Update: I just checked with a friend who works at the PA CareerLink office. She confirmed that you absolutely must include all W2 wages when filing for UC, including those from a union. The system will flag your claim if there's a mismatch between what you report and what's on file with the tax authorities. Better to be upfront than have to deal with an overpayment notice later!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation! I was with the Carpenters Union and got laid off from my construction job. Like you, I had a separate W2 from the union for some safety training they paid me for. I initially hesitated to include it because it seemed confusing, but after reading through all the responses here, I'm glad I did. The PA UC system really does cross-check everything, and it's way better to over-report than under-report. One tip: when you're entering the union wages, make sure you select the correct employer type in the dropdown menu. There should be an option for "labor union" or similar. This helps the system categorize it correctly and avoids any confusion during processing. Good luck with your claim! The whole process is stressful enough without having to worry about whether you filled something out wrong.

Just went through this process myself! Filed my appeal in December for identity verification issues (even though I did the ID.me thing multiple times too - so frustrating!). Got my hearing scheduled exactly 6 weeks later, had the hearing last week, and won! Here's what I learned: 1. The retroactive payments go all the way back to your original filing date in January, not just from when you appealed 2. Keep doing those weekly certifications no matter what - this is crucial! 3. For the hearing, bring EVERYTHING identity-related you can find. I brought: driver's license, Social Security card, birth certificate, passport, utility bills, bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs from previous job, and even my voter registration card 4. The hearing itself was pretty straightforward - they just wanted to verify I was who I said I was My payments were released about 8 business days after the hearing decision. Hang in there - the wait is awful but if you have all your documentation ready, you should be fine. The identity verification denials seem to be getting overturned pretty regularly from what I've seen.

I'm going through something similar right now - filed my appeal about 3 weeks ago for the same identity verification issue. It's so frustrating because like you, I completed the ID.me process multiple times and even got confirmation emails! From what I've been reading here and elsewhere, it seems like these identity verification denials are pretty common but also frequently overturned on appeal. The retroactive payment thing is huge - knowing that you'll get paid back to your original filing date if you win makes the wait a bit more bearable. One thing I've started doing is keeping a detailed log of every step I took during the ID.me process, including screenshots and confirmation emails. I figure it can't hurt to have that extra documentation ready for the hearing. Also started gathering all my identity documents now so I'm not scrambling later. The waiting is the worst part though. Every day without income makes everything more stressful. Stay strong and keep filing those weekly claims!

hope ur claim gets fixed soon @brief_reaction. mine took 8 weeks to get sorted and backpaid. hang in there

Just wanted to add another resource that might help - you can also check the PA Department of Revenue website directly for confirmation about unemployment tax exemptions. They have a specific section about what income is excluded from PA taxes, and unemployment compensation is clearly listed there. It's always good to have multiple official sources when dealing with tax questions. Also, if you end up owing any local taxes on your UC benefits, many townships will work with you on payment plans if needed - don't panic if you get hit with an unexpected bill.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I guess I need to accept that the 26 weeks is all I'll get and plan accordingly. I'll focus more on my job search and maybe look into some training programs through CareerLink as suggested. Definitely disappointing, but at least now I know not to count on any extensions.

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. Just wanted to add that even if Pennsylvania's unemployment rate does eventually trigger Extended Benefits, there's usually a waiting period before it takes effect. The state has to meet the threshold requirements for a certain number of consecutive weeks before EB kicks in. Also, if you're getting close to exhausting your benefits, make sure you're signed up for job alerts on multiple platforms - Indeed, LinkedIn, PA CareerLink, etc. I've found that casting a wider net has helped me get more interviews even in this tough market. The uncertainty about extensions makes it even more important to be aggressive with the job search. Good luck with everything - this whole process is stressful enough without having to worry about whether benefits will continue!

make sure u upload ur w2 and last paystub to the dashboard. that speeds things up for them to verify ur wages

I had a similar situation when I was laid off from my remote job with a Texas company while living in PA. The wage investigation took about 10 days in my case, but I've heard it can vary depending on how quickly your employer responds to PA's inquiry. One thing that helped me was calling PA UC (I know, easier said than done!) and explaining that I had been working remotely from PA the entire time and paying PA state taxes. They made a note on my file which seemed to help expedite the process. Also, keep checking your dashboard daily - sometimes the status updates without any notification. Good luck!