Can I claim PA UC benefits for losing my part-time job while keeping my full-time position?

u probably wont qualify. unemployment is for when u lose ur main source of income. since u still have full time work ur probably making too much to get anything.

This is actually a more nuanced situation than most people realize. In Pennsylvania, you can potentially qualify for partial UC benefits even while employed full-time if your overall income has decreased significantly. The key factor is whether your current gross wages are less than your weekly benefit rate plus the partial benefit credit (40% of your weekly benefit rate). You would need to report all earnings from your remaining job when filing weekly claims. The system will automatically calculate if you're eligible for any partial payment. It's worth applying - worst case they just deny your claim.

I went through exactly this in January!!! Lost my evening bartending gig but kept my day job. I DID apply for benefits and got approved but the amount was super tiny like $67/week because of my full-time earnings being deducted. Honestly wasn't worth the hassle of weekly filing for me because I found another part-time job pretty quick. BUT they did make me verify I was looking for replacement part-time work. You can't just collect and not do job searches, even for partial benefits.

Nope, my full-time employer didn't contest anything since it wasn't affecting their UC tax rate - it was charged to my part-time employer who went out of business. The system actually handles this automatically when you enter both employers during the initial application.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE US ALL!!! I lost a part-time job last year and the UC office told me I didn't qualify, then I found out later I WOULD HAVE qualified for at least something!! The whole thing is intentionally complicated to discourage people from getting benefits they deserve. They have different rules for full vs partial unemployment and the reps don't even know their own policies half the time!!!

When I was in this position last year, I spent 3 WEEKS trying to get through to someone at PA UC to ask this exact question. Busy signals, disconnects, the whole frustrating process. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a rep in under an hour. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The rep confirmed I could file for partial benefits from losing my second job. The key was listing BOTH employers during the initial application and making it clear which job I lost. Just be prepared to document your job search efforts for a replacement part-time position.

One important thing to note - when you apply, you'll need to report your full-time wages each week. For 2025, PA has a partial benefit credit of 40% of your weekly benefit rate. So if your calculated weekly benefit rate would be $300 (based on your part-time job wages), you can earn up to $120 (40% of $300) without reduction in benefits. After that, benefits are reduced dollar-for-dollar. So if your full-time job pays $800/week, your calculation would be: $300 (benefit rate) - ($800 - $120) = $300 - $680 = -$380 Since this is negative, you wouldn't receive benefits. But if your full-time job pays less, you might qualify for something. It's all about the math.

my cousin works for the unemployment office and she says they get this question ALL THE TIME. she told me its always worth applying because worst case they just say no but sometimes people are surprised they actually qualify for something. depends on how much your fulltime job pays vs what you were making at both combined

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I think I'll go ahead and apply just to see if I qualify for anything. Seems like the worst they can say is no, and I might get a small benefit that could help with gas money at least. Will make sure to list both employers and be clear about which job I'm losing. Really appreciate all the advice!

Good luck with your application! Just wanted to add one more tip - when you file your initial claim, make sure you have your last day of work at the retail store documented clearly. PA UC will ask for specific dates and your final paycheck info from the closing store. Also keep any documentation they gave you about the store closure (like a letter or notice) since that proves it was an involuntary job loss. The process might seem overwhelming at first but it's really just a bunch of forms asking the same info in different ways.

Just want to echo what others have said about applying anyway - I was in a similar spot about 6 months ago when my weekend catering gig dried up but I kept my weekday office job. I almost didn't bother filing because I figured I made too much, but my sister convinced me to try. Ended up getting like $45/week which honestly wasn't life-changing money but it covered my monthly gym membership and helped a little with groceries. The whole process took maybe 20 minutes online and then just a few minutes each week to file. Definitely worth the small time investment to find out if you qualify!

I work in HR for a company that's dealt with similar situations before and wanted to add some clarity here. When you lose one job but keep another, Pennsylvania does have provisions for partial unemployment benefits, but the calculation can be tricky. Your weekly benefit amount will be based on earnings from ALL jobs during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters), not just the job you lost. The key thing is that your remaining full-time income will be counted against any potential benefits. If your full-time job pays significantly more than what your combined weekly benefit rate would be (minus the partial benefit credit), you probably won't qualify for anything. But if you're closer to the threshold, you might get a small amount. I'd definitely recommend applying online - it's much faster than trying to call, and the system will do all the math for you automatically once you input your wage information. Even if you only qualify for $30-50/week, that's still $120-200 over a month that could help with bills.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my recent experience since it might be helpful. I was in almost the exact same situation last month - lost my part-time evening job at a restaurant (about 20 hours/week) but kept my full-time day job. I decided to apply for partial UC benefits based on all the advice I'd seen in forums like this. The application process was actually pretty straightforward online. I had to list both employers and provide wage information for both jobs. The tricky part was the weekly filing where you have to report your continuing earnings from the full-time job. In my case, I qualified for about $38/week in partial benefits, which isn't huge but definitely helps with gas and groceries. One thing I wish someone had told me upfront - you still have to do the work search requirements even for partial benefits. I have to log at least 3 job search activities per week looking for replacement part-time work. It's not too bad since you can count things like updating your resume or browsing job boards, but it's something to keep in mind. Overall, I'd say it's definitely worth applying if you're on the fence. The worst they can do is say no, and if you do qualify for even a small amount, it can make a real difference over time.

I'm in a very similar situation right now! I work full-time at a manufacturing plant but also do weekend shifts at a local diner that just announced they're closing next month. Like you, I'm not desperate but losing that extra income would definitely hurt. Reading through all these responses has been super informative - I had no idea partial benefits were even a possibility! Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like the key factors are your full-time wages vs. what your calculated weekly benefit rate would be. The math seems complex but the online system handles it automatically. I think I'm going to follow your lead and apply when my diner closes. Even if it's just $40-60/week like some people mentioned, that would help with my car payment. Thanks for posting this question - it's helped more people than just you!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this exact situation about 8 months ago. I was working full-time at a logistics company and part-time evenings at a retail chain that closed permanently. Like many others here, I almost didn't bother applying because I assumed I wouldn't qualify with a full-time job. Turns out I was eligible for $52/week in partial benefits! Not a fortune, but over the 16 weeks I collected, that was over $800 that helped with my car insurance and phone bill. The key for me was that my part-time job had decent wages and I'd worked there for almost 2 years, so it contributed meaningfully to my base period calculation. One tip I haven't seen mentioned - when you do your weekly certification, be honest about ALL income including any odd jobs or gig work. They cross-reference with tax records and being caught in inconsistencies can cause way more problems than just reporting everything upfront. The system is designed to handle partial income situations, so don't try to game it. Also, keep copies of everything! I had to provide documentation about the store closure twice because they said they didn't receive my first submission. Having backup copies saved me from having to track down paperwork from a business that no longer existed.

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I work full-time at a distribution center but also picked up weekend shifts at a local restaurant to help save for a vacation. The restaurant just told us they're permanently closing in two weeks due to rent increases. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been eye-opening - I honestly had no idea partial UC benefits were even a thing! Like most people, I just assumed unemployment was all-or-nothing. The math explanations from @Lucas Lindsey and @Lucas Turner really helped me understand how the calculations work, and hearing real numbers from people like @Omar Zaki ($38/week) and @Paolo Ricci ($52/week) shows it can actually add up to meaningful money over time. I think I'm definitely going to apply when my last day comes up. Even if I only qualify for $30-40/week like some others mentioned, that would cover my monthly streaming subscriptions and help with gas money. The work search requirement for part-time jobs doesn't seem too bad either based on what @Omar Zaki described. Thanks @Christian Bierman for asking this question - it's helped way more people than just you! Going to bookmark this thread for reference when I fill out my application.

I just went through this exact situation about 3 months ago! Lost my part-time job at a bookstore (about 12 hours/week) but kept my full-time office job. I was really hesitant to apply because I figured I made too much from my main job, but my friend who works in benefits administration convinced me to try anyway. Ended up qualifying for $29/week in partial benefits. I know that doesn't sound like much, but over the 12 weeks I collected, that was almost $350 that helped cover my monthly car insurance and part of my phone bill. The application process was pretty painless - took maybe 15-20 minutes online, and the weekly certifications are quick once you get the hang of them. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned much - make sure you understand exactly when your part-time job officially ends. I made the mistake of filing my claim a week too early because I thought my last scheduled shift was my "last day," but technically my employment didn't end until the store's official closure date. Had to call and get that corrected, which was a bit of a hassle with PA's phone system. Definitely worth applying though! Even small amounts can make a difference, and the worst they can do is say no.

I'm actually dealing with something really similar right now! I've been working full-time at a manufacturing plant and picked up a part-time evening job at a local grocery store to help pay down some credit card debt. The grocery store just announced they're closing permanently at the end of next month due to lease issues. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I had absolutely no idea that partial UC benefits were even possible when you still have a full-time job! Like most people, I always thought unemployment was an all-or-nothing thing. Reading through everyone's real experiences with actual dollar amounts ($29-52/week range) really helps me understand what to expect. I'm definitely going to apply based on all the advice here. Even if I only qualify for something small like $30-35/week, that would still help cover my monthly internet bill and maybe some groceries. The work search requirement doesn't sound too bad either from what others have described. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this has been way more informative than anything I could find on the official PA UC website! Going to save this thread for reference when I fill out my application.