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.