PA UC eligibility for bartenders after sudden business closure - can I qualify?

Yes, you absolutely qualify for PA UC in this situation! I went through something similar when the restaurant I managed closed in 2023. Here's what you need to know: 1. Bartenders definitely qualify for UC benefits when laid off due to business closure 2. Your tips DO count toward your benefit calculation IF they were reported (on your paystubs or tax returns) 3. For proof of separation, you can submit the text message from the owner as evidence 4. PA UC may contact your employer to verify the closure 5. If the employer doesn't respond, UC will typically side with your claim File ASAP online at www.uc.pa.gov - the system will walk you through everything. Make sure to indicate "business closed" as the reason for separation.

my cousin got laid off from a bar last year and he got like $400 a week but took almost a month to start getting paid. dont forget u have to do the weekly claims too

Just make SURE you have all your W2s and tax returns from the past 18 months!! The UC system is SO BROKEN that if you don't have every single document they'll put an "open issue" on your claim and you'll be STUCK FOR MONTHS!!! This happened to me and I almost got EVICTED while waiting! They don't care about us in the service industry AT ALL and they'll find ANY REASON to deny your claim!!!

I work with PA UC claims regularly, and I can provide some accurate information for your situation: Under PA law, when a business closes permanently, employees are eligible for unemployment benefits as this is considered a lack of work situation. For bartenders specifically: - Base period wages include both hourly wages AND reported tips - For proof of separation in business closure cases, PA UC usually accepts: * Final pay stub * The text message from your employer * Photos of the closure sign (take one if you can) * News articles about the closure (if any exist) One common issue for service industry workers is tip documentation. If your tips were reported on your tax returns but not on regular pay stubs, have copies of your tax returns ready to upload when requested during the "fact-finding" phase. If your claim gets an "open issue" status related to your employer not responding, call UC directly - getting through can be difficult but is essential for resolving these issues.

Try using Claimyr to get through to PA UC faster! I was in a similar situation when my restaurant closed down and I kept getting busy signals for days. Claimyr got me through to an actual agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent was able to verify my business closure and release my payments. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with rent coming due and can't afford to wait weeks for email responses.

is anyone else confused by the whole "job search" requirement thing? do bartenders have to apply to specific kinds of jobs or can it be anything? i hear some people saying you have to document everything and others saying they never got asked for proof?? the pa uc website is so confusing

hey my bf is a cook and their restaurant is shutting down next month. should he wait til after the last day to apply or do it now???

UPDATE: I filed my initial claim yesterday and it went through! The system accepted the business closure as my reason for separation. Now I'm just waiting for them to process everything. Thanks everyone for your help - I'm still nervous about how long this might take since I really need these payments soon, but at least I'm in the system now.

Quick tip about your specific situation: Keep checking your dashboard daily for any requests for additional information. With business closures, PA UC sometimes adds an "employer contact" open issue where they try to verify the closure with the employer. If your employer doesn't respond (which sounds likely in your case), they'll notify you and request additional documentation. If you see this happen, immediately upload any evidence of the closure - the text message, photos of the closed business, etc. The more evidence you provide proactively, the faster they'll resolve the issue. Also, be sure to file your weekly certifications every week, even if your initial claim is still processing. You can receive back payments for properly filed weekly claims once your main claim is approved.

anyone know if they still make you use that stupid debit card thing or can you get direct deposit? i lost my card last time and it was a nightmareeee to get a new one

I'm in a similar boat rn and its so stressful! My bar is staying open but they cut my shifts from 5 days to just 1 day a week. Can I even file for partial unemployment? Has anyone tried that?

FINAL UPDATE: My claim was approved! Took 12 days total and I already got my first payment via direct deposit. For anyone in the same situation, here's what worked for me: 1. I uploaded the text from my boss about the closure right away 2. I took photos of the closed restaurant with the sign in the window 3. I called using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above when I saw an "employer contact" issue 4. The agent was able to verify everything and push my claim through They did count most of my tips in the calculation (the ones reported on tax returns), and my weekly benefit amount is actually pretty decent. Now I just need to keep up with the weekly claims and job search requirements while I find a new bartending job. Thanks again to everyone who helped!

Congrats on getting it sorted out! Your experience is super helpful for others going through the same thing. Quick question - when you called using Claimyr, about how long did it take them to get you connected to an actual UC agent? I'm dealing with a similar employer contact issue and have been trying to get through for days with no luck.