Can I collect PA unemployment and Social Security at the same time after being laid off?
Hi everyone, I just got laid off last week from my job at a warehouse where I've been working for the past 7 years. I'm 62 and was actually planning to apply for early Social Security next month, but now with this layoff I'm wondering if I can apply for both unemployment and Social Security at the same time? Will one affect the other? I heard something about PA UC reducing benefits if you get other income. My severance is only about $1,650 and I really need both income streams right now. Any advice would be appreciated!
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Rosie Harper
Yes, you can collect both PA unemployment and Social Security at the same time. Unlike some states, Pennsylvania does NOT consider Social Security retirement benefits as deductible income for unemployment purposes. This means your UC benefits won't be reduced because you're receiving Social Security. Just make sure you report that you're applying for both when you file your initial UC claim for accuracy.
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Darren Brooks
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. Do I need to report the Social Security amount somewhere specific on my weekly claims once I start receiving it?
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Elliott luviBorBatman
im on both right now. social security doesnt affect ur unemployment in PA but remember unemploymnet IS taxable income but u can choose to have taxes withheld when u file. also dont forget u still gotta do the work search requirements every week even if ur retirement age
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Demi Hall
•Actually, Social Security is sometimes taxable too, depending on your total income. If your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) exceeds $25,000 for individuals or $32,000 for married filing jointly, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable. The OP should consider this when planning finances.
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Mateusius Townsend
WHATEVER YOU DO DONT TELL SOCIAL SECURITY YOURE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT!!!! My brother lost his benefits when he told them!!!
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Kara Yoshida
•This is incorrect information. Social Security retirement benefits are not affected by unemployment compensation. You must report accurate information to both agencies. What your brother experienced was likely related to SSDI (disability) which has different rules than retirement benefits, or perhaps involved underreporting income for SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Regular Social Security retirement benefits and unemployment can be collected simultaneously in Pennsylvania.
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Philip Cowan
I applied for both last year when I got laid off from retail. One thing nobody mentioned yet is that you need to be able and available for work to qualify for PA UC. So if you're applying for Social Security because you can't work anymore, that could disqualify you from unemployment. But if you're still able to work and just collecting early SS retirement, you should be fine.
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Darren Brooks
•That's a really good point. I'm definitely still able and willing to work! I was only considering Social Security now because I'm eligible for the early option and thought it would supplement my income.
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Caesar Grant
When I was trying to reach PA Unemployment about a similar situation last month, I kept getting busy signals and disconnections for days. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a UC rep within 20 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Was really helpful for getting a clear answer about my specific situation instead of guessing or waiting weeks for a callback.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•did that actually work?? ive been trying to get through for 2 weeks about my open issue
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Demi Hall
To add some important details: In Pennsylvania, you need to complete 6 work search activities per week (applying to jobs, attending job fairs, etc). Make sure you're documenting these properly when filing your weekly claims. As for the Social Security aspect, remember that taking early retirement at 62 means your monthly benefit is reduced by about 30% compared to waiting until full retirement age (66-67 depending on birth year). This reduction is permanent, so consider whether a temporary period on unemployment while job searching might be better than locking in reduced SS benefits for life.
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Darren Brooks
•You've given me a lot to think about. I hadn't fully considered the long-term impact of taking Social Security early. Maybe I should focus on finding another job while on unemployment rather than rushing into Social Security.
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Lena Schultz
the system is designed to confuse us i swear... i ended up in the same boat last year and the unemployment office told me one thing and social security told me something different! its like they dont even talk to each other!!!
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Rosie Harper
•They don't talk to each other because they're completely separate systems with different funding sources and rules. But for retirement benefits specifically, the rules are actually pretty clear in PA: you can collect both without reduction. It's disability benefits where things get more complicated and can affect each other.
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Kara Yoshida
Here's a quick summary of what everyone has mentioned plus a couple additional points: 1. In PA, you CAN receive both unemployment and Social Security retirement benefits simultaneously 2. PA does NOT reduce your UC benefits because of SS retirement income 3. You must still be able and available for work to receive UC benefits 4. You must complete 6 work search activities each week 5. Consider the permanent reduction in taking SS early (approximately 30% less for life) 6. Both unemployment compensation and Social Security may be subject to federal income tax 7. Keep detailed records of all applications and communications 8. When you find new employment, you'll need to report your earnings to both systems appropriately Hope this helps organize the information!
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Darren Brooks
•Thank you so much for summarizing everything! This is extremely helpful. Based on all the advice here, I think I'll apply for unemployment right away but hold off on Social Security while I look for another job. If I can't find something in a few months, I'll reconsider the Social Security option.
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Anastasia Ivanova
•That sounds like a smart approach! Just wanted to add that when you do apply for UC, make sure to file your initial claim as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. Also, if you worked in other states in the past 18 months, you might need to file an interstate claim. The PA UC system will walk you through this during the application process. Good luck with your job search!
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Cass Green
Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening! I'm 60 and work in manufacturing, so this hits close to home. One question I haven't seen addressed - if you're collecting both PA unemployment and Social Security retirement benefits, are there any issues with healthcare coverage? Like, does collecting UC affect your ability to get subsidized health insurance through the marketplace, or does the combined income push you into a different tax bracket that affects other benefits? I know healthcare costs can be a major factor when you're between jobs at our age, so I'm curious if anyone has experience navigating that aspect of collecting both types of benefits simultaneously.
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Chloe Mitchell
•That's a really important question about healthcare! From my experience, both unemployment compensation and Social Security retirement benefits count as income when calculating your eligibility for marketplace subsidies. The combined income could potentially push you above the income limits for premium tax credits (which are based on percentages of the federal poverty level). However, the good news is that neither UC nor SS retirement benefits affect your eligibility for Medicare once you turn 65. If you're not yet Medicare-eligible, you might want to look into COBRA continuation coverage from your former employer as a bridge option, though it can be expensive. I'd definitely recommend using the healthcare.gov calculator with your projected combined income to see how it affects subsidy eligibility before making decisions about timing. Also worth noting that some people in this age group find that the marketplace plans without subsidies might still be more affordable than COBRA, depending on your specific situation.
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