Do PA UC benefits include payment for the waiting week after filing?

Dang, that sucks. So I basically lose a week of benefits? My rent is due next week and I was counting on having that extra money. Thanks for explaining though.

Wait really?? I filed in February and never got my waiting week paid. Is this something you have to request specially or should it happen automatically?

This is so confusing!!! Some ppl say it gets paid some say it doesn't. has anyone actually RECEIVED a payment for their waiting week recently???

Oh that makes sense! So basically don't count on getting it unless my unemployment lasts the whole year? Thanks for the detailed explanation - the UC handbook wasn't clear about this at all.

I had the same issue trying to reach PA UC about my back payments. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through. They have this service where they connect you directly to a UC agent without waiting on hold. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Totally worth it since I needed to get my issue resolved before rent was due.

Thanks for explaining that! Makes sense why people have different experiences. I guess I'll budget assuming I won't get that week paid.

Just regular unemployment - I got laid off from my warehouse job. So sounds like I'm out of luck. Would've been nice to get that extra week though!

Have you tried messaging them through the portal? sometimes they owe you money and dont even tell you, my cousin had like $800 they never paid her until she asked!!!

Hey Kyle! I totally get the confusion - I was in the same boat when I started this process. From everything I've read here and my own experience, here's what seems to be the consensus: The waiting week is unpaid for regular UC claims like yours and mine. Don't count on getting that money unless you end up exhausting ALL your benefit weeks (which hopefully won't happen since you'll find work before then). My advice is to budget assuming you won't get paid for that first week. As for making sure you don't miss payments - just keep filing your biweekly claims on time and keep good records of your job search activities. The system is confusing but if you stay on top of the basic requirements you should be okay. Good luck with your claim!

@Kyle Wallace Just went through this myself a couple months ago! The waiting week is definitely unpaid for regular claims - learned that the hard way when I was counting on that money too. What helped me was calling it my orientation "week mentally," like I m'learning the system but not getting paid yet. Make sure you file your weekly certifications on time every single week even if you don t'get paid for the first one - that s'super important. Also keep detailed records of every job you apply to because they can ask for that info later. The whole process is honestly pretty stressful at first but once you get into the rhythm it becomes routine. You got this!

Kyle, I feel your pain! I just went through this exact same confusion when I filed a few months back. Here's the deal based on my actual experience: The waiting week is NOT paid for regular unemployment claims - period. I made the mistake of budgeting for it and had to scramble when that money never came. The only exception seems to be if you use up ALL your benefit weeks over the entire year, then they might pay it retroactively, but don't bank on that happening. My recommendation? Plan your finances assuming you'll never see that waiting week payment. Focus on filing your biweekly claims on time and keeping good job search records. The uncertainty sucks but at least you'll know what to expect now!

Hey Kyle! I just started my claim about 3 weeks ago so this is all super fresh for me too. Based on what I've experienced and what everyone's saying here, definitely don't count on getting paid for that waiting week - I made that mistake and it really threw off my budget planning. What I wish someone had told me earlier is to set up a separate savings cushion for that first unpaid week if possible. Also, the UC website has a section where you can track all your payments and claim status - bookmark that page because you'll be checking it constantly! One more tip: start your job search documentation system right away. I use a simple spreadsheet with company name, position, date applied, and any follow-up. Makes the weekly certification process way less stressful when you have everything organized. Hang in there - the first few weeks are definitely the most confusing part!

This is really helpful, thanks Isabella! I'm also dealing with this waiting week situation right now. Just to clarify - when you say "prove you're really unemployed" week, does that mean they're actually reviewing your claim during that time? Or is it just an automatic delay built into the system? I'm wondering if there's anything I should be doing during that waiting week to help my claim get processed faster, or if it's just a matter of sitting tight and waiting for the system to catch up. Also, did you have any issues with your first payment after the waiting week, or did it come through smoothly once it was supposed to start?

Thanks for sharing your experience Jasmine! This "cooling off" period explanation makes way more sense than how the UC website describes it. I'm in week 2 of my claim now and just got my first payment yesterday - you're right that once you get past that waiting week the payments do seem to come through regularly. One question though - when you say keep detailed job search records, do you know specifically how many job contacts they expect per week? I've been applying to 3-4 jobs weekly but I'm worried that might not be enough if they audit me later. Also, did you have any trouble with the biweekly filing process or is it pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it?

@Jasmine Hernandez This is super helpful info! I m'just starting my claim this week and was really worried about that first unpaid week. Your cooling "off period explanation" makes it way clearer than anything I read on the PA UC website. Quick question - you mentioned keeping detailed job search records from day one. Do you know if there s'a specific format they prefer or minimum number of applications per week? I want to make sure I m'covering all my bases from the start. Also, did you run into any issues with the online filing system? I ve'heard some people have trouble with the website crashing during peak times.

Thanks for calling the UC office to get clarification - that must have taken forever to get through! Your point about still having to file for the unpaid waiting week is really important. I'm brand new to this system and probably would have skipped filing that first week thinking "why bother if I'm not getting paid anyway." Good to know it's actually required. The Google doc idea for job search tracking is smart too - I was just keeping mental notes but that's probably not going to cut it if they audit me later. Did they give you any guidance on how many job applications per week they expect, or is it just "reasonable search efforts"? Also really hoping I find work before exhausting all my benefits so I don't have to worry about whether that waiting week payment ever materializes!

Hey Harold! I went through the audit process about 8 months ago so I can share what they actually asked for. They wanted to see 3 job applications per week minimum, and I had to provide company names, positions applied for, dates, and method of application (online, in-person, etc.). They accepted my simple spreadsheet format - nothing fancy required. The audit was random, not because I did anything wrong, which was nerve-wracking! One big "gotcha" I wish I'd known: if you do any freelance or gig work while collecting UC (even just a few hours), you MUST report it on your weekly certification or you could get hit with an overpayment penalty later. Even if it's under the earnings threshold, report it. Also, save screenshots of your weekly certifications - the system sometimes glitches and having proof you filed on time can save you headaches. The process is honestly not as scary as it seems once you get into the routine, but definitely better to be over-prepared than under-prepared!

Thanks Liam, this is really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it! I'm in week 3 of my claim now and your confirmation about the waiting week being unpaid helps me stop second-guessing my budget planning. The direct deposit tip is great - I was wondering if that would speed things up. One question: when you say "exhaust ALL your benefit weeks," does that mean using up every single week you're entitled to over the full year, or just the initial 26 weeks? I'm hoping to find work way before either scenario, but want to understand the system better. Also really appreciate the Excel sheet idea - I've been using a notebook but digital records are probably smarter in case they want electronic copies during an audit. This whole process definitely gets less overwhelming once you hear from people who've actually been through it recently!