PA UC filing with severance: Should I file now or after 90-day package ends?

You should file for unemployment right away, even while receiving severance. PA considers severance payments as deductible income, which means they'll reduce your weekly benefit amount while you're receiving it, but you'll establish your claim sooner. The important thing is that you don't delay filing because you have limited time to establish your benefit year (typically within 2 weeks of your last day worked). If you wait until October, you might lose out on potential benefits.

i waited til my severance ran out and it was a HUGE mistake!!! they counted my base year wrong because i waited too long. definitely file now!!!

There's an important distinction here - how your severance is classified matters. If it's considered "separation pay" and paid in a lump sum, it's deducted differently than if it's considered ongoing wages. You mentioned it's paid bi-weekly, so PA UC will likely treat each payment as deductible income during the weeks received. Here's what to do: 1. File your initial claim now (establishes your benefit year) 2. When filing weekly claims, report your severance payments 3. Your benefits will likely be reduced or $0 during severance period 4. After severance ends, your full weekly benefit should kick in Remember that your "base year" for calculating benefits is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing. Filing now vs. October could actually result in different weekly benefit amounts depending on your work history.

I went through this EXACT situation last year!!! The PA UC system is such a nightmare to deal with. I filed right after getting laid off even though I had 8 weeks of severance coming. My benefits were reduced to $0 during that time, but at least my claim was in the system. HOWEVER, when my severance ended, they didn't automatically start paying me - I had to call and explain that my severance had ended. And good luck getting through to anyone there!!! I spent THREE DAYS hitting redial trying to get through to a real person.

dont listen to these ppl... if ur getting paid why would u file for unemploymnt?? thats double dipping and prolly illegal. wait till ur actually unemployed (no more $$ coming in) then file

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to file my initial claim this week, even though it sounds like I probably won't receive any actual benefits until the severance ends in October. Better safe than sorry with establishing the claim early. I'll make sure to accurately report the severance payments on my weekly claims too.

Kind of a side question but related - does anyone know if the severance affects the job search requirements? Do I still need to apply to jobs while getting severance even if my benefits are $0?