Can I change my PA UC tax withholding option after selecting it? Need help ASAP
I just filed my initial UC claim last week and selected to have taxes withheld without really thinking about it. Now I'm realizing I need every cent possible right now to cover bills. Is there any way to change this decision after you've already started your claim? Will I need to call the UC office (which I've been trying to do with no luck) or can I update this somewhere in the portal? Really stressing about this as every dollar counts in my situation.
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Zoe Wang
Yes, you can absolutely change your tax withholding preference! Log into your PA UC account, go to 'My Benefits Plan' and look for 'Update Personal Information' - there should be a section for tax withholding where you can change your selection. The change will take effect for future payments, not retroactively. It's a simple process that takes about 2 minutes.
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Aidan Hudson
•Thank you so much! I was looking all over the portal but couldn't find that section. I'll check again tonight when I get home from job hunting.
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Connor Richards
just did this myself last month!! no big deal
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Grace Durand
•Did you have to wait for it to process or was it immediate? I'm in the same boat and wondering if there's a delay before it takes effect.
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Steven Adams
Be careful about not withholding taxes. I did that last year and got hit with a huge tax bill when I filed. Just something to keep in mind - UC benefits ARE taxable income!
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Aidan Hudson
•Good point. I'm planning to put some money aside each week, but right now I just need the full amount to keep afloat until I find something new.
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Alice Fleming
I had a similar issue back in january trying to REMOVE tax withholding... spent 2 weeks trying to find it on the website which is totally useless!!! ended up having to call the UC office but u know how that goes... busy signals for DAYS!!!!! system is a total joke
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Hassan Khoury
•If you're having trouble getting through to PA UC on the phone, I recently used this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes after days of trying on my own. It basically automates the calling process for you and tells you when you're being connected. Saved me so much frustration! Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 - Worth it when you absolutely need to talk to someone.
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Victoria Stark
To add some clarification here, federal taxes are withheld at 10% and PA state taxes at 3.07% when you select that option. If you're in a financial pinch, changing this can help in the short term, but remember you'll need to account for these taxes when filing your returns. The change typically takes effect on your next bi-weekly payment, not retroactively. Also, if you have any issues finding the option online, you can submit the "Federal Income Tax Withholding Request Form" (UC-1589) directly to the department as an alternative.
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Aidan Hudson
•Thanks for the detailed info! Do you happen to know where to find that UC-1589 form? Is it downloadable from the website?
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Victoria Stark
Yes, you can find the UC-1589 form by going to www.uc.pa.gov and selecting "Forms," then scrolling to the tax withholding section. Alternatively, you can usually change your withholding preference directly in your online account under your profile settings without needing the form.
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Aidan Hudson
•Perfect! I'll check both options. Really appreciate everyone's help!
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Grace Durand
When I was on UC last year I think I changed this like three times honestly. First I did withholding, then I stopped it cuz I needed more money, then turned it back on when I got some side gig work. Its a simple toggle in your account settings BUT sometimes the website is down for maintenance which drives me INSANE. Why is the UC system so frustrating?????
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Alice Fleming
•because they don't WANT to make it easy for us to get our benefits... keep the money for themselves probably!!!!
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Amelia Dietrich
Just wanted to share my experience - I changed my withholding option about 3 weeks ago and it was pretty straightforward once I found the right section. Like others mentioned, look for "My Benefits Plan" then "Update Personal Information." The change showed up on my next payment cycle. One tip: if you're switching to no withholding, consider setting up an automatic transfer to a separate savings account for taxes so you don't get caught off guard at tax time. Even putting away $20-30 per payment can help when April comes around!
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