PA UC benefit year about to expire - Can I file a new claim after 2 layoffs within 12 months?

Yes, you absolutely CAN file a new claim after your benefit year ends in February. It's actually pretty common for people in seasonal or cyclical industries like construction. Here's how it works: When your current benefit year expires, you'll need to file a completely new initial claim (not reopen). The system will look at your base year wages from your second job to determine eligibility. As long as you earned at least $140/week for at least 18 weeks at that second job, you should qualify for a new claim with potentially up to 26 weeks of benefits. The amount will be calculated based on your wages during the new base year period, so it might be different from your current weekly benefit amount.

man i had this EXACT same thing happen to me last year!!!!! lost my machinist job in march then got another one in may and then got laid off AGAIN in october. was on my first claim until it expired then filed a new one. they made me do a phone interview thing but i got approved for another 26 weeks. the weekly amount was like $30 less the second time around but hey money is money lol

This is correct information, but I want to clarify a few things to make sure you don't run into issues: 1. You can file a new UC claim after your benefit year ends, but eligibility depends on your base period wages from the second job 2. For a new claim, PA requires you to have earned at least 37% of your base year wages outside the highest quarter (this trips up a lot of people) 3. You'll need to have earned at least 6x your weekly benefit rate in the second job to qualify for a new claim 4. There's no waiting week between benefit years like there is for initial claims I recommend calling UC about two weeks before your current benefit year ends to verify your specific situation. The Financial Determination they'll send will show if you qualify and for how much.

I've been trying to call UC for DAYS about a similar situation and can't get through! Just constant busy signals or disconnects. The website is useless for anything that's not totally straightforward. So frustrating when you need actual answers!!! Has anyone found a way to actually reach a human being?

has anyone filed for a second benift year after there first expired? what documents do you need for the new claim? do you have to requalify?

I HATE how confusing PA makes this whole process!!! My husband went through a similar situation last year and the UC rep gave us COMPLETELY wrong information and told him he couldn't file a new claim after his benefit year ended. We found out SIX WEEKS LATER from a different rep that he actually could have filed right away!!! By then we'd already missed out on over $3000 in benefits that we couldn't get retroactively because of their stupid mistake!!!! DON'T just take one rep's word for it - call again and talk to someone else to verify whatever they tell you!!!! The system is deliberately complicated to deny people benefits they deserve!!!!!

To address a few of the questions that have come up in this thread: 1. For the original poster, there is no waiting period between benefit years. You can file your new application as soon as your current benefit year ends in February. 2. Regarding the 37% rule someone asked about: PA requires that at least 37% of your base year wages come from outside your highest earning quarter. This ensures you've had relatively steady work rather than just one good quarter. 3. For documentation, PA UC can access most wage records electronically, but having your pay stubs or W-2s ready is helpful if there are discrepancies. 4. You do need to fully requalify based on wages earned after you established your first benefit year. The construction industry downturn is hitting a lot of PA workers hard right now. If your claim is approved, make sure you're completing your work search activities each week (applying to at least two jobs and doing one work search activity). PA has been conducting more frequent work search audits lately.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! This clears up a lot of my questions. I'm relieved to hear I should be able to file a new claim after my current benefit year ends. I've been keeping detailed records of all my job search activities just in case. One follow-up question - if I somehow find part-time work before my current claim ends, will that affect my ability to file a new claim in February? Or would that part-time work actually help establish more base year wages for the new claim?

I'm in a similar situation but with healthcare work instead of construction. Got laid off in January 2025, collected UC for a few months, found a temp position that lasted 4 months, then got laid off again in November when the contract ended. Just wanted to add that when you file your new claim in February, make sure you have all your separation paperwork from the December layoff ready. Even though you already reported it when you reopened your current claim, they'll want it again for the new application. I learned this the hard way when my temp agency took forever to send me the separation notice and it delayed my second claim by almost 3 weeks. Also, if you're worried about the construction market being dead, have you looked into any of the infrastructure projects starting up? I know PennDOT has been hiring for bridge work and some of the utility companies are expanding crews for winter storm prep. Might be worth checking out while you're still collecting benefits. Good luck with everything - this whole process is stressful enough without having to deal with multiple layoffs in one year!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was laid off from my warehouse job in March 2025, collected UC for about 8 weeks, then found work at a different facility that lasted until they closed the location in January 2026. My benefit year doesn't expire until March, but I'm already stressing about what happens next since the job market in my area is pretty rough. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that I'll be able to file a new claim when the time comes. One thing I want to add based on my experience - when you do file that new claim in February, be prepared for it to take longer than your original claim to process. My friend went through this last year and said the second claim took almost 3 weeks to get approved versus the original one that was approved in about a week. Something about them having to verify the work history between claims. So maybe start the process a few days before your current benefit year actually ends just to be safe. Also, @ElectricDreamer, have you considered looking into any union apprenticeship programs while you're between jobs? I know the electrical union (IBEW) and some of the other building trades have been taking applications recently. Even if construction is slow now, getting into an apprenticeship could set you up better for when things pick back up.

I went through almost the exact same situation as you! Got laid off from electrical work in January 2025, collected for about 6 weeks, found another job that lasted until October when the company downsized, then had to reopen my original claim too. When I called UC about filing a new claim after my benefit year ends, they confirmed what others have said here - you can absolutely file a new initial claim based on your December layoff. The key thing is making sure you earned enough wages at that second job to meet the base period requirements. One tip that really helped me: I started gathering all my documentation early (pay stubs from the second job, layoff notice, etc.) because like someone mentioned, they'll want everything again even though you already provided it when reopening. Also, I'd suggest calling UC about 2-3 weeks before your current benefit year expires to get the process started - my new claim took almost a month to get approved last year. The construction market is brutal right now, but hang in there. A lot of guys I know are picking up side work doing snow removal, home repairs, or even warehouse temp jobs just to keep some income coming in while they wait for spring construction season to hopefully pick up.

Just want to chime in as someone who's been through the PA UC system multiple times over the years. You're getting good advice here! I went through a very similar situation in 2023 - laid off from my HVAC job in spring, worked a temp construction gig over summer, then got laid off again in fall when that project ended. The key things that helped me when filing my second claim: 1. Keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - pay stubs, separation notices, work dates 2. Don't rely on just one UC rep's advice - I called three times and got slightly different answers each time 3. File your new claim about 2 weeks before your current benefit year expires to account for processing time One thing I didn't see mentioned much here - if you're having trouble reaching UC by phone, try calling first thing in the morning (like 7:45 AM right before they open) or late in the day around 4:30 PM. I found those times had shorter wait times than calling mid-day. Also, regarding the construction market being dead - have you looked into any of the prevailing wage projects? Schools, hospitals, and government buildings still need maintenance and renovations even when new construction slows down. The pay is usually better too because of prevailing wage requirements. Hang in there - the system is confusing but you should be able to get that second claim approved based on what you've described!

I've been following this thread closely since I'm in almost the exact same boat - laid off from plumbing work in March 2025, got rehired for a 6-month project that ended in November, and now back on my original claim until it expires in March 2026. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! A few things I want to add based on what I've learned from calling UC multiple times: 1. When you file your new claim, they'll ask for your "reason for filing" - make sure to select "benefit year ended" rather than "new layoff" or it might confuse their system 2. The online application for a new claim is actually pretty straightforward, but have all your employer info ready (names, addresses, phone numbers, dates worked) 3. If your second job was with a different type of employer (like going from construction to temp agency), that can sometimes slow down wage verification One question for anyone who's been through this - did you have to complete work search requirements during the waiting period while your new claim was being processed? I'm worried about missing those requirements if there's a gap between claims. The construction downturn is hitting everyone hard, but at least knowing we can get that second benefit year gives some peace of mind. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when UC reps give conflicting info!

I'm in a somewhat similar situation but with warehouse work - laid off in April 2025, worked a temporary position through the summer, then got laid off again in January when they eliminated my department. Currently on my original claim which expires in April. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea you could file a new claim after your benefit year ends. The PA UC rep I spoke with last week made it sound like I was just stuck with whatever weeks were left on my original claim, but reading everyone's experiences here makes me think I should call back and ask specifically about filing a new initial claim. A couple questions for those who've been through this: 1. When you filed your new claim, did they require any specific documentation beyond what you normally need for an initial application? 2. Did the new claim start immediately after your old benefit year ended, or was there a gap? The job market in my area is pretty tough right now too, so knowing there might be additional benefits available after my current claim ends would be a huge relief. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't get from the UC website!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm a newcomer to this community but have been dealing with PA UC for the first time this year after getting laid off from my retail management job. Reading through everyone's experiences here has taught me more about the system than hours of trying to navigate the UC website or sitting on hold. The fact that you can file a new claim after your benefit year ends is something I had no idea about - the UC rep I spoke with a few weeks ago definitely didn't mention this option when I asked what happens if I can't find work before my benefits run out. A few questions for the group: 1. Does this same process work for non-construction/seasonal work? I was laid off due to store closure, not seasonal layoffs 2. If you find a job right before your benefit year ends but then get laid off again shortly after, can you still file based on the previous job's wages? Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it's clear the UC system is confusing even for people who've been through it multiple times! This community seems like a great resource for navigating all these complicated situations.

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community but this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I'm actually in a very similar situation to the original poster - got laid off from my warehouse job in January 2025, collected UC for about 7 weeks, then found temp work that lasted until December when they ended the contract. Currently back on my original claim. What's really helpful about this discussion is seeing how many people have successfully navigated filing a second claim after their benefit year expires. I had called UC a few weeks ago and the rep made it sound like once your original claim runs out, that's it - but clearly that's not accurate based on everyone's experiences here. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about calling 2-3 weeks before my benefit year ends to start the new claim process, and making sure to have all my documentation from the temp job ready. The tip about selecting "benefit year ended" as the reason for filing is something I never would have known to do. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've filed second claims, did you notice any difference in how quickly you received your first payment compared to your original claim? I'm trying to plan financially for any potential gaps between when my current benefits end and the new claim gets processed. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice you can't get anywhere else!