PA UC partial benefits issue - can't backdate after reopening claim
I'm so confused about my partial UC benefits situation! I've been working at a retail store since January with fluctuating hours. My hours got severely cut in June (down to 10-15 hours weekly from my normal 32), so I applied for partial unemployment. I received benefits for 2 weeks before my hours temporarily increased and I became ineligible. Now my manager cut my hours AGAIN. Last week I only worked 6 hours total! I reopened my claim online yesterday, but when I tried to file for last week, the system says I can't file until August 14th (for this current week). I submitted a backdating request through my dashboard, but I'm worried about that week with only 6 hours of work. This doesn't make sense - I shouldn't have another waiting week since I'm still in my benefit year and already served one back in June. Has anyone dealt with this partial benefits reopening issue? Will my backdating request actually work? I really need that payment for last week since my rent is coming up.
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Megan D'Acosta
Yes, this is a common issue with PA UC partial claims. When you reopen a claim, the system automatically sets your filing day to the Sunday after reopening, regardless of whether you're within your benefit year. Your backdating request should work, but it can take 7-10 business days to process. I'd recommend calling to speak with an agent who can manually override this and allow you to file for that previous week immediately rather than waiting for the backdating request to process.
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Samantha Howard
•Thank you! Do you know if there's a specific department I should ask for when I call? I've tried calling so many times in the past and just get endless busy signals.
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Sarah Ali
had the EXACT same problem last month!! so frustrating! took me 3 weeks to get it fixed, kept calling but lines always busy. ended up getting paid for those weeks eventually but had to borrow $ from my sister for rent :
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Samantha Howard
•Ugh that's what I'm afraid of! Did you just keep calling until you got through or did they eventually process your backdating request?
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Ryan Vasquez
After trying to call the regular PA UC number for 3 days straight and getting nothing but busy signals, I finally got through to someone using Claimyr.com - it's a service that gets you through to a live PA UC rep. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Totally saved me when I had a similar backdating issue with my partial benefits. The agent was able to override the system and let me file for the missed week on the spot.
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Avery Saint
•Is that service legit? Sounds kinda sketchy tbh. How does it even work?
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Ryan Vasquez
•Yeah it's legit. They basically keep calling for you until they get through, then connect you with the agent. Saved me hours of redial frustration. The UC rep I talked to actually mentioned they get a lot of calls through them.
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Taylor Chen
THE SYSTEM IS BROKE AS HELL!! This is all by design to make it harder for us to get our money!! I had my hours cut at the warehouse in April and MAY and got stuck in the same bs loop. nobody answers phones, nobody responds to messages, and then they wonder why people get desperate. I'm still fighting with them over 2 weeks of partial benefits they owe me from MAY!!!
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Keith Davidson
•While the frustration is understandable, this is actually a known issue with the PA UC system rather than an intentional barrier. The system wasn't designed to handle the back-and-forth nature of partial employment very well. If you're still fighting for those May weeks, you should request a determination letter - then you'll have appeal rights if they're denying the payments.
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Ezra Bates
I work in HR and see this issue with our employees regularly. The reopening process has a technical limitation - it sets your filing eligibility date forward regardless of backdating needs. Your backdating request will likely work, but here's a faster solution: call 1-888-313-7284 early Monday morning (7:55am, right before they open) and request a "claim date adjustment." The agent can override the system to allow immediate filing for last week. Be sure to have your partial income documentation ready - they'll need your gross earnings for that week.
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Samantha Howard
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'll try calling first thing Monday. Should I still keep the backdating request open as a backup plan?
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Ezra Bates
•Yes, leave the backdating request active just in case you can't get through. The system won't process duplicate payments, so there's no risk in having both methods going simultaneously.
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Ana Erdoğan
not exactly the same but i had issues with my benefits when i went from full unemployment to partial when i got a part time gig. the whole system gets confused when your employment status changes even a little bit. took me like a month to sort everything out lol
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Samantha Howard
UPDATE: I was finally able to speak with someone at UC! I used the tip about calling right when they open and got through after about 20 minutes on hold. The agent explained that reopening a claim does reset your filing week regardless of being in the same benefit year (weird system flaw). She processed my backdating request on the spot and I was able to file for last week immediately! She said I should see payment in 2-3 business days. Such a relief!
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Keith Davidson
•Great news! For future reference, if your hours fluctuate regularly, you might want to keep your claim open and just report your earnings each week, even in weeks where you earn too much to receive benefits. This prevents having to go through the reopening process each time your hours get reduced.
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Samantha Howard
•That's brilliant advice - I didn't realize I could do that! Would have saved me so much stress. Will definitely keep filing weekly regardless of my hours going forward.
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Jacob Lee
•So glad you got it sorted out! I've been dealing with similar partial benefit issues at my restaurant job - hours are all over the place depending on how busy we are. This thread has been super helpful, especially the tip about keeping the claim open even during high-earning weeks. Going to try that approach instead of constantly reopening. Thanks for sharing the update!
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Connor O'Neill
This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with partial benefits! I'm a server and my hours vary wildly based on the season and staffing. I made the mistake of stopping my claim when I had a few good weeks in July, then when things slowed down in August I had to go through this whole reopening nightmare. The system definitely isn't designed for gig workers or people with inconsistent schedules. Next time I'll definitely keep filing weekly like Keith suggested - would have saved me weeks of stress and missed payments. Thanks for posting about this issue and following up with the solution!
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StellarSurfer
•This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm dealing with something similar at my delivery job - some weeks I get 30+ hours, other weeks barely 15 depending on demand. I stupidly let my claim close during a busy period and now I'm kicking myself. The advice about keeping it active even during good weeks makes so much sense. It's frustrating that the system punishes people for having inconsistent work schedules when that's just the reality for so many jobs nowadays. Definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference!
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Sean Doyle
This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation at my cleaning service job where my hours fluctuate based on client bookings. I had no idea you could keep filing weekly even during high-earning weeks to avoid the reopening hassle. That's such a game-changer! I've been going through the stop-and-start cycle with my claim for months thinking I was doing the right thing. The system really isn't built for workers with variable income. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - especially the tip about calling right when they open and asking for a "claim date adjustment." Saving this thread for sure!
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Yara Sabbagh
•Absolutely agree! I wish someone had told me about keeping claims active during good weeks when I first started dealing with partial benefits. I work at a retail chain where they schedule based on foot traffic, so some weeks I'm at 35 hours and others I'm down to 12. I've been through the reopening process three times this year alone - each time thinking I was being responsible by closing my claim when hours picked up. The stress of wondering if you'll get through to an agent when your hours drop again is awful. This community has been such a resource for navigating these system quirks that they definitely don't explain clearly in the handbook!
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Anastasia Popova
This thread is a goldmine of information! I'm in a similar boat working at a coffee shop where my hours depend on seasonal traffic and staff availability. Some weeks I get my full 28 hours, other weeks I'm lucky to hit 15. I made the same mistake of closing my claim during busy periods thinking it was the "honest" thing to do, only to face the reopening nightmare when things slowed down. The advice about keeping your claim active and just reporting earnings weekly is brilliant - I had no idea that was even allowed! It makes so much sense though, especially for those of us in service industries where schedules are unpredictable. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy if I run into issues, and that tip about asking specifically for a "claim date adjustment" is super helpful. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's clear the UC system has some serious flaws when it comes to handling modern work situations, but at least we can help each other navigate around them!
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