Can I claim PA UC after workers comp settlement? Need urgent advice

yea u can apply 4 UC as long as ur able to work now. I had almost same thing happen 2 me last year. wrkrs comp is different from UC, one is 4 injury one is 4 no job

You absolutely can file for UC in this situation. Workers compensation covers your injury period, but once you're medically cleared to work and your employer doesn't have a position for you, you're essentially laid off through no fault of your own. When filing, you'll need to: 1. Answer yes to the question about receiving other income and report the workers comp settlement 2. Be clear that you're now medically able and available for work 3. Make sure you have documentation showing your doctor released you to work 4. Have something showing your employer doesn't have a position (email or letter if possible) The settlement itself doesn't disqualify you, but PA UC may calculate how it affects your benefit amounts. It's considered 'severance' in some cases which can impact your weekly benefit rate.

BE CAREFUL!!! My brother went through this and PA UC system is TERRIBLE about workers comp situations!!! They made him wait 11 WEEKS before approving his claim because they kept saying they needed more information about the settlement. They kept sending letters asking for the same documents over and over!!! You need to make copies of EVERYTHING and keep calling them until someone helps you!!!

I had this exact situation in 2022. Here's what you need to know: 1. PA treats workers comp settlements differently depending on how they're structured. If part of your settlement was specifically allocated as "wage loss benefits" then that portion may affect your UC. 2. When you file, you'll have an "open issue" on your claim for a few weeks while they review your particular situation. 3. You'll need to upload your settlement documents in the dashboard. 4. Make sure you start your job search activities immediately and record them - you need to do at least 2 per week. In my case, they eventually approved my claim and I received all my back weeks, but it took about 5 weeks to resolve. Just be patient and keep filing your weekly claims during this time.

I've helped several clients through this exact situation. The key thing to understand is that workers compensation and unemployment insurance are two completely separate systems in Pennsylvania: - Workers comp covers work-related injuries and lost wages during recovery - Unemployment covers job loss when you're able to work but can't find employment Since you're now medically cleared and your employer has terminated your position, you meet the basic eligibility criteria for UC. However, there's a specific process you need to follow. When you file, PA UC will automatically flag your claim for review because of the workers comp history. You'll need to provide documentation about your medical release and settlement. They'll determine if any portion of your settlement should be allocated as wage replacement which could delay or reduce benefits temporarily. Don't be alarmed if your claim shows an "open issue" status for 3-4 weeks - this is normal for cases transitioning from workers comp.

When I had 2 try and reach PA UC about my workers comp situation last year it was IMPOSSIBLE!!! Busy signals for days and when I did get through the call would drop!! I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a UC rep in less than an hour. Worth checking out their demo video at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 and the website is claimyr.com - saved me weeks of frustration when I had questions about my situation that weren't covered in the FAQs.

@Worried_Claimant Did you get an answer about whether they treat the settlement as one week of income or spread it out? I'm curious about this too

just file asap. the longer u wait the more money ur loosing. they backdate but not always. my friend waited too long and they only gave him from when he applied not when he got let go.

One more important thing I forgot to mention: Make sure you've created your PA CareerLink profile BEFORE you file your first weekly claim. This is required for everyone on UC now, and if you don't have it set up, your payments can be delayed. Go to pacareerlink.pa.gov to register.

I went through something very similar in 2023. You're definitely eligible to file for UC since you're medically cleared and your employer doesn't have a position for you. A few things that helped me: 1. File your claim ASAP - don't wait. The sooner you start the process, the better. 2. When they ask about other income, be upfront about the workers comp settlement. Transparency is key. 3. Keep detailed records of everything - settlement docs, medical clearance, any communication with your employer. 4. Your claim will likely go into review status for a few weeks while they verify everything, but that's totally normal. In my case, the settlement didn't affect my weekly benefit amount because it was for the injury itself, not wage replacement. The review took about 3 weeks and then I got all my back pay. Just be patient with the process and keep filing your weekly claims even during the review period.