PA UC eligibility with 29 work weeks - friend losing job mid-December 2025

In PA you need 18 credit weeks (weeks where you earned at least $116) in your base year to qualify. The tricky part is that his base year might not include his current job yet. The base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing. So depending on WHEN he applies in December, his base year might not include all his current work weeks. He should definitely apply though!

i was in the exact same boat last yr. company closed right b4 xmas. brutal timing. applied for UC right away and got approved but they didnt count my most recent work at first. something about the quarters. def tell ur friend to apply asap after layoff!!

My sister went through something like this and the base period was confusing. Doesn't the amount he will get depend on how much he made too? Not just weeks worked? Not sure if I'm remembering right but I think they look at highest quarter earnings or something.

THESE UC RULES ARE DESIGNED TO TRIP PEOPLE UP!!!! They make it so complicated on purpose!! I had a job for 9 months in 2024 and when I applied in January 2025 they said I didn't qualify because of some stupid base period rule. This system is RIGGED against workers!!! Tell your friend to apply anyway and APPEAL if denied!!

I've been struggling with the PA UC contact center too - busy signals for days! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Your friend might want to use it if he has trouble getting through to ask questions about his specific situation.

One important consideration: If your friend doesn't qualify using the Traditional Base Year (which might not include his current job yet), the PA UC system should automatically check his eligibility using the Alternative Base Year, which includes more recent quarters. Also, even if he doesn't qualify immediately in December, he could potentially qualify in January when the quarter shifts. I'd recommend he apply as soon as he's laid off, and if denied, reapply in January when the base year calculation changes.

hey also tell ur friend to make sure he gets all his paperwork from the employer b4 they close!! my company was total chaos when closing and they almost messed up my final pay + I had to chase them down for my separation notice which UC needed. big mess!!

To answer your original question directly: With 29 work weeks from June to December 2025, your friend has enough credit weeks (more than the required 18) IF those weeks are counted in his base year. The current base year for someone applying in December 2025 would be July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. Since he started in June 2025, most of his work would fall outside this period. However, the Alternative Base Year would be October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025, which would capture some of his work. The most favorable would be applying in January 2026, when the Traditional Base Year shifts to October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025, and the Alternative Base Year becomes January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 (capturing all his work). Advice: Apply immediately after job loss, but be prepared to reapply in January if necessary.

One more thing your friend should know - even if he qualifies for UC, there's a one-week waiting period before benefits start. So the first week he's eligible, he'll file but won't get paid for that week. With the holidays coming up, make sure he's prepared for that delay on top of the normal processing time.