PA UC benefits with 17-week severance package - when to file?

In Pennsylvania, severance pay DOES affect your unemployment benefits, but the rules are specific. You should actually file for UC immediately after your last day of work, regardless of severance. However, your weekly payments will likely be delayed until your severance period ends. PA considers severance as 'deductible income' when it's paid as a lump sum or in installments for a specific time period. They'll calculate how your severance affects your weekly benefit amount. The good news is that once your severance period ends, you can still receive the remainder of your benefit year (which is 52 weeks from when you first file), up to the maximum 26 weeks of payments. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during the severance period!

just went thru this exact thing last year. they delayed my benifits for 12 weeks cause of my severance. but ya gotta file right away and keep doing those weekly claims! such a pain but if u miss weeks u cant go back n claim them later

BE CAREFUL!! The unemployment office completely messed up my severance situation last year. They counted my severance incorrectly and I had to FIGHT for months to get it fixed. Make sure you keep EVERY document related to your severance package! EVERY. SINGLE. PAPER. You'll need proof of the exact amount and timeframe when they inevitably mess something up. And take screenshots of EVERYTHING you submit online!!!

Congrats on the severance! My company gave me 3 weeks when they laid me off and I thought THAT was good. 17 weeks is amazing. Are you in tech?

I work in HR and deal with this frequently. Here's what you need to know: 1. File for UC immediately after your last day of work 2. Report your severance pay in your initial application 3. PA UC will calculate a "credit week" deduction based on your severance amount 4. You must complete weekly certifications during the deduction period 5. You must fulfill job search requirements during this time 6. After your severance deduction period ends, payments will begin automatically 7. Your benefit year is 52 weeks from filing, with a maximum of 26 payable weeks This is standard procedure in PA. The system works, but you must keep up with all requirements even when not receiving payments.

Trying to call PA UC to get answers about severance is impossible. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach someone last year when I had questions about my severance package. Always busy signals or disconnects. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they have a system that basically waits on hold for you and connects you when an agent is available. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 It was worth it because I finally got clear answers about my severance situation instead of trying to guess from the website.

Does anyone know if health insurance continuation through COBRA counts as a benefit that affects unemployment? My severance includes 3 months of health insurance coverage and I'm worried that will further delay my UC benefits.

Update: I called PA UC using the Claimyr service that someone recommended here (it did work well for getting through). The agent confirmed I should file immediately after my last day and keep doing weekly certifications. My severance will delay payments by approximately 17 weeks, but I'll still be eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits after that, as long as I'm within my benefit year. She also said I need to report the exact amount of my severance payments each week when I certify. So I'll be doing all the weekly work search activities and certifications for months before seeing any money, but at least I'll have the severance during that time. Thanks everyone for your help!

Great thread with really helpful info! Just wanted to add one more thing - when you're doing your weekly certifications during the severance period, make sure you're honest about reporting your severance income each week. PA UC will ask if you received any income that week, and you need to report the weekly portion of your severance even though it might be paid as a lump sum. Also, don't forget that you can use this time to really focus on your job search without the pressure of needing immediate income. Take advantage of any career services or job placement resources while you have that severance cushion. Good luck with everything!

One thing to keep in mind is that the job search requirements during your severance period are actually the same as when you're receiving payments - you'll need to make at least 2 work search contacts per week and keep records of your activities. Some people think they can skip this part since they're not getting UC money yet, but PA will audit your work search activities when you start receiving benefits. Also, if you find a job during your severance period, you'll need to report that when you certify, and it could affect your future UC eligibility. But honestly, having 17 weeks of severance gives you a huge advantage in your job search - you can be selective and not feel rushed into taking something that's not a good fit. Make sure to save some of that severance money for when it ends, just in case there's any delay in your UC payments starting up. The transition isn't always seamless even when you do everything right!

As someone who just went through this exact situation in PA, I can confirm everything everyone's saying here is accurate. Filed immediately after my last day, did weekly certifications for 15 weeks while on severance, then my UC payments kicked in automatically. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - during those severance weeks, I used the PA CareerLink website to access free career counseling and job training resources. Since you have to do the work search activities anyway, might as well take advantage of all the free services available. They have resume workshops, interview prep, and even some online certification courses that could help you stand out when applying for jobs. Also, keep detailed records of every job application, networking contact, and interview - PA can ask for this information at any time, and it's way easier to track as you go rather than trying to recreate it later. Good luck with everything!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got notice of a layoff with 12 weeks severance starting in February. Reading through everyone's experiences really clarifies the process. Quick question for those who've been through this: when you're reporting your severance income during the weekly certifications, do you report the gross amount or net amount after taxes? My severance will have taxes withheld, so I want to make sure I'm reporting the right figure to avoid any issues down the line. Also, has anyone dealt with severance that includes unused vacation time? I'm getting my regular severance plus about 3 weeks of accrued PTO paid out - not sure if that gets calculated differently or if it's all just considered one lump sum for UC purposes. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's made what seemed like a confusing mess much clearer!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - file immediately and stay on top of those weekly certifications! I went through this in PA about 18 months ago with an 8-week severance package. The process seems overwhelming at first, but it really does work if you follow the steps. One additional tip that helped me: I created a simple calendar reminder system for my weekly certifications since you have to do them even when not getting paid. It's easy to forget or put it off when there's no immediate money coming in, but missing even one week can create problems later. Also, don't stress too much about the delayed payments - the severance period actually gave me time to decompress from the layoff and approach my job search more strategically. You've got a good safety net with 17 weeks of coverage. Just stay organized, keep good records, and trust the process. You've got this!

This entire thread is gold! I'm bookmarking it for future reference. What strikes me most is how everyone emphasizes filing immediately and maintaining those weekly certifications even during the severance period - that seems to be the key thing people get wrong. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: does PA UC send you any kind of confirmation or documentation that shows your severance deduction period and when your payments should start? It seems like having that in writing would be helpful for planning purposes, especially with a 17-week gap between filing and receiving benefits. Also wondering if there are any tax implications to be aware of when transitioning from severance to UC benefits - like whether the timing affects how everything gets reported for the tax year. Anyone have experience with that aspect? The advice about using CareerLink services during the waiting period is fantastic - turning that time into an opportunity rather than just waiting around. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences here!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! As someone who might be facing a similar situation soon (our company has been hinting at restructuring), I'm taking notes on everyone's advice. The key takeaways seem to be: file immediately, keep up with weekly certifications during severance, maintain detailed job search records, and use the severance period strategically for career development. One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who found jobs during their severance period, how did that work out? Did you have to pay back any portion of the severance, or were you able to keep it while starting the new position? I know every company's severance agreement is different, but wondering if there are common patterns or things to watch out for in the fine print. Also really appreciate the Claimyr recommendation and the CareerLink suggestions. It's reassuring to know there are resources available to help navigate both the UC system and the job search process. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - this kind of practical advice is invaluable!

This thread is absolutely amazing - wish I had found something this comprehensive when I went through my severance situation! I just wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me during my 14-week severance period in PA: 1. Set up a dedicated folder (physical or digital) for ALL your UC documents from day one. I kept my initial filing confirmation, weekly certification screenshots, correspondence from PA UC, and my job search log all in one place. Made everything so much easier when I had questions later. 2. Consider setting up direct deposit for your UC benefits before your severance period ends. Even though you won't be getting payments right away, having it set up means no delays when your benefits do start. 3. If your severance is paid bi-weekly or monthly instead of weekly, you'll still need to break it down to a weekly amount when reporting during certifications. PA UC will help you calculate this, but having the math ready made my weekly filings much faster. The advice about using this time strategically is spot-on. I ended up getting two industry certifications during my waiting period that definitely helped in interviews. Sometimes what feels like a setback can actually set you up for something better. Hang in there!

This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm not dealing with severance personally, but my sister just got laid off from her job in Philly with a 10-week package, and she was completely confused about the UC process. I'm sending her this entire thread - the step-by-step breakdown and real experiences are exactly what she needs. The consistent message about filing immediately and maintaining weekly certifications even during severance seems crucial. It's counterintuitive that you'd need to keep doing all the work when you're not getting payments yet, but it makes sense from the system's perspective. I'm particularly impressed by how many of you turned the severance waiting period into an opportunity for career development. The CareerLink resources, certifications, and strategic job searching approach really shows how to make the best of a difficult situation. Thanks to everyone for creating such a comprehensive resource for people navigating this process!

This thread is absolutely incredible - such a wealth of real-world experience and practical advice! I'm actually going through something similar right now (14-week severance package, laid off last month) and this conversation has answered so many questions I didn't even know I should be asking. I especially appreciate everyone emphasizing the importance of filing immediately and keeping up with weekly certifications during the severance period. I almost made the mistake of thinking I should wait until my severance ended to file! The tips about using CareerLink resources, keeping detailed documentation, and treating the severance period as strategic career development time are game-changers. I've been feeling anxious about the long gap before UC payments start, but you've all reframed it as an opportunity to be selective and thorough in my job search. One question for those who've been through this - did any of you find that employers were understanding about the severance situation during interviews? I'm worried potential employers might think I'm not serious about finding work quickly since I have that financial cushion. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, helpful experiences. This community is amazing!

This has been such an incredibly valuable thread! As a newcomer to this community and someone who might be facing a similar situation in the coming months (my company just announced "restructuring" plans), I'm amazed by how generous everyone has been with sharing their real experiences and practical advice. The consistent message about filing immediately after your last day of work, even though you won't receive payments during the severance period, seems counterintuitive but makes perfect sense once you understand the system. And the emphasis on maintaining those weekly certifications and job search requirements during the entire severance period is crucial information I never would have known otherwise. What really stands out to me is how many of you turned what could have been a stressful waiting period into productive career development time. The suggestions about using CareerLink resources, getting certifications, and being strategic about job searching rather than desperate really reframe the whole experience in a positive way. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference and will be sharing it with colleagues who might need this information. Thank you all for creating such a comprehensive resource and showing that this community truly supports each other through difficult transitions. The combination of technical knowledge and emotional support here is exactly what people need when navigating unemployment for the first time!