PA UC partial benefits question - will my part-time job earnings reduce my weekly payments?

Yes, PA allows partial unemployment benefits. You'll report your gross earnings (before taxes) when you file your weekly claim. PA uses a formula: you can earn 30% of your weekly benefit rate without reduction, then anything above that gets deducted dollar-for-dollar from your benefit payment. So if your WBR is $487, you can earn up to $146.10 (30% of $487) with no reduction. If you earn $320, the calculation would be: $320 - $146.10 = $173.90 that would be deducted from your benefit. $487 - $173.90 = $313.10 would be your partial benefit payment. So you'd get your part-time wages plus a partial UC payment. Just make sure you accurately report your hours and earnings each week when filing your claim.

make sure u report EXACTLY what u earned each week dont try to estimate it or round up/down. they will check with employer and if theres even small differences u could get hit with overpayment or even fraud. happened to my cousin last yr and he had to pay back like $2000

You need to report what you EARNED each week, not what you got paid that week. So if you worked Monday-Sunday and earned $320 for that week, report $320 on that week's claim even if you don't get the actual paycheck until the following week. This trips up a lot of people. Also remember that you still need to complete your work search activities each week (at least 2 qualifying activities) even though you have a part-time job. Having a part-time job doesn't exempt you from the work search requirement unless you're working 32+ hours per week.

When I was on unemploymint last year I had similar situation. PA system is acually pretty good about calculating this automatically. Just make sure you answer YES to the question about if you worked or earned wages, and then it will ask you how much you earned that week. The system does all the math automatically and shows you your reduced benefit amount right there before you finish filing. Just be super careful to enter the exact amount!

I HATE how UC handles part-time work!! The 30% thing sounds good but once you go over that threshold they take EVERY PENNY dollar for dollar!!! It's basically a 100% tax rate above that 30% cutoff! No wonder people don't want to work when the system PUNISHES you for working more hours!!! I had a part-time job last year and sometimes I'd get offered extra shifts but I'd actually LOSE MONEY by working more because UC would cut my benefits more than I'd make from the extra hours. THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!

also dont forget that if u have health insurance through UC u might lose it when ur income changes just somethin else to think about

I had a similar situation back in January... took a part time job making less than my benefits... tried calling the UC office for DAYS to make sure I was reporting correctly but could never get through. Kept getting busy signals or hung up on. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual UC agent in about 30 minutes. Worth every penny because the agent walked me through exactly how to report my part-time earnings correctly. Check out their video at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 and website at claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone at UC. So much better than spending hours hitting redial!

One more important thing - if you're accepting this part-time job, make sure you update your work availability information on your UC dashboard. Log in to your dashboard, go to 'Maintain Profile', and update your work availability status to indicate you're working part-time but still available and seeking full-time work. This helps prevent issues down the line if they review your claim.

Question - does anybody know if the extra money we get for dependents gets reduced too when working part time? I get an extra $13 per dependent for my two kids.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to accept the part-time job and make sure I report my earnings correctly each week. I'll also keep up with my work search activities and update my work availability in my UC profile. Really appreciate all the guidance!

Congratulations on the job offer! One thing I'd add that others haven't mentioned - keep detailed records of your work hours and earnings for your own files. I use a simple spreadsheet to track what I worked each week, what I earned, and what I reported to UC. This has saved me multiple times when I needed to verify information later. Also, if your retail job has variable hours week to week, your UC benefits will adjust accordingly - some weeks you might get more UC money if you work fewer hours, and some weeks less if you pick up extra shifts. The system is actually pretty flexible once you get used to it!

Great advice from everyone here! I just wanted to add one more tip - when you're working part-time while on UC, make sure to keep all your pay stubs and any documentation from your employer. If UC ever audits your claim or if there are any discrepancies, having your own records will be crucial. I also recommend screenshotting your weekly claim submissions showing exactly what you reported each week. Pennsylvania UC can sometimes have system glitches or delays in processing, and having your own documentation helps resolve any issues much faster. The part-time + partial UC combo is actually a great way to transition back to full-time work while maintaining some financial stability!

Hey Malik! Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year. The advice everyone's given is spot on - you'll definitely be better off financially taking the part-time job. One thing I'd add is to be prepared for your first week's UC payment to potentially be delayed or processed differently since it's the first time you're reporting earnings. Sometimes the system takes an extra day or two to calculate the partial benefit correctly when you first start working. Don't panic if your payment isn't exactly what you calculated - it usually sorts itself out within a few business days. Also, make sure your new employer knows you're on partial UC benefits so they understand why you need your exact hours and earnings documented clearly on your paystubs. Most employers are familiar with this but it helps to give them a heads up. You're making a smart move taking this job - it keeps you in the workforce and gives you more total income while you continue looking for full-time work!

Just wanted to add something that might be helpful - when you start your part-time job, make sure to keep track of any work-related expenses like transportation costs, uniforms, etc. While you can't deduct these from your UC reporting (you still need to report gross earnings), you can potentially claim them as deductions on your tax return next year. Also, since you're working part-time in retail, be aware that your schedule might vary during busy seasons like holidays - this means your UC benefits will fluctuate accordingly. During weeks when you get more hours, your UC will be lower, and during slower weeks with fewer hours, you'll get more UC. The system handles this automatically as long as you report accurately each week. One last tip - if your retail job offers any benefits like employee discounts or the opportunity to pick up shifts at other store locations, take advantage of these! It can help stretch your combined income further while you're transitioning back to full-time employment. Good luck with the new job!