Confused about PA UC weekly work search activities beyond job applications - what counts?
I'm completely lost about the PA unemployment work search requirements! The website says: "you are required to apply for two jobs and participate in one work search activity each week, beginning with the third week in your benefit year." I've been applying to 2+ jobs weekly since week 3, but what is this additional "work search activity" they're talking about??? Is this different from the job applications? I've just been doing applications and now I'm worried I've been doing it wrong for weeks. Will they deny my payments? Someone mentioned taking a class counts? I haven't done any classes! What qualifies as a work search activity and how do I document it properly? HELP please - I don't want to lose my benefits over this confusion!!!
21 comments
Join the conversation
Dmitry Volkov
The work search activity is separate from the two job applications. Pennsylvania UC considers these as acceptable work search activities: - Attending a job fair - Creating or posting your resume on PA CareerLink - Taking a civil service test - Participating in workshops at PA CareerLink - Using an employment agency or headhunter - Taking a class related to your job skills - Creating a personal business card - Networking with professional organizations in your field You need to document the date and what activity you did. Keep records for 2 years in case they audit you. For example, if you posted your resume on CareerLink, save the confirmation email.
0 coins
Sofia Martinez
AuthorOMG thank you!!! i had no idea there was a whole separate thing. so i need to do 2 job applications PLUS one of those activities?? i havent been doing any of those...do you think ill be in trouble? should i call them??
0 coins
Ava Thompson
wait dont u get a email from PAcareerlink evry week to do a workshop? i thought that was the thing they meant. i been doing that and 2 job applications and my claims r going thru fine
0 coins
CyberSiren
Those are actually two different things. The CareerLink emails are optional resources, but they can count as your weekly work search activity if you actually participate in them. Just receiving the email doesn't count - you need to attend the workshop or complete the activity they're offering.
0 coins
Miguel Alvarez
i was confused about this too lol. i just go on indeed and apply to 3 jobs each week and call it a day. been getting paid with no issues for like 2 months now, but maybe im just lucky?? 🤷♀️
0 coins
Zainab Yusuf
THE SYSTEM IS TOTALLY INCONSISTENT! Some people skate by doing nothing while others get audited and penalized for minor mistakes! I got hit with an 'intent to defraud' for accidentally entering my part-time hours wrong ONE TIME even though I called to correct it. Meanwhile my neighbor hasn't done ANY work search and has been collecting for months no problem. The whole PA UC system is broken and designed to trip people up!
0 coins
Dmitry Volkov
To clarify what counts for the weekly work search activity, here's the full list directly from the PA UC website: - Attending a job fair - Searching for positions on job search websites - Creating and uploading a resume to a job board - Establishing or updating a LinkedIn profile - Taking a civil service test - Participating in a workshop (online or in-person) - Networking events related to your field - Meeting with a career counselor You need to document the date, what activity you did, and any relevant details (like the website where you posted your resume). This documentation is crucial if you're ever audited.
0 coins
Connor O'Reilly
This is really helpful info! One question about this - does updating your existing resume on a job board count as a work search activity for that week? Or does it only count when you first create/upload it?
0 coins
Yara Khoury
When I was on UC last year I had the same confusion! I ended up getting through to an agent who told me posting your resume on JobGateway or PA CareerLink is the easiest way to satisfy the work search activity requirement. Just make sure to save the confirmation email as proof. They seem to audit randomly, so better safe than sorry!
0 coins
Sofia Martinez
AuthorThanks for the advice! How did you manage to get through to an actual person? I've been calling for 2 days and just get the busy signal or it hangs up!
0 coins
CyberSiren
If you're worried you haven't been meeting the requirements, you should start doing proper work search activities immediately going forward. The easiest one is probably creating/updating your profile on PA CareerLink. As for past weeks, they don't usually audit everyone, but if they do audit you and find you weren't in compliance, you might have to pay back benefits for those weeks. It's your call whether to proactively report this to them or just ensure compliance going forward.
0 coins
Sofia Martinez
AuthorI'm definitely going to start doing this correctly now. Do you think I should call and explain the situation? I'm worried about having to repay anything since I'm barely making it as is.
0 coins
Miguel Alvarez
ppl r saying look at PA CareerLink but their website is sooooo buggy for me, anyone else? it keeps logging me out when i try to do anything
0 coins
Ava Thompson
ya happens to me 2. try using chrome browser instead of explorer that worked 4 me
0 coins
Zainab Yusuf
If you're trying to reach the UC office to ask about this, GOOD LUCK! I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get through on the phone. By the time I finally talked to someone, I'd already missed out on four weeks of benefits that they wouldn't backdate. The whole system is DESIGNED to make you fail!
0 coins
Keisha Taylor
I had the same awful experience trying to get through to PA UC. After wasting days with busy signals, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. It was actually worth it because I was able to get my work search questions answered and make sure my claim stayed active. Much better than stressing for weeks!
0 coins
Dmitry Volkov
One important thing to know: when you file your weekly certification, there's now a section where you need to report your work search activities. You'll need to input: 1. The dates you applied for 2 jobs 2. Company names and contact info 3. The date and type of your additional work search activity If you've been skipping the work search activity, the system might have been letting you proceed anyway (which explains why some people haven't had issues), but technically you're not in compliance with the requirements.
0 coins
Sofia Martinez
AuthorI just checked my certifications and I think I've been doing it wrong! When it asks about work search, I've just been saying YES because I did apply for jobs, but I haven't been entering anything for the third activity. I'll start doing this correctly now - hopefully they don't come after me for the past weeks.
0 coins
Connor O'Reilly
After researching this thoroughly for my own claim, I can confirm that you absolutely need to do BOTH the two job applications AND one work search activity every week starting with week 3 of your benefit year. I recommend creating a spreadsheet to track everything since they can audit you for up to two years after your claim. For the work search activity, I find the easiest ones are: 1. Updating your resume on PA CareerLink 2. Taking their free online workshops 3. Creating job alerts on job search sites (this counts!) Hope this helps!
0 coins
Ava Thompson
thx for info about job alerts counting! didnt know that was a option
0 coins
Ethan Moore
This is such great information everyone! I'm new to UC and was making the same mistake as Sofia - just doing job applications and thinking that was enough. Quick question for those who've been through this: if I start doing the work search activities correctly now (I'm only on week 5), should I be worried about the previous weeks where I only did job applications? I'm getting really anxious about having to pay anything back since I genuinely didn't understand the requirements. Also, does anyone know if attending virtual job fairs counts the same as in-person ones? I saw a few virtual ones coming up that might be easier for me to attend. Thanks for all the helpful advice - this community is a lifesaver!
0 coins