Can I file PA UC for one week as a casual employee during holiday closure?

Yes, you can file for what's called a 'partial benefit week' in PA! Since you're employed but temporarily not working, you qualify as long as you meet the financial eligibility requirements. Go to the PA UC website and reopen your previous claim if it's still in the same benefit year, or file a new one if it's been more than a year. Just make sure you accurately report that you're still employed but had zero hours that week.

sme thing happened 2 me last xmas. yes u can file but be ready 4 them 2 take FOREVER to process. i ended up back at work b4 i saw a penny lol

You'll need to file a new claim since your old one was from 2023. It's completely legitimate to file for just one week of benefits - that's actually what the system is designed for. Just be sure to indicate you're still employed but temporarily without work for that week. However, be aware of a few things: 1. There's a waiting week for new claims (first week you're eligible but won't get paid) 2. Processing can take 2-3 weeks under normal circumstances 3. You'll need to complete work search activities even for a one-week claim Given these factors, you might not see payment before returning to work if it's just for one week.

I tried to file for a holiday week last december and it was a HUGE HASSLE. they kept sending me emails about needing additional info and by the time i got thru to anyone i was back at work already. total waste of time for me tbh

If you're struggling to decide if it's worth filing, I'd suggest trying to get through to a UC representative to discuss your specific situation. After dealing with endless busy signals trying to reach PA UC myself, I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to a rep in about 20 minutes. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. A quick call could save you a lot of confusion and time. The rep can tell you exactly whether the waiting week would apply in your case and if filing for one week makes sense for your situation.

Just to clarify about the waiting week - if you've filed before and it's been less than 4 years since your previous benefit year, you may not have to serve another waiting week. This is something a UC rep could confirm for your specific case. Also, regarding work search - since you have a definite return date within 2 weeks, you might qualify for a work search exemption. Again, something to ask about specifically.

I was a seasonal worker for years and would file during our annual 2-week shutdown. Here's what I learned: - If u already have a PIN from before, use that same login - Answer YES when it asks if you're still employed but temporarily without work - Be prepared to upload or fax proof from employer about the closure - They might want a return-to-work date - You DO have to do the work searches unless you get an exemption Honestly for just 1 week it might not be worth the hassle but if you're tight on money it's your right to claim it!

After reading through this thread, I think speaking with a UC representative is your best bet. They can verify if your previous claim is still accessible, whether you'd need to serve a waiting week, and if you qualify for a work search exemption given your situation. For just one week, it might be cutting it close timing-wise, but it doesn't hurt to check.