PA UC 'Monetarily Ineligible' determination - do I still file weekly claims?

Monetarily ineligible means you didn't earn enough wages in your base period to qualify for benefits. In PA, your base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Since you filed in 2025, they're looking at your wages from late 2023 through most of 2024. If you didn't work enough or earn enough during those specific quarters, you'll be deemed monetarily ineligible. Your previous claim last summer might have used up some of those quarters already.

I got same thing last month! So freakin frustrating. the system is broken imo

To directly answer your question - no, if you're monetarily ineligible, you don't need to file weekly claims because you won't receive benefits unless that determination changes. However, you should definitely file an appeal if you believe you actually did earn enough. You mentioned receiving benefits last summer, which is significant. UC looks at your base period wages - that's generally the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you applied. If you didn't work much between those benefits and your new claim, you might not have accumulated enough new wages in your base period to qualify again so soon. If your new job lasted from October until recently, you may qualify under what's called the 'alternate base period' which uses more recent quarters. You should request this specifically in your appeal.

i had this exact problem!!! worked at amazon, got laid off, collected benefits, then worked at target for 6 months, got laid off again but was told 'monetarily ineligible' when i filed again. i was so mad lol

I actually just got through this exact situation. You need to file an appeal AND specifically request they look at your 'alternate base period.' I had to call them like 20 times to explain my situation with a human being. It took forever to get through on the phone lines though - I kept getting disconnected or busy signals for days. I finally got through using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically hold your place in line and call you when they get a UC agent on the phone. Saved me hours of redial hell. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Once I actually talked to someone, they confirmed I qualified under the alternate base period and fixed it right away. Got my first payment about 10 days later.

To update on your question about the $3,800/month for 5 months - yes, that should be more than enough for the alternate base period qualification. For 2025, you generally need to have earned at least $8,200 in your base period with at least $2,050 in one quarter to qualify for minimum benefits. Your 5 months at that wage would give you approximately $19,000 which exceeds the requirement. For appealing, you'll need to: 1. File the appeal within 15 days of receiving your determination 2. Specifically write "Request consideration under alternate base period" on your appeal 3. Include pay stubs or other proof of your recent employment 4. Explain that you had a recent period of employment that isn't being counted in your standard base period I'd also recommend trying to speak with a UC representative directly to explain your situation, as they can sometimes resolve this faster than the formal appeal process.

why would u even get monetarily ineligible if u just had a job? that makes no sense to me

The PA system is SUCH GARBAGE!! I got denied twice b4 I finally got approved. KEEP FIGHTING THEM!! They make it complicated on purpose to discourage people from getting what they deserve. Fill out that appeal ASAP!!!

Update: I filed my appeal today and specifically requested the alternate base period like you all suggested. I'm also going to try calling tomorrow. Really appreciate all the advice - this forum has been way more helpful than the confusing UC website!

Just want to chime in as someone who went through this exact same mess earlier this year. The "monetarily ineligible" determination is so confusing when you just lost a job - it feels like the system is broken! But like others have said, it's all about those base period quarters they look at. I was in retail for 2 years, got laid off, collected UC for a few months, then started a new job at a warehouse. When that ended after 6 months, I got the same "monetarily ineligible" notice you did. Turns out my warehouse wages weren't in the right quarters they were looking at. The alternate base period saved me! Make sure when you file your appeal (and definitely do it within those 15 days), you write exactly "Request consideration under alternate base period" like Nia suggested. I also included a simple timeline showing when I worked where and how much I earned. Made it super clear for them. The phone system is absolutely brutal, but if you can get through to an actual person, they can sometimes fix it right on the spot. I got lucky and reached someone who understood the situation immediately. Good luck with your appeal - you've got this!

This is such a common issue and it's maddening how confusing PA makes this whole process! I went through something very similar last year - worked at a call center for about 6 months, got laid off, then hit with the "monetarily ineligible" notice even though I'd been working full-time and paying taxes. The alternate base period is definitely your best shot here. With 5 months at $3,800/month, you should absolutely qualify. When I appealed, I made sure to include not just my pay stubs but also my W-2 from the previous year and a letter from HR confirming my employment dates and reason for termination (budget cuts in your case). One thing that really helped me was calling the PA UC customer service line early in the morning - like right at 8:00 AM when they open. The wait times are still brutal but much better than calling later in the day. When you do get through, be ready with your Social Security number, the date you filed, and a clear explanation of your work history. The rep I spoke with was actually pretty helpful once I explained the situation. Don't panic about rent - if your appeal gets approved (which it should based on what you've shared), they'll backdate your benefits to when you first applied. It's stressful waiting, but hang in there! The system is broken but it does eventually work if you push through the bureaucracy.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago - got the "monetarily ineligible" determination even though I had just been working full-time for 7 months at a manufacturing plant. It's incredibly frustrating and confusing, especially when you're already stressed about losing your job. Here's what I learned: DO NOT file weekly claims if you're monetarily ineligible - there's no point since you won't receive any benefits until that determination changes. Focus all your energy on the appeal process instead. The alternate base period is absolutely your lifeline here. With your 5 months at $3,800/month (roughly $19,000 total), you should easily qualify. I had similar earnings and got approved once they looked at the right quarters. For your appeal, be very specific and include: - Write "REQUEST ALTERNATE BASE PERIOD CONSIDERATION" in big letters at the top - Include ALL pay stubs from your October-March job - Your termination letter showing it was due to budget cuts (not your fault) - A simple timeline showing: retail job → UC benefits summer 2024 → new office job Oct 2024-March 2025 → layoff The 15-day deadline is crucial, so don't delay. I got my appeal decision in about 3.5 weeks and received a lump sum backpayment for all the weeks I had been waiting. It was a huge relief after panicking about bills. You've got a strong case here - stay persistent and don't let the broken system discourage you from getting what you've earned!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed for UC two weeks ago after losing my restaurant job and got hit with the "monetarily ineligible" determination. Like you, I'm completely confused because I was working - just not during the specific quarters they're looking at apparently. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea about the alternate base period option! I worked at two different restaurants over the past 8 months making decent money, but it sounds like they're not counting those recent wages in their calculation. @Sean Kelly - have you had any luck getting through on the phone yet? I've been trying for days but keep getting busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting forever. Thinking about trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned if I can't get through by tomorrow. The 15-day deadline for appeals is what's really stressing me out. I don't want to miss that window while I'm still trying to figure out what documents I need to include. Going to follow everyone's advice here and put together that timeline with all my pay stubs. Really hoping this alternate base period thing works out for both of us!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! Got laid off from my healthcare job last month after working there for 6 months, immediately applied for UC, and boom - "monetarily ineligible." I was so confused because I'd been working full-time and paying into the system. After reading everyone's experiences here, I realize it's because they're looking at that weird base period timeframe instead of my actual recent work history. I had a gap in employment before this job while I was finishing school, so the quarters they're examining probably show little to no income. Already filed my appeal yesterday using the advice from this thread - specifically requested alternate base period consideration and included all my recent pay stubs plus a timeline. The 15-day deadline is no joke, so I didn't want to wait around trying to get someone on the phone first. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how common this issue is. The PA UC system really needs to be clearer about these base period rules upfront instead of leaving people panicking when they get these confusing determinations. Fingers crossed the appeal process works out - will definitely update here once I hear back!