PA UC partial benefits question - do I need to file when going from part-time to full-time?
Hi everyone! I've been collecting partial UC benefits while working part-time (about 25 hrs/week) at a warehouse. I report my hours every week when I file. Good news is my manager just told me I'll be going full-time in the next 2-3 weeks! My question is - what's the proper procedure when transitioning to full-time? Do I just stop filing my weekly claims once I start working 40 hours, or am I supposed to file one last time and indicate that I'm now working full-time? I don't want to mess anything up and get hit with an overpayment later. Thanks for any advice!
18 comments
Join the conversation
Val Rossi
congrats on full time! just stop filing when u hit 40 hrs, thats what i did
0 coins
Romeo Quest
•Thanks! Did you have any issues after you stopped filing? I'm just worried about doing it wrong and having to deal with PA UC coming after me later.
0 coins
Eve Freeman
The proper procedure is to file your weekly certification for the final week where you're still part-time. When you reach your first full-time week, you should still file ONE MORE CERTIFICATION indicating you worked full-time (40+ hours). The system will deny benefits for that week due to excessive earnings, and this properly closes your claim. This creates a clear record that you transitioned to full employment rather than just disappearing from the system. It prevents potential issues later if your claim is ever audited.
0 coins
Romeo Quest
•Oh that makes a lot of sense, thank you! So I'll file for that last full-time week, get the $0 payment, and then stop filing after that. I appreciate the clear explanation!
0 coins
Clarissa Flair
I DID THIS WRONG last year and got hit with a NOTICE OF DETERMINATION saying I had an overpayment!!!! PA UC is a NIGHTMARE to deal with. I stopped filing when I got full-time hours but they said I needed to report the income change PROPERLY not just stop filing. Took 3 months to resolve and they froze my acct during "investigation" even tho it was their fault for not being clear!!!
0 coins
Caden Turner
•Ugh that's awful! Did you have to pay back money? I'm terrified of getting an overpayment notice. The UC website is so confusing sometimes.
0 coins
Clarissa Flair
•I had to appeal it and wait FOREVER but eventually they dropped it. But the stress wasn't worth it!!! Just do what the other person said and file that last week showing full time hours!!
0 coins
McKenzie Shade
I recommend filing a final certification for your first full-time week. On that certification, you'll report your hours and earnings, which will likely exceed the partial benefit threshold. The system will process this as a $0 payment due to excessive earnings, effectively closing your benefit year properly. If you're having trouble reaching someone at PA UC to confirm this process (they're notoriously difficult to contact), I found a service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an agent quickly. I used their service at claimyr.com when I had questions about transitioning off benefits, and they got me connected to PA UC in about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Much easier than trying to figure it out alone!
0 coins
Romeo Quest
•Thanks for the detailed explanation! I'll definitely file that final week showing my full-time hours to close things properly. And thanks for the Claimyr tip - I might use that if I run into any issues. The PA UC phone lines are impossible!
0 coins
Harmony Love
Hey just wondering but what kind of part time job did you have? I'm looking for something while I'm on partial UC too. Was the warehouse flexible with hours?
0 coins
Romeo Quest
•My warehouse job has been pretty flexible! I work for a furniture distribution center and they've been good about keeping me at 20-25 hours weekly until now. They needed someone full-time so I got lucky with the promotion. Good luck with your search!
0 coins
Harmony Love
•Thanks! Sorry for going off topic lol. Good luck with your full time position!
0 coins
Rudy Cenizo
I think u have to call them actually... When I went full-time last year my friend said to call and tell them so they update your status in the system?? But idk for sure cus I just stopped filing and nothing bad happened to me, but maybe I just got lucky
0 coins
Eve Freeman
•You don't need to call PA UC when transitioning to full-time employment. The proper procedure is to file your weekly certification for the final week where you're still part-time, then file ONE MORE certification for your first full-time week showing your full hours/earnings. This automatically triggers the system to close your claim properly with a record showing you've returned to full employment. Calling is unnecessary unless there's some unusual circumstance with your claim.
0 coins
Caden Turner
I'm actually going through the EXACT same situation right now!!! I've been on partial for 3 months and just got offered full time starting next Monday! I'm so confused about all this too because the handbook doesn't clearly say what to do. I'm going to do what others here suggested and file one last time showing my 40 hours. Did anyone's account status change in the system after they did this? Does it say "claim closed" or something?
0 coins
McKenzie Shade
•Your claim doesn't get "closed" per se - it remains active until the end of your benefit year, but you simply stop receiving payments once you report full-time work. Your benefit year still exists in the system, which is actually helpful if you were to lose your job again within the same benefit year. The system will show that particular week as "excessive earnings - $0 payment." This creates the proper paper trail showing you returned to full employment rather than just disappearing from the system.
0 coins
Eve Freeman
Just to give you some additional information: When you report your full-time earnings on that final certification, if your gross wages exceed 130% of your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive $0 for that week. The system will show this as "excessive earnings" which is perfectly normal and expected. After that, you simply stop filing. Your claim will remain technically open until your benefit year ends, but you'll no longer receive payments or need to certify. This approach provides a clean record showing your transition from partial benefits to full employment, which protects you from potential issues later.
0 coins
Romeo Quest
•This is such helpful information, thank you! I'm definitely going to file that last certification showing my full-time hours. It makes sense that they want a clear record of the transition. I appreciate everyone's help with this!
0 coins