PA UC filing timing confusion - can I file before my last day or must wait until Sunday?
Hey everyone, I'm getting conflicting info about when to file my initial UC claim. My seasonal contract with PA Parks & Rec ends this Friday (6/21/25), and I swear I read somewhere on the PA UC website that I need to wait until Sunday (6/23) to file my initial claim. But back in 2023 when I got laid off from a warehouse job, I filed the same day as my layoff and everything processed fine. Has something changed with the system? I don't want to mess anything up by filing too early or waiting too long. This job was 6-month seasonal, if that matters. Thanks for any help!
18 comments
Join the conversation
Giovanni Rossi
u should def wait til sunday!! i filed on my last day of work last month & got a message saying i filed to early, then had to call them to fix it. such a pain
0 coins
Fatima Al-Rashid
•Ugh that's exactly what I'm worried about! Did you have any issues getting through to them on the phone? Last time I had to call PA UC it took like 3 weeks
0 coins
Aaliyah Jackson
The official PA UC rule is that you should file your initial claim during the first week you are unemployed. Since your last day is Friday, the new week starts on Sunday, so that's why you need to wait until Sunday. Don't file before your employment actually ends or you'll likely have to deal with an "open issue" that could delay your benefits for weeks. The system is designed around Sunday being the first day of the unemployment week.
0 coins
KylieRose
•Are you sure about this? I thought you could file anytime AFTER your last day worked. So if last day is Friday, you can file Saturday? I'm confused because I'm in the same situation but with a different employer.
0 coins
Aaliyah Jackson
To clarify for everyone: The PA UC week runs Sunday through Saturday. You should file your initial application during the first week you are totally or partially unemployed. Since your last day is Friday (6/21), Sunday (6/23) would be the first day of your first week of unemployment. Filing on Sunday is the safest approach to avoid any "filed too early" issues that could create an open issue on your claim.
0 coins
Miguel Hernández
•So wait - I thought we file the biweekly claims on Sunday but the initial application can be anytime after u lose ur job? Now im confused 2
0 coins
Sasha Ivanov
Listen, the whole system is BROKEN anyway! I filed correctly and STILL had an open issue for TWO MONTHS last year!! They don't tell you what's wrong, don't respond to messages, and the phones are IMPOSSIBLE to get through on!!! The whole PA UC system is designed to make you give up!!! 😡😡😡
0 coins
Liam Murphy
•While the system definitely has its frustrations, following the correct filing procedures is still important. For the original poster: File on Sunday after your last day of work. For those having trouble reaching PA UC by phone, I've had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a system that helps you get through to an agent without the busy signals and disconnects. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 that shows how it works. Helped me resolve an open issue I had pending for weeks.
0 coins
Amara Okafor
I was in a similar situation last year with seasonal work. The correct procedure is to wait until the first Sunday after your last day of work to file your initial claim. Think of it this way - when you file, you're claiming benefits for a specific week. If you're still employed for part of that week (even if it's just Friday), then you're not eligible for benefits for the entire week. The biweekly claims are different - those are filed for previous weeks after you've already established your initial claim.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Rashid
•Thanks for explaining this clearly! So just to double-check, I'll wait until Sunday to file my initial claim. Then I'll need to file my biweekly claims after that. Do I need to do anything special to indicate it was seasonal work, or just file normally?
0 coins
Amara Okafor
You'll file normally, but during the application, there will be questions about why your employment ended. Select "lack of work" and if there's a place to specify, you can mention it was a seasonal position with an end date. Make sure you have your employment information ready - last day worked (6/21/25), employer info, and your total earnings for the past 18 months. And remember you'll need to complete and report work search activities starting from your first full week of unemployment.
0 coins
Giovanni Rossi
•oh yea dont forget about the job search thing!! they made me verify mine last time & i almost got disqualified cuz i didnt save all my applications!
0 coins
KylieRose
My cousin just went through this whole mess and tried using that Claimyr thing someone mentioned above when he had an open issue. He said it worked but he wasn't sure if it was worth it. Has anyone else tried it? I'm about to lose my job next month and I'm worried I'll have problems too...
0 coins
Liam Murphy
•I've used it twice. The first time was when I had an open issue that wasn't resolving, and the second was when I needed to fix an issue with my benefit year ending. Both times I got through to an actual person within an hour instead of days/weeks of calling. Just make sure you have all your claim info ready when you connect.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Rashid
Update: Filed my claim on Sunday as suggested, and it went through without any issues! They asked about the seasonal nature of the job during the application process. Thanks everyone for your help - especially the clarification about waiting until Sunday. Now I just need to make sure I keep up with those job search requirements...
0 coins
Aaliyah Jackson
•Glad it worked out! Just a reminder that you need to complete at least 3 work search activities each week and keep records of them. PA UC can request verification of your work search at any time, so document everything carefully. Good luck with your job search!
0 coins
Megan D'Acosta
This is really helpful info! I'm starting a seasonal job with the state next month and knowing I'll need to wait until the Sunday after my contract ends to file will save me a lot of headaches. One question - do seasonal workers typically qualify for the full benefit amount, or is there anything different about how benefits are calculated for short-term seasonal positions? I'm trying to plan ahead financially.
0 coins
Diego Rojas
•Benefits are calculated based on your total earnings during your "base period" (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). So if you worked other jobs during that time period, those earnings count too - not just the seasonal position. The length of your seasonal job doesn't directly affect the benefit amount, but having fewer total earnings in your base period could result in a lower weekly benefit amount. PA UC uses a formula based on your highest quarter of earnings during the base period. You can get an estimate of your potential benefits on the PA UC website before you file your claim.
0 coins