Filed PA UC claim April 28th - got financial determination and debit card - am I set?

dont worry, I was confused 2. u still need to file ur weekly claims! thats how u actually get $. the card and determination just mean ur eligible. go back to the website and look for 'file bi-weekly claim' section

You're only partway through the process. The financial determination letter means you qualify financially, and the debit card is where your money will eventually go, but you absolutely MUST file your weekly/bi-weekly certifications to receive any payments. You should file for all weeks since your initial claim date. Log into your dashboard and look for the "File Bi-weekly Claim" button. You'll need to do this every two weeks going forward and complete your work search activities.

The PA unemployment system is TERRIBLE at explaining things to new claimants!!! You got your financial determination which tells you how much you COULD get weekly, but you won't get a penny until you file those bi-weekly claims. And yes, you MUST report your work search activities - 2 per week minimum!! They will audit you eventually and if you didn't do them or record them properly, they'll make you pay everything back!!

Congrats on getting approved! I remember when I got my card I thought I was all set too lol. But yeah everyone's right about the weekly filing thing. Also make sure you set up direct deposit if you want - much faster than waiting for money to load on that card.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you've already missed filing for some weeks, you might need to file what's called a "backdated claim." Log in and see if you can file for the previous weeks first. If the system doesn't let you, you'll need to call PA UC to request permission to file for those missed weeks. It's super important to do this soon because there's a time limit.

When I started PA unemployment in January, I made the EXACT same mistake! I waited like 3 weeks after getting my card thinking money would just show up. Make sure when you do your bi-weekly claims that you're super careful answering all the questions honestly - any mistakes can cause payment delays. And don't forget to track your work search activities in the system - 2 activities per week minimum (applying for jobs, attending career fairs, working on resume with CareerLink, etc).

To answer your question about missed weeks: PA UC allows for backdating weekly certifications, but you'll need to speak with a representative. They typically allow backdating if it's your first time and you have a valid reason (like not understanding the process as a new claimant). When you talk to them, just explain that you're new to the system and didn't realize you needed to file weekly claims. They should help you file for those missed weeks. For work search: Yes, you need to complete and record 2 work search activities each week. This can include job applications, uploading resumes to job sites, attending workshops, etc. Record these in your dashboard under the work search section after you file your weekly claim.

btw make sure u answer NO to the question about if u were able 2 work and available 4 work if u were sick or on vacation during any days. my friend messed that up and got in trouble later

Glad you got it sorted out! One last tip: set a reminder on your phone for your bi-weekly filing. The PA UC system follows a Sunday-Saturday calendar, and you file for two weeks at a time. Your filing day depends on the last digit of your Social Security Number. Missing filing windows can create even more headaches.