Missing high-earning job from PA UC base period - can I add these wages after approval?

Yes, you can definitely request a wage investigation to have missing wages added! I went through this last year. You need to fill out the "Request for Reconsideration of Determination of Unemployment Compensation Benefits" form (UC-53). Make sure you have your pay stubs or W-2 from that employer to prove those wages. You should do this ASAP because there's a time limit (I think 15 days from your financial determination). This won't stop your current payments - they'll keep paying the amount you're approved for now while they investigate, and if they find you're owed more, they'll pay the difference retroactively.

r u sure the job was during ur base period? cuz they use old quarters not current ones. my cousin thought he was missing wages but it was just that his recent job wasn't in the actual calculation period

The state unemployment system is absolute GARBAGE at tracking wages! I had THREE employers missing from mine last year. The issue is that some employers file their quarterly wage reports late or with errors, so the UC system doesn't have record of them. And GOOD LUCK trying to call them to fix it! I spent TWO WEEKS getting busy signals and disconnects trying to reach someone. The system is DESIGNED to frustrate you into giving up!!!

After hitting redial for days and never getting through, I finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this system that gets you connected to a UC agent without the endless busy signals. It cost money but was worth EVERY PENNY to actually get a human on the phone who could help. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Once I actually got through to someone, they were able to start a wage investigation and eventually added my missing employers. My weekly benefit amount went up by $178 and I got back payments for the difference.

I had a similar issue last year. Here's the correct process: 1. Submit the UC-53 form (Request for Reconsideration) - you can download it from the PA UC website under Forms 2. Include copies of your proof of employment (W-2, paystubs, etc) 3. They'll start a wage investigation while continuing to pay your current benefit amount 4. If/when they confirm the missing wages, they'll recalculate your WBA and pay you the difference retroactively Just be aware the investigation can take 4-6 weeks. And make sure your proof clearly shows which quarters the wages were earned.

Wait but have you actually gotten ANY payments yet? You said they've just started processing. In my experience, it's easier to fix this BEFORE payments begin. Once you start getting money it's a whole different department that handles wage issues.

If you haven't received payments yet, call IMMEDIATELY! It's much easier to fix wage issues before they finalize everything. Once payments start, it becomes a much longer process with appeals and all that. But do what works for your situation - if you need the smaller payments now while they investigate, that's an option too.

Just to follow up on this - I submitted my UC-53 for missing wages last year, and it took about 5 weeks for them to complete the investigation. They didn't stop my current payments while investigating, and when they determined I was right, I got a lump sum payment for the difference in benefits (about $2,400 in my case since it went back 8 weeks). The most important thing is to provide clear documentation. I provided pay stubs showing exactly which weeks I worked at the missing employer, and that seemed to speed things up compared to people who just submitted a W-2 without the detailed breakdown.

I mailed mine with certified mail so I had proof of delivery. I don't think there's a way to submit it electronically, unfortunately. Make sure to make copies of EVERYTHING you send them. And write your claim number on every page!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! My advice is to submit the UC-53 form right away, but also keep detailed records of when you submit it. I had to follow up twice because they "lost" my first submission. One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline document showing exactly when I worked at the missing employer and what quarters those wages should count toward. I included the employer's name, address, and EIN number from my W-2. The UC office told me having all that info upfront made their investigation much faster. Also, don't worry about them stopping your current payments - they legally have to continue paying your approved amount while they investigate. Good luck!