PA UC benefit year ending (12/4/2023) - How to reapply after exhausting benefits?

Yes, you'll need to file a completely new application after your benefit year ends on 12/4/2023. The system won't automatically roll you over or prompt you - you need to be proactive and file a new claim as soon as your benefit year ends. Since you worked and earned wages during this benefit year, the UC office will need to determine if you qualify for a new claim based on those earnings. Based on the standard base year calculation, they'll look at your wages from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 to determine your new weekly benefit amount. If you worked enough during those 5 months in 2023, you should qualify for a new claim. There might be a 1-2 week gap in payments while they process your new claim, so be prepared financially if possible.

wait... so r u saying your benefit year ends in like 2 weeks? u better start that application RIGHT when it ends. my sister waited a few days and regretted it big time

I just went through this exact situation back in September. My benefit year ended 9/15/2023 and I had to file a new claim. Here's what I learned: 1. You can actually file your new claim UP TO 2 WEEKS BEFORE your benefit year end date. I filed mine on 9/1 even though my BYE was 9/15. 2. When you file the new application, make sure to indicate that you're filing due to a benefit year ending (there's a specific question about this). 3. Yes, you'll probably have to do ID.me verification again (I did). 4. There was about a 10-day gap between my last payment on the old claim and first payment on the new one. 5. My weekly benefit amount changed based on my earnings during the base year for the new claim. One more tip - start checking your dashboard about 2 weeks before your BYE date. Sometimes the system will show you a notification that you need to file a new claim.

The ID.me verification is THE WORST!!! Last time i had to do it my camera wasnt working right and i had to wait 6 hours for a video call with a "trusted referee" person. And the whole time ur worrying that if u dont get it done ur gonna miss out on ur money. Ugh hope u dont have to do that again

I went through this in July. Yes, you file a new application after your benefit year ends. The system actually just treated me like a brand new applicant - I had to upload all my employment separation info again even though nothing had changed. Be prepared for a delay in payments while they process the new claim. Mine took almost 3 weeks which was super stressful. I kept calling the UC number but couldn't get through to anyone. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual PA UC agent within 30 minutes instead of spending days hitting redial. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The agent was able to see that my new claim was just sitting in the queue and pushed it through that day. Saved me from missing rent payment. Also, make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the new application to process!

yo everybody here is forgetting to mention the most important thing... YOUR WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT WILL PROBABLY CHANGE!!!! when u file the new claim they calculate it based on ur highest quarter earnings in the base year. so depending on how much u made at that shipping company job ur weekly amount might go up or down. just prepare urself for that possibility

Wait im confused about something... if you exhausted your benefits already why are you even worried about the benefit year ending? Doesn't exhausted mean you already used up all the money they allocated for you? I thought once benefits are exhausted thats it until you work enough quarters again to qualify for a new claim. Am I misunderstanding something??

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to follow the suggestion to apply right at my BYE date (or maybe even a couple days before). I'll make sure to keep filing weekly claims during the transition too. I really appreciate all the tips about ID.me verification and possible delays. I'll budget accordingly for a possible gap in payments. Fingers crossed my new weekly benefit amount doesn't decrease too much since I was making decent money at the shipping company. Will update how it goes after I file my new claim in December!

good luck!!! and yeah def let us know how it goes cuz im in a similar boat with my BYE coming in January

Just wanted to add something that might help - when you file your new claim, they might ask you to provide documentation of your work separation from the shipping company (like a layoff letter or termination notice). I'd recommend gathering those documents now before your BYE date so you're not scrambling to find them later. Also, since you mentioned the holidays are coming up, keep in mind that UC offices have reduced hours during holiday weeks which could delay processing. The earlier you can file after 12/4, the better. I learned this the hard way when I filed right before Thanksgiving one year and had to wait an extra week just because of the holiday schedule. One more thing - if your new weekly benefit amount does change significantly, you can always appeal the determination if you think they calculated something wrong. Just make sure to keep all your pay stubs from that 5-month period at the shipping company as proof of your earnings.