PA UC eligibility after getting fired from part-time job without benefits - Will I lose ELRC too?

ELRC and UC (unemployment compensation) are separate programs with different eligibility requirements. For PA UC, if you were fired, it depends on why - if it was for willful misconduct, you might be disqualified. For ELRC, you need to report your job loss within 10 days, but you'll likely enter their job search period (usually 92 days) where they continue benefits while you look for work. Call your ELRC caseworker immediately to report the change!

Thank you so much for this info! This is a huge relief. I was let go because they're cutting hours at the store, not for misconduct, so hopefully that helps with the UC claim too. I'll call my ELRC caseworker first thing tomorrow morning. Do you know if I need to provide any documentation about being fired?

ur fine, elrc gives u like 3 months to find a new job. just make sure u tell them or theyll be mad if they find out later

Yeah exactly this ^^^ My cousin didnt tell ELRC when she lost her job and they made her repay benefits and she almost lost her subsidy completely!! TELL THEM ASAP!!!

I went through this last year and it was TERRIFYING. The short answer is no, you don't automatically lose ELRC. But you NEED to report your change in employment status within TEN DAYS or you could be in big trouble!!! They gave me 92 days to find new work while keeping my childcare subsidy. I had to show proof I was job searching though - they made me keep a log of applications. Also file for UC right away because that income will count toward your ELRC eligibility during your job search period!

This is so helpful, thank you! Did you have any issues with your UC claim? I'm nervous because it's my first time filing. Also, did ELRC require any specific documentation about being fired or can I just explain what happened?

While everyone is right about ELRC giving you a job search period, I want to point out that PA UC can be extremely difficult to get through to by phone if they have questions about your claim. Since you were fired, they might want to investigate whether it was for cause. I finally got through to them using Claimyr (claimyr.com) after trying for weeks with busy signals. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Saved me so much frustration and I got my issues resolved in one call.

I wish I knew about this service last year!!! I spent HOURS redailing that stupid UC number. Like literally hundreds of calls before I got through. Going to bookmark this for the future (though hopefully I never need it again lol

The system is RIGGED against working parents!! I lost my ELRC for 6 months because some caseworker

While I understand your frustration, I want to clarify that ELRC guidelines are actually designed to provide continuity of care during employment transitions. The 92-day job search period exists specifically to prevent disruption to children's care arrangements. Your situation sounds like a documentation or communication issue rather than a policy problem. For the original poster, this is why keeping detailed records of all communications and submitting change reports promptly is so important.

wait i just realized were talking about PA. in PA u get 92 days to find a job and they keep paying for your daycare but u need to fill out their special job search form every 2 weeks i think? its different from the UC job search stuff

I just wanted to update everyone - I called my ELRC caseworker this morning and reported my job loss. You were all right! They're giving me the 92-day job search period and I need to submit a job search log every two weeks. They also said my UC benefits will count as income during this period. I've filed my initial UC claim too. Thanks so much for all the advice - it really helped calm my anxiety about this situation!

That's great news! Make sure you keep detailed records of all your job search activities for both ELRC and UC requirements. PA unemployment requires you to apply for at least two jobs and complete one work search activity each week. Document everything with dates, company names, position titles, and application methods. This will satisfy both programs' requirements and protect you if there are any questions later.

So glad it worked out for you! When I lost my job last year I was so stressed about losing the daycare subsidy that I couldn't sleep for days. The 92 day period was enough time for me to find something new. Just make sure you're SUPER careful with the paperwork and document EVERYTHING. Keep copies of every form you submit!!!

I'm so relieved to hear everything worked out for you! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the 92-day job search period for ELRC. As someone who might face a similar situation soon (my hours have been getting cut), it's reassuring to know that childcare assistance doesn't just disappear immediately. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - do you know if the job search requirements are the same across all PA counties, or does it vary by location? I want to be prepared just in case.

Thanks for sharing your experience @ApolloJackson - it's really helpful to see how this all worked out! I'm in a similar boat (just got laid off from my retail job) and was panicking about my childcare subsidy. Reading through all these responses has been a lifesaver. I'm definitely going to call my ELRC caseworker tomorrow and get that paperwork started. One thing I'm wondering - did you find the UC phone system as impossible as everyone says? I'm dreading having to call them but I know I need to file ASAP.

This whole thread has been so educational! I'm currently employed but work in retail where layoffs happen pretty regularly, so it's good to know about the 92-day ELRC job search period ahead of time. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if you can start looking for work before the 92 days are up and transition back to regular ELRC benefits once you find a job? Or do you have to wait out the full period? Also, @ApolloJackson glad everything worked out for you! It must be such a relief to know your childcare is secure while you job hunt.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with reduced hours at my job and worried about potentially facing this same situation soon. @ApolloJackson I'm so glad everything worked out for you - it must be such a relief to have that certainty about your daughter's childcare while you focus on your job search. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, I just want to emphasize what everyone has said about reporting changes quickly. My sister went through something similar in another state and the key was always being proactive with communication. The caseworkers really do want to help keep families stable, but they need accurate information to do their job. Good luck with your job search!

Reading through this entire thread has been so reassuring! I'm a single parent who just started a new part-time job after being unemployed, and I was terrified about what would happen if I lost this position since I'm still in my probationary period. Knowing about the 92-day ELRC job search period takes away so much of that anxiety. @ApolloJackson I'm really happy everything worked out for you - it's clear from all the responses that you handled the situation exactly right by being proactive and reaching out for help. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complicated systems. I'm bookmarking this thread in case I ever need to reference it, and I'll definitely remember the key advice about calling ELRC within 10 days and keeping detailed documentation of everything. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm currently working two part-time jobs to make ends meet, and I've been worried about what would happen to my ELRC benefits if I lost one of them. Reading everyone's experiences has really clarified how the system works. @ApolloJackson so glad everything worked out for you - your proactive approach really paid off! It's encouraging to see how supportive this community is. I'm definitely going to save my ELRC caseworker's contact info and make sure I understand the reporting requirements better. The 10-day rule seems crucial. Has anyone dealt with job loss while having multiple part-time positions? I'm wondering if losing one job while keeping another affects ELRC differently than losing your only source of income.

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! As someone who's been juggling work and childcare costs, I had no idea there was a 92-day job search period for ELRC - that's such a relief to know about ahead of time. @ApolloJackson I'm really glad you got everything sorted out so quickly! Your experience shows how important it is to stay calm and reach out for help instead of panicking. The advice about calling within 10 days and keeping detailed records seems to be the golden rule here. I'm also bookmarking that Claimyr service @Chloe Delgado mentioned - the PA UC phone system sounds like a nightmare to deal with on your own. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to navigate government websites alone!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently working at a small restaurant and they've been cutting hours left and right, so I've been really anxious about potentially facing this situation myself. @ApolloJackson I'm so happy everything worked out for you - it must have been terrifying not knowing if your daughter would lose her daycare spot. The advice about the 10-day reporting rule and keeping detailed documentation is so valuable. I had no idea ELRC had a 92-day job search period! That's actually really generous compared to what I was expecting. I'm definitely going to introduce myself to my ELRC caseworker this week so I have that relationship established just in case. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - knowing there's a safety net in place makes the uncertainty of part-time work a lot less scary!