How to access my previous PA UC claim history? Need proof from old benefit year
So I'm currently on unemployment again (ugh, retail industry is brutal) but I need to provide documentation from my previous UC claim from last year to qualify for a housing assistance program. The application specifically needs proof of my benefit amount from Oct-Dec 2024. I've looked all over my dashboard but can only see my current claim info. Is there a way to access old claim history/payment records after a benefit year ends? The housing program needs this by next Friday and I'm getting nervous they'll reject me without it. Has anyone had to dig up old claim info before?
28 comments


Zara Shah
same issue last month!! the old claims dont show up in the regular dashboard you gotta click on "Payment History" then theres a dropdown menu where u can select previous benefit years. took me forever to find it lol
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Sean Flanagan
•I don't see that dropdown anywhere! Is it on the main UC dashboard or somewhere else? I only see payment history for my current claim.
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NebulaNomad
You need to request your official unemployment history through your PA UC dashboard. Look for "View Payment History" and there should be filters to see older claims. If that doesn't work, you can submit a formal request for records under "My Documents" and select "Request Claim Records." The system maintains records for at least 4 years, so your 2024 information will definitely be available. You may need to wait 24-48 hours for the system to process the request once submitted.
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Sean Flanagan
•Thank you so much! I found the Request Claim Records option but it says it could take 7-10 business days to process. My housing application is due next Friday... do you think it will come through in time?
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Luca Ferrari
•OMG I hate those processing times!! When I needed my records for my apartment application last month, I waited 12 DAYS before anything showed up!!! The system is SO BROKEN! I'd call them ASAP if I were you because waiting for the online request is a JOKE!!!
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Nia Wilson
I went through this exact thing! You don't actually need to wait for the formal request to process. Instead, go to the Claims Information page and click on "View Claim Summary." There should be a small dropdown in the top right where you can select previous benefit years. Print that page as a PDF - it shows your weekly benefit amount which is usually what housing programs need for verification. Good luck!
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Mateo Martinez
•This is good advice but I think it depends on what dashboard version they have? My brothers UC dashboard looks completely different from mine even though were both in PA. The newer version has the dropdown like you said but the older one doesnt have it. They keep changing the website and not telling anyone
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Aisha Hussain
I'm a career counselor who works with many unemployment claimants, and there are three ways to access your previous claim information: 1. Online request through "Request Claim Records" - takes 7-10 business days typically 2. Visit your local PA CareerLink office in person - they can print your records same-day 3. Call the UC Service Center directly - if you can get through, they can email your claim history For your housing application deadline, option 2 is probably your best bet. Just bring your ID and they can help you right away.
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Sean Flanagan
•Thank you! I didn't even think about going to CareerLink. There's one about 20 minutes from me, so I'll try that tomorrow. Do I need to make an appointment first or can I just walk in?
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Aisha Hussain
•You can walk in, but I'd recommend calling first to check their hours and confirm they can help with claim records. Some locations have reduced staffing on certain days. Just make sure to bring your photo ID and know your Social Security number.
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Ethan Clark
I had to get my old claim info when I was applying for a mortgage last year. Trying to call PA UC was impossible - busy signals for DAYS straight. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual UC agent in under an hour. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent I spoke with was able to email me my full claim history for the past 2 years within minutes. Saved me from having to delay my mortgage application.
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Zara Shah
•does that thing really work?? i've been trying to call about my payment being stuck for 2 weeks with no luck
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Sean Flanagan
UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for your help! I ended up trying three things: 1. Submitted the online request through "Request Claim Records" 2. Called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (got through in about 30 min) 3. Also went to CareerLink in person just to be safe In the end, the UC agent I spoke with on the phone was able to email me a PDF of my complete payment history from my previous benefit year within minutes. Already forwarded it to the housing program people. CareerLink also printed copies for me as backup. Thanks again for all the suggestions!
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Aisha Hussain
•Glad to hear it worked out! Smart move trying multiple approaches with a deadline coming up. Good luck with the housing application.
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Mateo Martinez
i had the complete opposite experience trying to get my old claims records. the careerlink near me said they couldnt help with UC stuff anymore and told me to just call. the UC ppl never picked up and i had to ask my old landlord for an extension on proving my income. the whole system is so stressful!!!
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Luca Ferrari
•EXACTLY!!! It's like they deliberately make everything confusing and impossible to access!! My CareerLink was the same way - totally useless for UC questions! The entire PA unemployment system is designed to make us SUFFER!!! 😡
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Demi Hall
This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's crazy how they make it so hard to access your own records. For anyone else reading this later - sounds like the key is to try multiple methods at once since different CareerLink locations and UC agents seem to have different capabilities. The Claimyr service mentioned sounds like a game-changer for actually getting through to someone who can help quickly.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Yes, this thread is gold! I'm dealing with something similar right now - need my 2023 records for a student loan application. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like the multiple-approach strategy is definitely the way to go. The fact that different CareerLink offices have different policies is so frustrating though. Really shows how inconsistent the whole system is across the state.
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Carmen Vega
Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - if you have your old confirmation emails from when you filed weekly certifications, those sometimes include your benefit amount and claim details. I found a bunch in my email from last year that had enough info for my apartment application. Might be worth searching your email for "Pennsylvania UC" or "unemployment" before going through all the other steps!
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Adaline Wong
•That's brilliant! I never thought to check my old emails. I just searched and found tons of weekly certification confirmations that show my benefit amounts and payment dates. This could save so much time for people who need quick proof without waiting for official records. Thanks for the tip!
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Jamal Anderson
This whole thread is incredibly useful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I need my 2023 claim records for a mortgage pre-approval, and my loan officer is getting impatient. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the system is inconsistent but there are definitely workarounds. I'm going to try the email search suggestion first since that's immediate, then hit up my local CareerLink tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work, I'll look into that Claimyr service. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops to access our own employment history, but at least this community has figured out the best strategies. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Matthew Sanchez
•Good luck with your mortgage pre-approval! That's so stressful when lenders are breathing down your neck for documents. The email search is definitely worth trying first - I was surprised how much detail was in those old weekly cert confirmations when I went back and looked. If your CareerLink can't help, don't get discouraged - seems like it really varies by location. The Claimyr thing sounds legit based on what people are saying here. Hope you get everything sorted out quickly!
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Dmitry Volkov
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - need my unemployment records from early 2024 for a rental application. After reading through all these responses, I'm amazed at how many different approaches people have tried! It's frustrating that there's no single reliable way to get your own records quickly. I'm definitely going to try the email search trick first since I'm pretty good about keeping old emails, then maybe hit up CareerLink if I need official letterhead. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - this kind of community knowledge is so valuable when the official systems are this confusing!
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Sophia Long
•The email search trick is definitely worth trying first! I was in a similar spot a few months ago needing records for a rental application and found so much useful info in my old emails that I completely forgot about. Even if the emails don't have everything you need, they can at least give you exact dates and amounts to reference when you're dealing with CareerLink or UC agents. Makes the whole process way smoother when you can say "I need records from March 15th through June 30th, my weekly benefit was $387" instead of just asking for "some records from last year." Good luck with your rental app!
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
This thread is absolutely amazing - thank you all for documenting these different methods! I'm a social worker who frequently helps clients navigate PA UC issues, and I'm definitely saving this for future reference. The variety of solutions people found here really highlights how broken and inconsistent the system is. The email search suggestion is genius - I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense since those weekly cert confirmations would have all the key details most agencies need. I'm going to start advising my clients to try multiple approaches simultaneously instead of waiting weeks for one method that might not even work. It's sad that we need to crowdsource solutions like this, but I'm grateful this community exists to help people figure out these bureaucratic mazes!
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Javier Hernandez
•This is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that makes such a difference! As someone who's been through this maze myself, I really appreciate social workers like you who take the time to learn these workarounds and share them with clients. The fact that you're saving this thread shows how much you care about actually helping people navigate these impossible systems. It's so frustrating that we have to become experts in bureaucratic loopholes just to access our own records, but having advocates who understand the reality of what people are dealing with makes such a huge difference. Thanks for the work you do!
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Ahooker-Equator
Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm bookmarking this for sure. I'm currently between jobs and know I'll probably need my claim records at some point for apartment applications or whatever comes up. It's crazy how something as basic as "show me my own employment history" turns into this whole detective mission. The email search tip is brilliant - I just checked and I have dozens of those weekly certification emails going back months with all the payment details right there. It's wild that the easiest solution might just be digging through your own inbox instead of fighting with their broken website. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just the official "submit a request and wait 2 weeks" nonsense they tell you!
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Lola Perez
•I totally get the frustration! I just went through this whole process myself a few weeks ago and it's honestly ridiculous that accessing your own records requires becoming a detective. The email search really is a game-changer - I found payment confirmations I completely forgot about that had everything I needed. What's even more annoying is that the UC website acts like the online request portal is the only option, when clearly there are way faster workarounds if you know where to look. This community thread has been more helpful than any official PA UC resource I've found. Definitely keeping this saved for future reference too!
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