PA UC job search requirements while attending school full-time with part-time job?

The short answer is yes, you still need to do work search activities. PA UC requires at least 2 work search activities per week regardless of whether you're in school or working part-time. The only exceptions are if you have a formal Training and Development (TRA) approval through CareerLink or are in an approved Trade program. You should document all your school attendance though, as this can count towards your work search activities in some cases. Attending career workshops or meeting with career counselors at your school can count as work search activities.

Im in almost the EXACT same boat - worked 12 years in healthcare, got downsized in December, still have my weekend bartending gig and started a vocational program. The UC system is so friggin confusing! You DEF still need to do the job searches each week. BUT - here's the good news - your school activities CAN count toward your work search! I list things like "attended career workshop" or "met with academic advisor to discuss job placement" and it's been accepted. Just keep detailed notes on dates/times/what you did.

I tried calling PA UC for WEEKS about a similar question last year and never got through. Complete nightmare. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual UC rep in about 45 minutes when I'd been trying for days with no luck. They have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The UC rep told me that unless you have a formal TRA approval, you still need to do your work searches even while in school. The part-time job doesn't change that requirement either.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU FAIL!!! I was in school full-time last year while on unemployment and they DISQUALIFIED ME for a week because I didn't apply to enough jobs even though I was in class all day!!! Had to appeal and wait 6 WEEKS to get my money back. The rules are RIDICULOUS - they expect you to get training to find better work but then punish you for focusing on education instead of applying for jobs you won't even take because you're training for something else! MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!

There's a form you need to file called the PA UC-1921W if you're attending school while collecting benefits. This doesn't exempt you from work search, but it documents your training program. You might qualify for the Training Unemployment Benefits (TUB) program depending on your school program. Keep doing your work searches (2 per week minimum) and make sure you're reporting your part-time income accurately each week. If your part-time job hours increase, that will reduce your weekly benefit amount proportionally.

good luck with nursing school! my sister did that after getting laid off from retail. the job search thing is annoying but just do it anyway, not worth losing benefits over. she just applied to random jobs she knew she wouldnt get called for lol. not saying thats right but unemployment paid her bills while she got her degree and now she makes $38/hr so it worked out

evry1 giving different info lol. when i was on PA UC in 2023 they told me school DOES count for work search but only if ur in approved program. regular college doesnt count usually. nurse training might tho. u should ask at PA careerlink they helped me figure it out

Just to follow up on the comments about TRA (Trade Readjustment Allowance) - this is specifically for workers who lost their jobs due to foreign trade/competition. It's not available to everyone who gets laid off. However, PA does have a program called Training Unemployment Benefits (TUB) that might apply. You need to submit form UC-1921W as someone mentioned, plus get your training program approved. Even then, work search might still be required depending on your specific situation. Your best bet is to speak directly with a UC representative to clarify your exact situation. Document everything, continue your work searches until told otherwise, and don't risk your benefits.

Hey there! I went through something similar when I got laid off from my warehouse job in 2022. Here's what I learned after dealing with PA UC for months: You absolutely need to keep doing your 2 weekly work searches - there's no getting around that unless you have official TRA or TUB approval. But here's what helped me: I made sure to apply for jobs that were actually relevant to my situation. Since you're in nursing school, focus on healthcare-adjacent positions, medical office jobs, or even part-time positions that could work with your school schedule. Also, definitely get that UC-1921W form filed ASAP. Even if it doesn't exempt you from work search, it protects you if they question your school attendance later. I had a friend who got in trouble because UC thought she was "unavailable for work" due to her class schedule, but having that form on file helped her case. One more tip - when you do your weekly certifications, make sure you're accurately reporting your part-time hours and earnings. They're pretty strict about that, and any discrepancies can cause major headaches down the road. Good luck with nursing school! It's tough juggling everything but it'll be worth it in the end.

I'm actually dealing with something very similar right now! Got laid off from my office job in January and I'm juggling part-time work at a local clinic while starting prerequisites for a physical therapy program. The work search requirement has been stressing me out too, but I've found a few strategies that help: I focus on applying to positions in healthcare facilities - even entry-level roles like patient transport, medical receptionist, or unit clerk positions. These jobs would actually work with my school schedule AND give me valuable healthcare experience while I'm studying. For the weekly certifications, I've been super careful about reporting my clinic hours accurately. I write down every shift immediately and keep screenshots of my submitted certifications just in case. One week I accidentally under-reported my hours by 2 and had to call to correct it - definitely don't want any red flags on your account. Also, make sure you're marking "yes" to being available for work even though you're in school. As long as you could theoretically accept a job offer (even if it would need to work around your class schedule), you're considered available. Just document everything and you should be fine! The whole system is confusing but it sounds like you're being smart about staying compliant while getting your education. Nursing is such a solid career choice - stick with it!

I'm currently in a very similar situation - got laid off from my manufacturing job last fall and just started a medical assistant program while keeping my weekend restaurant job. The PA UC system is definitely confusing! From my experience so far, you do need to keep doing the 2 weekly work searches even with school and part-time work. However, I've found that career services activities at school can sometimes count - things like resume workshops, job placement meetings with advisors, or career fairs. Just make sure to document the date, time, and what specifically you did. One thing that's helped me is focusing my job applications on positions that could actually work with my school schedule - medical office roles, part-time healthcare positions, or even jobs at the hospital where I might do clinicals later. It makes the whole process feel less pointless since these could genuinely lead to opportunities in my field. Definitely get that UC-1921W form filed ASAP like others mentioned. I submitted mine about 3 weeks ago and it gives me peace of mind knowing my training is officially documented with UC. Also, be super careful with reporting your part-time earnings each week. I keep a detailed log of all my restaurant shifts and double-check everything before submitting. Any mistakes there can cause major headaches. Good luck with nursing school! The juggling act is tough but we got this!

I just went through this exact situation last year! Got laid off from my factory job, kept my part-time bookkeeping gig, and enrolled in a radiology tech program. You definitely still need to do your 2 weekly work searches - PA doesn't waive this requirement just for being in school. BUT here's what made it manageable for me: I focused all my applications on healthcare support roles that would actually work with my class schedule. Think medical receptionist, patient registration, hospital housekeeping, or medical records clerk positions. Many of these jobs are used to working with students and offer flexible scheduling. The key is making sure you can genuinely accept any job you apply for - don't just apply to random stuff you'd never take. UC can audit your work search activities and they want to see good faith efforts. Also, definitely file that UC-1921W form everyone's mentioning. It took about 2-3 weeks to process when I submitted mine, but having it on file prevented any issues when they reviewed my case later. Even though it doesn't exempt you from work search, it shows you're serious about your training and helps if any questions come up about your availability. One last tip - when you do your weekly certifications, I found it helpful to keep a simple spreadsheet tracking my part-time hours and gross pay before taxes. Makes the reporting much easier and you'll have backup documentation if needed. Nursing is such a great field - stick with it! The juggling act is tough now but it's so worth it long-term.

I'm in a very similar boat! Got laid off from my warehouse job in December after 14 years, still working my part-time delivery gig on weekends, and just started an HVAC certification program. The whole UC system is so confusing when you're trying to better yourself! From what I've learned so far, you definitely need to keep doing those 2 weekly work searches even with school and part-time work. But I've been taking everyone's advice here about making them relevant - I focus on applying to maintenance positions at hospitals, schools, or office buildings where HVAC skills would be useful. Makes it feel less like busy work and more like I'm actually building toward something. The UC-1921W form is crucial - I just submitted mine last week after reading all these comments. Better safe than sorry, especially since it sounds like it protects you if UC questions your school schedule later. One thing that's helped me stay organized is using a simple notebook to track everything - my weekend delivery hours, what work searches I did each week, and any school-related activities that might count. Keeping it all in one place makes the weekly certifications way less stressful. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - it really helps to know we're not alone in trying to juggle all this stuff while getting back on our feet!