Can I reapply for PA UC after benefits exhausted last year? Still unemployed.

saaame boat here. my benefits ran out in september and its been hell trying to get something stable. i think u gotta file a whole new claim but not 100% sure

You need to file a completely new initial claim. PA UC benefits are based on a benefit year, which lasts for 12 months from your initial application date. Since it's been a full year, you can apply for a new benefit year. However, there's an important catch - you need to have worked and earned wages in the period since your original claim. PA requires you to have earned at least 6x your weekly benefit rate in covered employment since filing your previous claim to qualify for a second benefit year.

Wait, so I need to have earned 6x my weekly benefit amount since my last claim? I've only had a couple of very short temp jobs that probably don't add up to that much. My weekly benefit was around $380, so I would need to have earned over $2,280 since then? That might be close but I'm not sure I hit that threshold. This is really worrying...

The PA UC system is ABSURD!!!! I was in your exact situation last year and wasted WEEKS trying to get through to an agent to figure out if I qualified. Keep calling that stupid 888 number that NEVER ANSWERS and getting disconnected over and over. Eventually had to just file and pray!!! The worst part is you won't know if you qualify until they process everything which takes FOREVER!!!!!

I think you should just file anyway and see what happens. The system will check your wages automatically. My cousin just went thru this and even though she only worked like 3 weeks at Target during her benefit year they still approved her for a new claim. But it was like half the amount of her first claim or something. Better than nothing tho!

To give you complete information: You can file a new initial claim now that your benefit year has ended. When filing, you'll need to report all employment since your last claim, including those temp jobs. The system will then determine if you meet the qualifying requirements: 1. The 6x rule mentioned above (earned at least 6x your weekly benefit rate) 2. Regular base period requirements (having enough wages in your new base period) If you don't meet the 6x rule but do have qualifying wages in your base period, you may be eligible for what's called a "hardship waiver" of the 6x requirement. You would need to request this specifically after filing. Also, when you file, make sure to file a new initial claim rather than trying to reopen your old claim, since your benefit year has expired.

When I lost my job at the warehouse last year I had the same problem. I ended up having to apply for cash assistance through the county office instead because I didn't have enough wages for a new UC claim. You might want to look into that as a backup plan. They made me sign up for their work program but at least it was something coming in while I kept job hunting.

I want to thank everyone who responded. I'm going to file a new claim today and make sure I document all my temp work carefully. I'll also look into that Claimyr service if I need to speak with someone directly. And I appreciate the suggestion about county assistance programs as a backup plan. This community has been so helpful when the official resources aren't! I'll update once I hear something back about my claim.

Good luck with your new claim! Just wanted to add that when you file, make sure you keep detailed records of everything - your temp job dates, wages, when you filed, confirmation numbers, etc. The PA UC system can be really glitchy and sometimes claims get lost in the system. I learned this the hard way when my first claim disappeared for like 3 weeks and I had no proof I'd filed. Also, if they do approve you but at a lower benefit amount, don't be discouraged - like someone mentioned, something is better than nothing while you keep looking for steady work. Hang in there!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I was in the same boat - benefits exhausted, struggling to find work, and wasn't sure about the reapplication process. I did end up qualifying for a new benefit year even though my temp work barely met the 6x requirement. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is that you can actually start the application process online and it will walk you through all the wage reporting step by step. The system is pretty good at calculating whether you meet the requirements automatically. Also, don't stress too much about the exact dollar amounts from your temp jobs - the system pulls wage data directly from employers, so as long as you report the jobs and approximate dates, they'll get the official numbers. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me to get my first payment, which was faster than I expected. Hope this helps and good luck!

Hey there! I'm in a really similar situation - my benefits ran out in December 2023 and I've been piecing together gig work and odd jobs since then. Reading through everyone's responses here has been super helpful. I had no idea about the 6x rule or the hardship waiver option! I've been putting off reapplying because I assumed I wouldn't qualify, but now I'm thinking I should at least try. My weekly benefit was around $340, so I'd need about $2,040 in wages since my last claim. Between some freelance work and a brief stint at a retail job during the holidays, I might actually be close to that threshold. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really comforting to know I'm not alone in this struggle. The job market has been absolutely brutal lately. I'm going to follow the advice here and file a new initial claim this week. Fingers crossed!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. My benefits expired in April 2023 and I was terrified to reapply because I thought I didn't have enough work. Turns out I had just barely enough from some part-time retail work and a few weeks of construction to meet that 6x requirement everyone's talking about. The key thing is to be super detailed when you list your work history - include EVERYTHING, even if it was just a few days or seemed insignificant. I included a one-week catering gig that I almost forgot about and it ended up putting me over the threshold. Also, don't get discouraged if your new weekly benefit amount is lower - mine dropped from $365 to $280 but honestly any help was better than nothing while I kept searching. The whole process took about 4 weeks from filing to first payment. One last tip: if you do get approved, make sure you understand the work search requirements for your new claim period because they might be different than before. Wishing you all the best - this community really helped me through a tough time and I'm glad to see people still supporting each other!

I just wanted to add something that might help - when you're gathering information about your temp work wages, you can actually request a wage statement from PA UC that shows all the wages reported under your SSN. I learned this trick from a friend who works at the local CareerLink. You can call and ask for your "wage and benefit statement" which will show you exactly what employers have reported for you. This way you'll know for sure if you meet that 6x threshold before you even file. It can save you the anxiety of wondering whether you qualify. The number is the same one everyone complains about (the 888 number that never answers), but if you can get through, they can email or mail you this statement usually within a few days. Just another tool to help you feel more prepared before starting the application process!