Can I collect PA UC benefits while traveling abroad for family emergency? Won appeal, working part-time

You CANNOT collect UC while outside the country. It's against PA law. You must be physically present in the US, able and available for work, and actively seeking employment each week you claim. International travel for ANY reason makes you ineligible for those weeks. You should NOT file claims for weeks you're abroad - that would be fraud and could result in an overpayment determination, possible penalties, and even prosecution in serious cases. The best approach is to simply not file for those weeks you're away. Your claim will remain open (it stays active for one year from when you first applied), and you can resume filing when you return to the US and are available for work again.

im pretty sure your supposed to keep filing even when your away otherwise your claim will close after 2 weeks of not filing... atleast thats what they told me

GUYS BE CAREFUL ABOUT THIS!!! I was visiting family in Canada last year (only for 10 days) and still filed my weekly claims because I didn't know about this rule. Six months later I got hit with a $1,840 overpayment notice plus a 15% penalty!!! Now I'm on a repayment plan and they take money from my tax refunds too. The unemployment office does NOT mess around with this rule.

When you come back, you'll probably need to reach PA UC to restart your benefits. I had a similar situation last year and had to explain my absence. Tried calling for DAYS with no luck - busy signals and disconnects constantly. Someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual UC agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent was able to reactivate my payments after I explained my situation. Just make sure you have your dates of travel documented when you call.

To clarify some misconceptions in this thread: 1. Your claim stays OPEN for your entire benefit year (52 weeks from initial application) 2. You do NOT need to contact anyone to restart benefits after travel - you simply resume filing your weekly certifications when you return and are available for work again 3. The system may prompt you to explain why you missed filing for those weeks - be honest and say you were traveling internationally and knew you couldn't claim during that time 4. If you've been receiving partial benefits while working part-time, your WBA (Weekly Benefit Amount) calculation will revert to your full amount when you return if you're not working, assuming you haven't exhausted your maximum benefit entitlement 5. Make sure to resume your work search activities when you return (applying to jobs, networking, using PA CareerLink, etc.) since you'll need to report these activities to remain eligible I hope your mother's surgery goes well and your family emergency resolves positively.

just wondering did u win ur appeal by urself or did u have a lawyer? im fighting my employer right now who says i was fired for cause but i wasnt

my cousin said you can just login from your phone while your traveling and they'll never know where your filing from lol

Does anyone know if there's any EXCEPTION to this rule? Like what if it's a genuine family emergency? Seems harsh that they don't make allowances for situations like this where you're not just vacationing but dealing with a serious situation!

I'm really sorry to hear about your mother's situation - that must be incredibly stressful on top of everything else you've been dealing with. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like the safest approach is definitely to NOT file claims while you're abroad, even though it means missing out on 3 weeks of benefits. One thing that might help - since you mentioned you've been working part-time at the restaurant, maybe talk to your manager about the situation? Some employers are understanding about family emergencies and might be able to hold your position or at least give you a good reference when you get back and start job searching again. Also, when you do return and resume filing, make sure you're ready to jump back into active job searching since you'll need to meet those work search requirements. Maybe use some of your time while you're with your mom to think about what types of positions you want to target when you get back. Wishing your mom a successful surgery and quick recovery!

I went through something similar when my father was hospitalized unexpectedly in the Philippines last year. It's such a difficult situation because you're already stressed about your family member's health, and then you have to worry about the financial impact too. I ended up following the advice to not file for the 2.5 weeks I was away, and when I came back, I was able to resume filing without any issues. The system did ask me to explain the gap, and I just honestly said I was out of the country for a family emergency and knew I couldn't claim during that time. No problems at all. One thing that helped me was setting up automatic bill payments before I left, since I knew I wouldn't have that income for those weeks. Also, if you have any vacation pay or sick leave accumulated from your previous job, now might be the time to see if you can claim it. Take care of your mom and yourself during this tough time. The benefits will be there when you get back.

I'm really sorry about your mom's emergency surgery - that's such a stressful situation to be dealing with on top of everything else. Based on what everyone has shared here, it's clear that you absolutely cannot file claims while you're out of the country, even for a legitimate family emergency. The good news is that your claim will stay open and you can resume filing when you return without having to reapply. Since you'll be missing 3 weeks of income, here are a few practical suggestions: - Contact your part-time restaurant job ASAP to explain the situation and see if they can hold your position - Set up automatic payments for essential bills before you leave - Look into whether you have any unused vacation/sick pay from your previous employer that you can claim - When you return, be prepared to immediately resume active job searching since you'll need to meet those work search requirements The silver lining is that when you do resume filing, you'll likely get your full benefit amount instead of the reduced partial benefits you've been receiving while working part-time. Document your travel dates carefully so you can explain the gap in filing if the system asks. Being honest about why you didn't file during those weeks is definitely the right approach. Hoping your mother's surgery goes smoothly and she has a quick recovery. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's emergency surgery - what a difficult situation to navigate while you're already dealing with unemployment stress. Everyone here has given you solid advice: definitely DO NOT file claims while abroad. I learned this the hard way when I traveled to visit my sick grandmother in Ireland a few years ago and mistakenly filed for one week while I was there. Got flagged immediately and had to go through a whole investigation process, though thankfully they determined it was an honest mistake and I just had to repay that one week. A couple additional thoughts based on my experience: - When you return and resume filing, the system might ask you to verify your identity again since there was a gap. Have your documents ready. - Consider reaching out to any local immigrant services organizations in your area - they sometimes have emergency assistance funds for situations exactly like yours when someone needs to travel abroad for family medical emergencies. - If your restaurant job is understanding about holding your position, ask for a letter confirming your expected return date. This can help when you resume job searching activities. The financial hit sucks, but you're doing the right thing by not risking fraud charges. Your mother needs you right now, and the benefits will be there when you get back. Sending positive thoughts for her surgery and recovery.

I'm really sorry to hear about your mother's emergency surgery - that's such an incredibly stressful situation to be dealing with while you're already navigating unemployment challenges. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about not filing claims while you're abroad. I wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works in benefits administration (not PA UC specifically, but similar programs). The reason these international travel restrictions exist isn't just bureaucratic red tape - unemployment benefits are specifically designed as a safety net for people who are actively seeking work and immediately available to accept employment. When you're out of the country, even for the most legitimate reasons, you simply can't fulfill those core requirements. A few additional suggestions that might help: - Before you leave, save screenshots or print copies of your current claim status and benefit information, just in case you need to reference anything when you return - Consider setting up a simple spreadsheet to track the dates you'll be away so you have clear documentation - If you have any trusted friends or family in the area, you might ask them to keep an eye out for any important mail from PA UC while you're gone The three weeks without benefits will definitely be tough financially, but you're absolutely making the right choice by following the rules. Your claim will be there when you return, and hopefully your part-time job will be understanding about the family emergency. Wishing your mother a successful surgery and smooth recovery. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's surgery - what a stressful situation to be dealing with on top of everything else. Everyone here has given you really solid advice about not filing while you're abroad. I went through something similar when my grandmother had a stroke in El Salvador last year. I was terrified about losing my benefits completely, but it turned out exactly like people are saying - I just didn't file for the two weeks I was gone, and when I came back I resumed filing with no issues at all. The hardest part was the financial strain of missing those two weeks of benefits, especially since I had to pay for the emergency flight too. A couple things that helped me: - I called my credit card companies before leaving to explain the situation and ask about payment deferrals - I reached out to local churches and community organizations - one actually had a small emergency fund that helped with groceries when I got back - I used the time while I was there to update my resume and started applying to jobs online from my phone during quiet moments When I returned and resumed filing, the system just asked me to explain the gap and I was honest about being out of the country for a family emergency. No problems whatsoever. Your mom is lucky to have you there to help with her recovery. The benefits will definitely be waiting for you when you get back. Wishing her a successful surgery and quick healing.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's emergency surgery - that must be incredibly overwhelming to deal with while you're already managing your unemployment situation. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about not filing claims while abroad. I wanted to add a suggestion that might help with the financial strain: since you mentioned you've been working part-time at a restaurant, you might want to see if any of your coworkers would be willing to pick up a few extra shifts before you leave. Even one or two additional shifts could help cushion the blow of missing those three weeks of benefits. Also, when you do return and resume filing, make sure you're prepared to immediately restart your work search activities since you'll need to demonstrate that you're actively seeking employment again. Maybe use some of your travel time to think about what types of positions you want to target when you get back - it could help you hit the ground running. The fact that you won your appeal shows you're clearly eligible for these benefits, so don't worry too much about your claim disappearing. It will be there when you return and are available for work again. Sending positive thoughts for your mom's surgery and recovery. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

I'm really sorry to hear about your mother's emergency surgery - that's such a stressful situation to navigate on top of your unemployment challenges. As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all the advice here and it's incredibly helpful to see so many people sharing their experiences. The consensus is definitely clear: don't file claims while you're abroad, even for legitimate family emergencies. One thing I wanted to add that I didn't see mentioned much - since you mentioned you finally won your appeal after 6 weeks, make sure you keep all that documentation from your successful appeal in a safe place while you travel. You never know if you might need to reference it again when you return, especially if there are any questions about your claim status after the gap in filing. Also, regarding your part-time restaurant job - definitely have that conversation with your manager as soon as possible. In my experience, most restaurant managers understand that family emergencies happen, and if you've been a reliable employee, they're often willing to work with you. Even if they can't hold your exact position, they might be able to bring you back when you return. The financial hit from missing three weeks of benefits is going to be tough, but you're absolutely doing the right thing by following the rules and being there for your mom when she needs you most. Wishing your mother a successful surgery and smooth recovery. This community seems incredibly supportive, so don't hesitate to reach out when you return if you need any help navigating the process of resuming your claims.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's emergency surgery - what an incredibly difficult situation to be dealing with while you're already managing unemployment stress. Reading through this thread, it's clear that everyone is giving you the same solid advice: absolutely do not file claims while you're out of the country, even for a legitimate family emergency. The risk of fraud charges and overpayment demands is just too high, as several people have shared from their own experiences. Since you'll be missing three weeks of income during an already tight financial period, here are a few additional suggestions that might help: - Contact your local food banks or churches before you leave - many have emergency assistance programs for situations exactly like this - See if you can pick up a few extra restaurant shifts this week to build up a small cushion - Check if your previous employer (the one who wrongfully terminated you) owes you any unused vacation or sick pay that you could claim now - Set up payment arrangements with utility companies if needed - most are understanding about temporary financial hardships due to family emergencies The good news is that when you return, you should be able to resume filing without any major complications, and you'll likely receive your full benefit amount instead of the reduced partial benefits you've been getting while working part-time. Document your travel dates carefully and be honest about the gap in filing when you return. Your successful appeal shows you're clearly eligible for these benefits, so your claim will definitely be waiting for you. Wishing your mother a successful surgery and speedy recovery. You're being a good son by being there for her during this critical time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's emergency surgery - that's an incredibly stressful situation to be dealing with while you're already navigating unemployment challenges. As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this thread and it's clear everyone is giving you consistent, solid advice: absolutely do NOT file claims while you're out of the country, even for legitimate family emergencies. The experiences people have shared about fraud investigations and overpayment penalties are really sobering. A few thoughts that might help during this difficult time: - Since you mentioned winning your appeal recently, make sure to keep copies of all that documentation with you or in a safe place while traveling - you worked hard for that win and don't want to lose any important paperwork - Consider asking a trusted friend or family member to collect your mail while you're gone in case there's anything important from PA UC - When you do return and resume filing, having clear documentation of your exact travel dates will make explaining the gap much easier The financial impact of missing three weeks of benefits is going to be tough, especially with emergency travel costs, but you're absolutely making the right choice by following the rules and being there for your mom when she needs you most. Your claim will definitely be waiting for you when you return - the fact that you successfully won your appeal shows you're clearly eligible for these benefits. Hoping your mother's surgery goes smoothly and she has a quick recovery. This community seems incredibly supportive, so don't hesitate to reach out when you get back if you need help navigating the restart process.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's emergency surgery - what an incredibly stressful situation to be dealing with while you're already managing the challenges of unemployment and your recent appeal win. After reading through all the responses here, it's absolutely clear that you should NOT file claims while you're abroad, even for such a legitimate family emergency. The experiences shared by others about fraud investigations, overpayment penalties, and the strict enforcement of this rule really drive home how serious PA UC is about this requirement. A couple of additional thoughts that might help: - Since you just won your appeal after 6 weeks of fighting, make sure you have digital copies of all that documentation backed up somewhere safe before you travel - you don't want to risk losing any of that hard-earned paperwork - Consider reaching out to any local Mexican-American community organizations in your area before you leave - they sometimes have resources or emergency funds specifically to help families dealing with medical emergencies abroad - When you return, you might want to have a brief written summary of your travel dates and the reason for your absence ready, just to make the restart process as smooth as possible The three weeks without benefits will definitely be a financial challenge, especially with emergency travel costs, but you're absolutely doing the right thing by following the rules and being there for your mom during her recovery. Your claim will be waiting for you when you get back, and hopefully your restaurant job will be understanding about the family emergency. Wishing your mother a successful surgery and speedy recovery. You're being a wonderful son by prioritizing her health and wellbeing during this critical time.