Can I reopen my PA UC claim after hospital stay caused missed filings?

Ugh the PA UC system is so frustrating when life happens!! Yes you need to reopen your claim ASAP. Go to your dashboard and look for the 'reopen claim' option. Be prepared for them to make this unnecessarily complicated because THEY ALWAYS DO. Make sure you have your hospital admission/discharge papers ready because they WILL ask for proof. And in my experience, they probably won't automatically backdate your payments - you'll have to specifically request that through the message center and explain your situation. Good luck!!!

similar thing happened to me last yr when i had surgery. you can reopen but u gotta call them to get the missed weeks. online system wont let u claim past weeks no matter what. i waited 3 weeks trying to get thru b4 i found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to a real person at PA UC in like 20 min. worth every penny cuz i was bout to lose my mind with the busy signals. check out claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

Let me clarify the official process here: 1. Yes, you need to reopen your claim since it became inactive when you missed filing weekly certifications. 2. For the weeks you missed while in the hospital, you'll need to request a "Credit for Weeks of Ineligibility" through the UC service center. This is specifically designed for situations where illness prevented you from filing. 3. You must be "able and available" for work when you reopen, but having documentation from your doctor stating you're now cleared to work (even with limitations) can satisfy this requirement. 4. Be sure to upload all your medical documentation through your dashboard or the document upload tool. 5. When reopening, there will be a section asking why you didn't file - select "Medical reasons" and provide a brief explanation. The key is documentation - have discharge papers and any doctor's notes ready.

I went thru this exact thing in January!!! Here's what I learned the hard way: - YES reopen your claim right away - When you get to the question about why you didn't file, pick medical reasons - BUT HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART: they will NOT automatically pay you for the missed weeks - You have to specifically request backpayments through the messaging center - In the message clearly state: "I am requesting Credit for Weeks of Ineligibility due to hospitalization" - Upload your medical docs right away Also, I hate to say it but unless things have changed in the last few months, you're probably going to need to talk to someone. I had to call 38 times before getting through. Start calling the moment they open at 8am.

when i got hurt last summer they told me i couldnt get unemployment if i wasnt able to work. something about being able and available. but that was for a new claim not reopening so maybe its different for you?

Everyone's giving good advice about reopening, but just want to say - make sure you answer the health questions correctly when you reopen. If you say you're still too sick to work AT ALL, they'll deny your claim. You need to be at least partially available for some type of work. Maybe say you could do remote work or part-time. Just being honest about how the system works.

Sorry to hear about your pneumonia, that's rough! When I had to reopen my claim last year (different reason), it took about 10 days before I could start filing weekly claims again. The online system is actually pretty straightforward for reopening, but getting backpayments for those missed weeks might be where you run into problems. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Just want to add my experience - I had a similar situation with a family emergency that kept me from filing for 3 weeks. The reopening part was actually easier than I expected, but getting those missed weeks paid was a nightmare. Here's what I wish I'd known: 1) Don't just send one message about the Credit for Weeks of Ineligibility - follow up every few days until someone responds, 2) If possible, get a doctor's note that specifically mentions you were "unable to file unemployment claims" during your hospital stay (not just that you were sick), and 3) Screenshot everything in case they lose your documentation. The whole process took me 2 months but I did eventually get all my backpay. Stay persistent and don't let them brush you off!

Hey there! I'm so sorry to hear about your hospitalization - pneumonia is no joke and I hope you're recovering well. I actually went through something very similar about 8 months ago when I had emergency surgery and missed 3 weeks of filings. Here's what I learned: The good news is that PA does have a process for this exact situation, but you really need to be proactive about it. First, definitely reopen your claim ASAP through the online portal. When it asks why you didn't file, select medical reasons and be specific about the hospitalization dates. The key thing everyone's mentioned about "Credit for Weeks of Ineligibility" is absolutely correct - that's the official term you need to use. But here's something I learned the hard way: when you send that message through the system, also include the phrase "temporary medical inability to file claims" because that's what triggers them to look at it as a filing issue rather than a work availability issue. Also, if you can get your doctor to write a letter stating that you were "medically unable to perform normal activities including filing unemployment claims" during your hospital stay and recovery period, that really helps. The more specific the better. Don't get discouraged if it takes a while - mine took about 6 weeks total but I did get every penny of backpay. You've got this!