Can I receive PA UC benefits while waiting for delayed severance after 17-year job layoff?

Yes, you should apply for UC benefits immediately after your last day worked. In Pennsylvania, severance doesn't impact your eligibility if you're not receiving it yet. The key thing is to report the severance when you actually receive it - at that point PA UC will evaluate if/how it affects your weekly benefits. Make sure you keep documentation of your layoff and the severance agreement showing the delayed payment schedule. Also start doing your work search activities right away (you need to apply to at least 2 jobs and do 1 work search activity weekly).

I got laid off in January and my severance was delayed for 6 weeks. I actually had the EXACT same question and was super confused. Make sure when you file your initial claim you answer "NO" to the question about receiving severance/vacation payout with your final check. Then when you DO receive the severance months later, you report it on your weekly certification for THAT week. I made the mistake of reporting my future severance on the initial application and it totally messed up my claim and took forever to fix!!!

The advice above is mostly correct, but I want to clarify a few important things about PA unemployment and severance: 1. File your initial claim immediately after your last day 2. When you later receive severance, you must report it during weekly certification 3. PA calculates severance impact based on your weekly benefit rate (WBR) 4. If your weekly severance equivalent exceeds your WBR plus partial benefit credit (currently $170), you won't receive benefits for those weeks 5. You STILL NEED TO FILE YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS even during weeks you receive severance Missing weekly certifications is the #1 reason people lose benefits. Even if your severance temporarily disqualifies you for payment, keep filing so your claim stays active!

I BET they're doing this delay thing ON PURPOSE to avoid paying unemployment! Companies KNOW that severance affects unemployment so they delay it hoping you'll be employed again by then so they don't have to pay into the system when their rates go up. It's all a SCAM. Make sure you document EVERYTHING and fight if they try to deny you!!

I had trouble reaching someone at PA UC about my severance situation last year. After getting busy signals for three days, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. They connected me within 30 minutes and the agent was able to explain exactly how my severance would affect my benefits. Their video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Saved me so much stress not having to guess about my situation.

make sure u answer the jb search questions right each week! my friend got denied bcuz she put down she didnt look for work one week and they stopped all her benefits! u gotta apply to 2 jobs EVERY WEEK no matter what

One more important thing to know: after you file, you may see an "open issue" on your claim while they verify your employment separation. This is normal and doesn't mean there's a problem. Since you're being laid off (not fired or quitting), you should be eligible without issues, but the verification can still take 2-3 weeks. If it takes longer, that's when you might want to try calling or using a service to reach them.

Just wanted to add from my experience - when you do file your initial claim, make sure you have your last employer's information ready including their federal tax ID number if possible. This speeds up the process. Also, even though you mentioned you've never filed before, don't let that stress you out - the online system walks you through everything step by step. I was also laid off after many years with the same company and was terrified about the whole process, but it's really not as complicated as it seems. The hardest part is just getting started. You've got this!