PA UC job search requirement confusion - what exactly counts as a work search activity?
I'm so confused about the PA job search requirements. I just filed my first UC claim last week and now I need to do these 'work search activities' but I'm not really sure what counts. Do I need to apply to actual jobs or can I just upload my resume to job sites? Also, how many do I need to do each week? The website says something about recording them but doesn't explain clearly. I'm afraid of messing up and losing my benefits. Can anyone explain this in simple terms?
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Ethan Taylor
PA requires you to complete at least 3 work search activities each week. These can include: - Applying for jobs (this is the most obvious one) - Uploading your resume to job search websites (this counts!) - Attending job fairs - Taking a civil service test - Creating profiles on employment websites - Contacting employers directly about openings - Going to workshops at PA CareerLink You need to track the date, what activity you did, employer contact info if applicable, and results. The UC system will occasionally ask you to provide this info, so keep good records!
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Aisha Khan
•Thank you! This is much clearer than what I found on the website. So even just uploading my resume to Indeed or LinkedIn would count as one activity? Do I need to apply to specific jobs too or can I just do 3 resume uploads to different sites each week?
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Yuki Ito
i was on unemployment last yr and messed up the work search thing. they made me pay back 2 weeks of benefits!! make sure u do all 3 activities and WRITE THEM DOWN. they can audit u anytime
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Aisha Khan
•That's scary! How do they audit you? Do they call the places you applied to or something?
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Carmen Lopez
You should definitely mix up your activities. While uploading resumes to job sites does count, I wouldn't recommend doing ONLY that every week. The system is designed to help you actually find work, not just check boxes. Here's what I did when I was on UC last year: - Week 1: Applied to 2 jobs and created a profile on CareerLink - Week 2: Attended a virtual job fair, applied to a job, and updated my LinkedIn - Week 3: Applied to 3 different positions Keep a detailed log with dates, company names, position titles, how you applied, and any response. I used a simple spreadsheet.
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Andre Dupont
•The PA UC system is DESIGNED to trip people up with these requirements! I had a friend who did her activities but didn't log them properly and got hit with an overpayment notice for THOUSANDS. It's ridiculous how they make everything so complicated just to deny benefits. The whole system needs an overhaul.
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QuantumQuasar
I've been trying to call the PA UC service center for weeks to ask this EXACT question and can't get through! The phone lines are always busy no matter what time I call. Has anyone found a way to actually reach a human there???
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•I was in the same boat last month - calling for hours with no luck. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. It basically automates the calling process so you don't have to keep redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent I spoke with confirmed everything mentioned above about the work search requirements and answered some other questions I had about my specific situation. Check out their website at claimyr.com if you're still struggling to get through.
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Jamal Wilson
dont obsess 2 much bout the work search thing. just do 3 things each week n ur good. i just apply to random jobs on indeed even if i dont want them lol. never been audited in 4 months
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Ethan Taylor
•This is risky advice. While it's true many people don't get audited, if you ARE selected for an audit and haven't kept proper records or have misrepresented your work search activities, you could face serious consequences including having to repay benefits or even fraud charges in extreme cases. It's much better to do it properly from the start.
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Mei Lin
I had a similar question when I first started collecting too! One thing I learned - when you're filling out your weekly certification and it asks if you completed your work search activities, make SURE you answer YES. If you accidentally click NO (which I did once), your payment will be delayed while they investigate. Also I keep track of mine in my phone's notes app so I always have it with me if they ask for details.
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Aisha Khan
•That's a great tip about keeping the info in your phone! Do they actually make you submit the details every week or just occasionally?
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Ethan Taylor
To answer your follow-up question - you don't need to submit your work search details every week. The system will just ask "Did you complete your work search activities?" and you select Yes. However, they do occasionally select people for verification where you'll need to provide the details of your activities for certain weeks. This is why keeping good records is important. Some people never get selected for verification, others might get checked multiple times. And as for your question about just doing resume uploads - while that technically counts, I wouldn't recommend doing ONLY that type of activity every week. Mix in some actual job applications too. The point of the requirement is to help you find work, after all.
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Aisha Khan
•Thank you so much! This has been super helpful. I'll make sure to do a mix of different activities and keep detailed records just in case. Going to start a spreadsheet today!
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