How to properly close PA UC claim when starting new job - part-time to full-time transition
Just got hired at a local warehouse and I'm going from part-time to full-time on September 1st. My first week was part-time and I still qualified for partial benefits (reported my earnings), but starting next week I'll be over the income threshold. Do I need to formally close my PA unemployment claim or do I just stop filing weekly certifications? I don't want to get hit with an overpayment notice later because I didn't properly end my claim. Has anyone gone through this process recently? The UC website isn't clear about the proper steps.
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Carmen Vega
Congrats on the new job! You don't need to formally close your claim - you just stop filing your weekly certifications. Your claim stays open for your benefit year (52 weeks from when you first applied), but if you don't request benefits for two consecutive weeks, it goes inactive. If something happens with your new job within your benefit year, you can reactivate without filing a whole new claim. Just make sure to report ALL earnings for your part-time week correctly when you file your last claim. Report your gross earnings (before taxes) for the week, even if you haven't been paid yet.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Thank you! That's a relief. So when I file this Sunday, I report my part-time earnings, and then just don't file anything next Sunday or after? And my claim basically goes dormant on its own?
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Andre Rousseau
make sure u keep track of ur last payment date!!! i thought i was done with UC and then got a letter saying i was overpaid bcuz they paid me for 2 more weeks after i started working!! always check ur dashboard to make sure no surprise payments show up
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Oh yikes! I'll definitely keep an eye on my dashboard to make sure that doesn't happen. Did you have to pay back those extra payments?
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Zoe Stavros
I just went through this last month! Just stop filing your weekly certs once you're making too much. That's literally all you need to do. The UC office has so many people to deal with, they're not sitting around wondering why SomePerson123 stopped filing - they're happy to have one less claim to process lol
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Jamal Harris
•Exactly this! I stopped claiming when I got my job back in February and nothing bad happened. In fact, I got a nice letter congratulating me on my employment a few weeks later. They track this stuff through employer tax records anyway.
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GalaxyGlider
While everyone is right that you just stop filing, I'd recommend printing out your final payment confirmation and saving it - along with any earnings info from your part-time week. PA UC sometimes does random audits months later, and it's good to have documentation. I've been through the PA system 3 times in 10 years (construction industry layoffs), and keeping good records has saved me headaches.
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Mei Wong
I DID THE SAME THING IN JULY!!!! Nobody tells you what to do when you get a job! I called UC to ask this EXACT question and was on hold for FOUR HOURS before I got disconnected. I just stopped filing and everything was fine, but I was so worried about doing something wrong. The system is designed to be confusing I swear.
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Liam Sullivan
•If anyone needs to actually speak with a PA UC representative quickly, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I wasted days trying to get through on my own, but their service got me connected to a PA UC agent in about 25 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 When I needed to verify my employment transition was properly recorded, it was worth not spending days hitting redial.
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Carmen Vega
One more important thing - If your job doesn't work out within the same benefit year (which runs for 52 weeks from when you first applied), you can reopen your existing claim rather than filing a brand new one. Just log back into your dashboard and select "Reopen an Existing Claim" instead of "File a New Claim." This saves a lot of paperwork and usually gets your benefits started faster if you need them again.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•That's really helpful to know. My benefit year started in July, so I've got plenty of time left if something doesn't work out. Hoping this job sticks though! Thanks for all the info.
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Zoe Stavros
When I got my job I actually kept filing for 2 more weeks because I thought I had to close it somehow LOL. I just put my full earnings and got $0 payments. The system eventually stopped letting me file. Either way works, you can just stop or you can report your full earnings until it automatically stops you.
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Andre Rousseau
quick question sorta related - does anyone know if they tell ur old job when u get a new one?? my old boss was horrible and i dont want them knowing where i work now
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GalaxyGlider
•No, the UC office doesn't notify your previous employer about your new job. They only contact previous employers to verify the reason for separation when you first file. Your new employment info is just used for their internal records and verification that you're no longer claiming benefits while working full-time.
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Jamal Harris
This thread is super helpful. I've been on UC for 5 months and have an interview tomorrow! Hoping I'll be in your position soon needing to close my claim. The warehouse industry seems to be hiring like crazy right now - mind sharing what kind of starting pay you got?
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Carmen Vega
•Let's keep the thread focused on the UC question. Pay discussions might be better in the career/jobs communities.
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