PA UC denied for monetary ineligibility despite sufficient summer earnings - what am I missing?
I'm completely baffled and stressed out. I just received my Notice of Financial Determination from PA UC saying I'm "monetarily ineligible" but this makes NO sense to me! I worked full-time at a resort from May through September 2024 making $18.75/hr (about $750/week). That's well over $9,000 total for the summer. The letter shows some of my wages but the amounts are way lower than what I actually earned. The determination says I didn't earn enough in my base period, but I definitely made more than the minimum they list ($8,240 in 2025). Could they be missing some of my wages? Do summer seasonal jobs get treated differently? I'm so confused and worried because I was counting on this income until I find another position. Has anyone else dealt with incorrect wage reporting on their claim?
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Peyton Clarke
did u check which quarters they looked at? PA UC uses base periods that might not include ur most recent work
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•The letter mentions something about a base period being the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters? I'm not sure I understand what that means exactly...
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Vince Eh
This is a common issue with seasonal work. PA UC uses a specific base period calculation that might not include your most recent employment. The standard base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. For example, if you filed in October 2024, your base period would be July 2023 through June 2024, which would miss most of your summer 2024 work. If the standard base period doesn't qualify you, you can request an alternate base period review which might include more recent quarters. Call and specifically ask for this review.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Thank you SO MUCH for explaining this! That makes sense now. My work was July-Sept 2024 so it sounds like it's not in the standard period. How do I request this alternate base period review? Do I have to fill out a special form?
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Sophia Gabriel
similar thing happened to my nephew last year!! the system is SO CONFUSING and they dont explain anything clearly. he had to call like 50 times to get someone on the phone to explain it properly. they eventually fixed it but took forever.
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Tobias Lancaster
You need to file an appeal within 15 days of receiving your determination notice. Check the date on your notice - the deadline is strict. On your appeal form, specifically state that you believe your wages weren't properly calculated and request an alternate base period review. Include copies of your pay stubs or W-2 forms if you have them. Also worth noting - for seasonal work, you'll need to have earned wages in at least 18 weeks during the base period at 16x the minimum wage per week (roughly $192 per week in 2025). Make sure you meet this requirement too.
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Ezra Beard
•This is right! And make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process or you might lose weeks you're eligible for if you win the appeal!
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Statiia Aarssizan
I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at PA UC when I had this exact problem last year. Busy signals, disconnects, and automated messages telling me to call back later. BEYOND FRUSTRATING!!! I finally tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) after seeing it recommended here. It got me through to an actual UC rep in about 20 minutes who explained exactly what was happening with my wages and how to fix it. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent was able to see that some of my wages hadn't been reported properly by my employer and started the process to get them corrected. Saved me so much stress!
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Reginald Blackwell
•does that service actually work? seems sketchy to me
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Statiia Aarssizan
•It worked for me! I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days on my own. The service just helps you get through the phone system to talk to an actual agent. The rep I spoke with was super helpful once I got through.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
Update: I finally got through to someone at UC (took forever!!). The agent confirmed that my wages weren't in the standard base period. They're going to review my claim using the alternate base period which will include my summer work. Apparently I need to wait for a new determination letter but the agent said I should qualify once they include the correct quarters. Thanks everyone for your help explaining this!
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Vince Eh
•Great news! Make sure you continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for the new determination. If you're approved, you'll receive payments for all eligible weeks you've properly filed for.
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Peyton Clarke
this is y the system is broken ppl cant figure it out without help!! glad u got thru 2 someone
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Ezra Beard
Just wanted to add - if your new determination still doesn't look right, request a wage investigation! Sometimes employers don't report wages correctly or they get recorded under the wrong quarter. Happened to my sister and took 6 weeks to fix but she eventually got everything she was entitled to.
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