Do I need to call PA UC to reopen my claim for this week's temporary layoff?
My employer just told us they don't have any work available this week (construction company and weather delays). I was collecting unemployment over the winter but went back to work about 2 months ago. Now I need to file again just for this week. Do I have to call the UC office to reopen my claim, or can I just go online and do everything through the website? I'm worried because last time I tried calling it took FOREVER to get through. My benefit year isn't expired yet, so I'm hoping I can just go back to filing weekly claims without having to deal with reopening the whole thing. Anyone know the right process for temporary layoffs when you've already got an existing claim?
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Eduardo Silva
You don't need to call! Just log onto your PA UC account and there should be a button that says "Reopen an Existing Claim" somewhere on your dashboard. As long as your benefit year is still active (sounds like it is), you can do everything online. The system will ask you some questions about why you stopped filing and why you're filing again. Just answer honestly that you returned to work but are now temporarily laid off due to lack of work. Should be pretty straightforward.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you! That's a huge relief. I'll log in and look for that button right now.
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Leila Haddad
same thing happened to me last month! didnt have to call nobody just went online and clicked reopen claim. took like 10 minutes tops
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Freya Andersen
•That's great to hear! Did you get your payment on time after reopening online, or was there a delay?
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Leila Haddad
•got it normal time no problems at all
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Emma Johnson
Everyone is giving good advice about reopening online, but I want to add one important thing: make sure you complete your work search activities even for a temporary layoff week. You need to complete at least 2 work search activities each week you claim (apply for jobs, attend job fairs, create a resume, etc.). A lot of people miss this step and then get in trouble later with audit notices and overpayments.
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Freya Andersen
•Shoot, I totally forgot about that requirement! Thanks for the reminder. I'll make sure to do some job applications even though I expect to go back next week.
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Ravi Patel
The online system is SO FRUSTRATING sometimes! I tried reopening my claim online last month and the system kept giving me an error message saying "unable to process request" over and over! Wasted 3 hours trying different browsers and everything. FINALLY had to call and of course couldn't get through for days!!!! The PA UC phone system is a JOKE - 99% of the time it just says "we're experiencing high call volume" and hangs up on you! It's like they don't want us to get our benefits!!
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Astrid Bergström
•I had the same issue with the online system crashing on me too! I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual UC rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. You might want to check them out at claimyr.com if you keep having problems with the website. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. It was worth it for me because I couldn't afford to keep missing out on weekly payments while waiting to get through.
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PixelPrincess
•i had that error thing happen too but i just waited till the next day and tried again at like 6am and it worked fine. their system gets overloaded during normal hours
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Omar Farouk
Does anyone know if reopening a claim affects your remaining balance? I have a similar situation coming up next month where we'll be shutdown for 2 weeks for facility renovations. I have about $4500 left in my balance from my winter layoff and don't want to mess anything up.
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Eduardo Silva
•Reopening doesn't affect your balance at all. Your balance will decrease by whatever weekly amount you're eligible for each week you claim. So if your weekly benefit amount is $500, and you claim for 2 weeks, your balance will decrease by $1000. The act of reopening itself doesn't change anything about your monetary eligibility or remaining balance.
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Freya Andersen
Update: I just tried the online reopening process and it worked perfectly! Found the button right on my dashboard like you all said. Took about 15 minutes to answer all the questions. The system says I should be able to file my weekly certification this Sunday. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Emma Johnson
•Great to hear! Just remember those work search activities - log them in the system when you do your weekly certification.
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Leila Haddad
•👍 nice! told ya it was easy
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StormChaser
Construction worker here too! Just wanted to add that if you're expecting to go back to work soon (like within a week or two), make sure to report your expected return-to-work date when you reopen your claim. The system will ask about it during the reopening process. Also, if your employer gave you any documentation about the temporary layoff (like a notice or email), keep that handy in case UC asks for it later. Weather-related shutdowns are pretty common in our industry and UC understands that, so you should be fine as long as you're honest about everything.
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Effie Alexander
•This is really helpful advice! I didn't think about keeping documentation from my employer. They just told us verbally yesterday but I'll ask for an email or something in writing just in case. Good point about reporting the expected return date too - I'm hoping we'll be back by early next week once this weather clears up.
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