PA UC disqualification while in WIOA CDL training - Will CareerLink help?

same thing happened 2 me last year! pa uc office is SO MESSED UP. if ur in wioa training u should be eligible for benefits usually. did u report ur training on ur weekly claims?

This is a common issue with PA UC when you're in training programs. The most likely reason for disqualification is that the system automatically flags you as "not able and available for work" when you indicate you're in training. However, WIOA-approved training should actually make you EXEMPT from the work search requirements, not disqualified. You need to contact your WIOA counselor immediately and ask them to provide documentation that your CDL program is approved training. Then you need to file an appeal against the disqualification - you only have 15 days from the date on the determination letter to do this. CareerLink can help you with the appeal paperwork, but they can't directly reverse the disqualification. Only an appeal or a call to UC can do that.

I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!! The stupid system doesn't understand that WIOA training is SUPPOSED to be covered. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get through to someone and kept getting busy signals or disconnected. The worst part is you only have limited time to appeal! DON'T waste time with CareerLink for this - they'll just tell you to call UC. They can't fix disqualifications directly, no matter what anyone tells you.

I went through this exact situation in February when I started my welding program through WIOA. Here's what you need to do: 1. Get the Training Information form (UC-1599) from your WIOA counselor or download it from the PA UC website 2. Have your CDL school fill it out completely 3. Submit this along with your appeal letter explaining you're in approved training 4. File the appeal online through your dashboard But most importantly - you NEED to talk to an actual UC representative who can often fix this on the spot. I was getting nowhere until I used Claimyr to get through to an agent (claimyr.com). They have a service that connects you with UC without the wait. Check out their video demo: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent I reached immediately understood the issue and reinstated my benefits while noting that I was in approved training. Saved me weeks of stress.

Yes, it worked for me. I was skeptical too but was desperate. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying on my own for days. The UC rep told me this happens all the time with training programs - the system isn't set up properly to recognize WIOA-approved training automatically.

The issue you're experiencing is common but easily fixable if you take the right steps. Since you're in a WIOA-approved CDL program, you qualify for Training Benefits (TB) which allows you to collect UC while in approved training. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1. Obtain a letter from your WIOA counselor confirming your enrollment in approved training 2. File an appeal using form UC-46A (available online) and attach the WIOA letter 3. In your appeal, specifically cite PA UC law regarding approved training: "Per Section 3304(a)(8) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and PA UC Code Section 401(d)(7), claimants in approved training are exempt from work search requirements and should not be disqualified for this reason." 4. Contact UC directly to expedite this - they can often fix it immediately once they understand you're in WIOA training Don't wait for CareerLink - while they're helpful for job searches, they don't process UC claims or handle appeals. This needs to be addressed directly with the UC office.

YES - absolutely continue filing your weekly claims even while disqualified! If your appeal is successful (which it should be for WIOA training), they will pay you for all properly filed weeks. If you stop filing, you won't get those back weeks even if you win your appeal.

btw my buddy in cdl school said he had to get some special form from his school every week to prove he was still in training. forget what its called but make sure u ask about that too

Update: I talked to my WIOA counselor and she was super helpful! Turns out this happens all the time. She's giving me a letter confirming my training program is approved and helping me with the appeal. She also suggested I try calling UC directly to speed things up since sometimes they can fix it right away once they see you're in approved training. Will keep you all posted on what happens. Thanks for all the advice!