Can I collect PA UC benefits at 66 with pension eligibility? Age confusion

You absolutely CAN file for UC while collecting a pension, but there may be a pension deduction depending on your specific situation. Age is NOT a disqualification factor for PA unemployment. Here's what matters: 1. If your employer contributed to your pension AND that same employer laid you off, then yes, your weekly benefit amount might be reduced (potentially by about 50% of your weekly pension amount) 2. If your pension is from a different employer than the one who laid you off, then you can receive your full pension AND your full weekly benefit amount 3. If you alone contributed to your pension with no employer contributions, then your UC benefits won't be reduced at all Regardless of these details, you should definitely apply! The UC office will calculate any necessary deductions. The application will ask about your pension.

omg HR people are the worst sometimes! my dad went thru this exact thing last yr. he's 70 and still got benefits even with his pension. just applyyyy

I WENT THROUGH THIS SAME THING IN DECEMBER!!!! The PA UC system is horrible about explaining pension rules. I'm 65 with a pension from my job of 22 years and applied for benefits after being laid off. When I first applied, they didn't even tell me I had to report the pension until AFTER they approved me and I'd already received 3 payments! Then they hit me with an "overpayment notice" saying I owed everything back plus interest!!!! Took me 5 WEEKS to get anyone on the phone to fix it. They eventually recalculated everything and I still got benefits but about $175 less per week than originally. MAKE SURE you report your pension on the initial application!!!

Just to add some clarity here - Pennsylvania UC law specifically addresses pensions in Section 404(d) of the law. Your benefit amount will be reduced by 50% of your weekly pension amount ONLY if your base-year employer (the one who laid you off) contributed to that pension. For example, if your weekly UC benefit would be $600 and your pension is $334 weekly ($1,450 monthly), they'd deduct $167 (half of $334), leaving you with $433 weekly in UC benefits. Importantly, this only applies to pensions you're actually receiving, not ones you're merely eligible for but not collecting. And Social Security does NOT reduce your UC benefits in Pennsylvania. Also, your age has absolutely no bearing on UC eligibility.

just letting u know good luck getting anyone on the phone at PA UC lol... i tried for weeks to reach them about my benefits when i had questions. busy signal for daysssss

Just to clear up some confusion here: Yes, you can definitely apply for and potentially receive UC benefits at age 66, even with pension eligibility. The key factors are: 1. You must have been employed and earned sufficient wages in your base year 2. You must have been separated through no fault of your own 3. You must be able and available for suitable work 4. You must be actively seeking work each week Pension deductions are handled automatically during the application process. There's a specific section where you'll report pension information. The system will calculate any necessary deductions. I also recommend answering "yes" to the question about receiving retirement pay on your weekly claims, then the system will prompt you for details. Better to over-report than under-report.

To answer your follow-up question about work search - yes, in Pennsylvania you must complete and document at least 2 work search activities each week (with at least 1 being a job application). The other activity can be attending a job fair, taking a civil service test, creating a profile on PA CareerLink, etc. Keep records of all these activities, including company name, address, contact info, position, date of application, and method of contact. PA UC can audit your work search records for up to 2 years after you receive benefits.

Good luck with your application, Oliver! Just wanted to add one more tip since you mentioned being 66 - make sure you understand the difference between "retirement" and being laid off when you fill out the application. Some people get tripped up on this because they're near retirement age, but if you were involuntarily separated (laid off), that's what matters for UC eligibility, not your age or pension status. The system will ask about your separation reason, so be clear that it was a layoff/reduction in force, not a voluntary retirement. Also, since you mentioned working in a warehouse for 9 years, you should definitely have enough work history to qualify for benefits. The base year earnings requirement shouldn't be an issue for you.

Hey Oliver! I went through something similar about 6 months ago - I'm 64 and was laid off from my manufacturing job after 12 years. I was also confused about the pension rules at first. What really helped me was calling the PA UC office early in the morning (like 8:05 AM right when they open) - you're more likely to get through then. Just want to emphasize what others have said: definitely apply! Even with the pension deduction, you'll likely still receive some benefits. In my case, my weekly benefit went from $420 to $285 after the pension deduction, but that's still meaningful money while job searching. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - start your job search activities right away even before you get your first payment. The work search requirements kick in immediately, and it's better to be ahead of the game. At our age, the job search can take longer, so having that documentation ready is crucial. Also, don't let anyone at HR discourage you from applying - they're not UC experts and often give wrong information. The UC office will make the final determination based on your specific situation.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who helps people navigate these systems regularly. Oliver, you've gotten excellent advice here! One additional resource that might help you is the PA Department of Labor & Industry's website - they have a pension calculator tool that can give you a rough estimate of how your benefits might be affected before you even apply. Also, since you mentioned working in a warehouse, make sure to highlight any transferable skills when you start your job search - inventory management, logistics coordination, safety compliance, etc. Many employers value that experience even outside of warehouse settings. The fact that you worked for 9 years with the same company actually works in your favor for UC eligibility - shows strong work history and that the layoff wasn't performance-related. Don't let the pension situation discourage you from applying. Even reduced benefits are better than no benefits while you're job hunting!

Oliver, I just wanted to add one more important thing that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet - when you do apply and start receiving benefits, keep ALL your documentation organized in one place. I mean everything: your layoff notice, pension statements, work search logs, correspondence with UC, etc. I learned this the hard way when PA UC randomly audited my claim about 8 months after I started receiving benefits. They wanted to see proof of my work search activities going back to week 1, my original separation paperwork, and detailed pension information. Having everything organized saved me a ton of stress. Also, just a heads up - the online system can be glitchy sometimes. If you run into technical issues during your application, try using a different browser or clearing your cache. I had to submit mine three times because it kept timing out, but persistence pays off! You've got this! The community here has given you solid advice, and it sounds like you have a strong case for benefits even with the pension reduction.

Oliver, I want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely apply! I'm 68 and went through this exact situation about 8 months ago. Got laid off from my job of 15 years and was terrified about the pension impact on my UC benefits. Here's what I learned: The PA UC system will walk you through reporting your pension during the application process. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get to that section. They'll ask for the monthly amount, who contributed to it, and when you started receiving it (or if you're just eligible but not collecting yet). One thing that really helped me was having my pension documentation ready before I started the application - things like your Summary Plan Description and any letters from HR about your pension eligibility. Makes the process much smoother. Also, don't stress too much about the work search requirements at our age. Yes, you need to do them, but the UC office understands that job searches take longer for older workers. Just be genuine in your efforts and keep good records. The bottom line is this: even with the pension deduction, I still get about $280/week in benefits, which has been a huge help while I'm looking for work. Every situation is different, but don't let anyone discourage you from applying based on your age or pension status. You earned these benefits through years of work!