PA UC benefit year expired - Can I reactivate 2020 claim or must I file brand new in 2025?

Since your claim is from 2020, that benefit year is definitely expired. You'll need to file a completely new claim - this isn't a reactivation situation. The one-week thing isn't completely accurate. You should file as soon as possible, but what happens is you can lose that specific week's benefits if you wait too long, not all future benefits. As for CareerLink - they can help with general guidance, but they're not the actual UC office. They might be able to let you use a computer there and provide some basic help, but they don't process claims directly.

omg the phone lines r THE WORST!!! i tried for like 3 weeks straight back in november... busy signals ALL DAY LONG. finally had to email my state rep which helped but took foreverrrrr

Let me clarify a few things about your situation: 1. You definitely need to file a new claim. After your benefit year expires (12 months from initial filing), you must file a new application. Your 2020 claim is long expired. 2. The "one week" rule refers to the waiting week - in PA, you won't get paid for the first week you're eligible, but you must file within 2 weeks of becoming unemployed to claim that week. You don't lose all benefits if you wait longer, but you can't claim benefits for weeks before you actually file. 3. For filing by phone, keep trying different times of day. Early morning (7:45am) and late afternoon (3:30pm) sometimes have better luck getting through. 4. CareerLink can provide computer access and general guidance but cannot directly file your claim for you or resolve claim issues.

I had this exact same issue last yr!!! my claim was from 2021 and i got laid off again in 2024. i couldnt get thru on phones AT ALL. spent 3 weeks trying. i finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they basically connect you to an agent without you having to sit there redialing all day. they have this whole system that calls and waits on hold for you. worked great for me! check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

CareerLink is USELESS for unemployment!!! I went there in February thinking they could help with my claim. They just pointed me to a computer and said "go to the website" - which I ALREADY TRIED AT HOME!!! Complete waste of time and gas money!!! The whole system is designed to STOP YOU from getting benefits you EARNED!!!

To answer your question about filing by mail - technically you can request a paper application, but it will take much longer to process. I'd recommend trying these steps for the online system: 1. Try using a different browser (Firefox or Edge if you were using Chrome) 2. Clear your browser cache and cookies 3. Try the mobile version of the site on your phone 4. If you get any specific error messages, write them down to share What specific problem are you running into with the online application?

my cousin had the same problem!!! you have to go back to the MAIN login page and look for a tiny link that says "file new claim" or something similar... it's super hard to find. don't use the regular login with your PIN, that's only for active claims.

What you're looking for is the "File an Initial Claim" button on the main UC website. Since your previous benefit year is expired, you don't want to log in with your PIN yet. Here's what to do: 1. Go to www.uc.pa.gov 2. Click on "File an Initial Claim" (NOT "File Biweekly Claim") 3. Follow the prompts for a new claim 4. When asked, you can indicate you've filed previously and provide your existing PIN This will start a completely new benefit year. Your previous PIN will still work, but you have to create a new claim first.

Glad you got through to the application! Just remember a few important things as you complete it: 1. Have all your employment information ready for the last 18 months (employer names, addresses, phone numbers, employment dates) 2. Be precise about your last day worked and reason for separation 3. Once approved, you'll need to register with PA CareerLink for work search requirements within 30 days 4. Make sure to file your weekly claims ("biweekly" in PA terms) starting next week Good luck with your claim!

For what it's worth, I filed in February 2025 and it took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. That was with no issues on my claim though. If you have any "open issues" it could take longer. Make sure you answer all the questions accurately to avoid delays!

Current processing times are typically 2-3 weeks for clean claims, though it varies. Here's what affects the timeline: 1. If your employer contests your unemployment reason 2. If there are eligibility questions or "open issues" 3. If you worked in multiple states during your base year 4. If the system flags anything unusual about your work history Keep filing your biweekly claims even while waiting for approval. If approved, you'll receive all eligible back weeks at once. You'll receive your payments on a Money Network debit card unless you set up direct deposit.