was totally worth it compared to losing benefits while trying to get through on the phone. Also, @Miguel Silva - you might want to screenshot or write down exactly how your husband's name appears in both systems now that it's fixed. That way if this happens again next year, you'll know exactly what format to use!