PA UC question: New job accepted - Do I just stop filing or notify unemployment?

Congrats on the new job! You need to report when you start work and receive your first paycheck. Until then, keep filing your weekly claims and report any earnings. When you do your weekly certification after starting work, there will be a question asking if you've returned to full-time work - answer YES to that. The system will automatically stop your claims after that.

just stop filing. thats what i did last yr. no problems

Congrats on the new job!!! But be careful because my brother just STOPPED filing when he got a job and then six months later he got LAID OFF again and when he tried to reopen his claim they gave him PROBLEMS because he never properly closed the first claim!!! Make sure you do it RIGHT so you don't end up like him fighting with them for weeks to get benefits!!

The official PA UC procedure is to continue filing your weekly certifications until you actually start working. When you file for the week you begin working, you'll mark that you've returned to full-time employment. The system will then automatically place your claim on inactive status. If you simply stop filing without indicating you've returned to work, your claim remains in an ambiguous state in the system. This can create issues if you need to reopen a claim later, as the system might flag inconsistencies in your filing history. This applies specifically to regular UC benefits - if you were on any special program, the procedures might vary slightly.

when i got hired last october i just stopped filing and everything was fine. but my cousin said she had to call the unemployment office to let them know. idk maybe the rules changed?

If you're having trouble getting through to someone at PA UC to verify the proper procedure, I used Claimyr last month when I had a similar question about ending my claim. They got me connected to a UC agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days calling that busy number. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 or visit claimyr.com. Super helpful when you need to speak to someone directly about your specific situation.

THE RIGHT WAY is to KEEP FILING until you ACTUALLY START WORKING, then on that week's claim check YES that you returned to work! Do NOT just stop filing or they might think you're still eligible and then hit you with an overpayment later!!! The UC system is a MESS and they will find a way to make YOU pay for their mistakes!!!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to continue filing my weekly claims until I actually start my new job. Then on that certification, I'll indicate that I've returned to full-time work. Seems like this is the proper way to handle it and will avoid any potential issues if I ever need to file again in the future.

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that when you do file that final certification indicating you've returned to work, make sure to save a screenshot or print confirmation for your records. I've heard of cases where people had proof they properly closed their claim when questions came up later. Also, if your new job doesn't work out for any reason and you need to reopen your claim within a year, having that proper closure documented can make the process much smoother. Best of luck with the new position!

Congrats on landing the new job! Just to echo what others have said - definitely keep filing until you actually start working. I made the mistake of just stopping once and it caused a headache when I had to file again months later. The system flagged my account as having an "irregular closure" and I had to spend hours on hold trying to get it sorted out. It's so much easier to just do one final certification where you mark that you've returned to work. The whole process takes like 5 minutes and saves you potential problems down the road. Good luck with the new position!

Just wanted to add one more important point - make sure you answer all the weekly certification questions honestly during those final weeks before you start work. Even though you've accepted the job offer, you're still technically unemployed and available for work until your actual start date. So continue answering "yes" to being able and available for work, and only change your responses on the certification for the week you actually begin working. I've seen people get confused about this and think they should start answering differently once they accept an offer, but the key date is when you actually start receiving pay from the new employer. Hope this helps clarify the timing!

One thing I'd also mention is to keep track of your exact start date and first day you receive wages - this matters for the certification questions. If you start work on say a Wednesday but don't get paid until the following week, you'd still mark that you returned to work on the certification covering the week you actually started working, even if the paycheck comes later. The key is when you begin performing work duties, not when you receive your first paycheck. Also, if your new job has any kind of probationary period, don't let that confuse you - you're still employed during probation so you'd still close your UC claim normally. Just wanted to add these details since timing questions seem to trip people up sometimes!

Another thing to keep in mind - if your new job offers any unpaid training days before your official start date, those still count as work days for UC purposes. I learned this the hard way when I had a 3-day unpaid orientation before my actual start date and didn't realize I should have reported it on my weekly certification. The UC office considered those training days as "work" even though I wasn't getting paid yet. So if your new employer has any orientation, training sessions, or meetings before your official start date, make sure to report those activities on your weekly certification. Better to be overly transparent with UC than to accidentally omit something that could be considered work activity later on!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually in a similar situation where I just got a job offer but won't start for another week. Reading through everyone's advice, it's clear that the consensus is to keep filing weekly certifications until you actually begin working, then mark on that week's certification that you've returned to full-time employment. What really stands out to me is how many people shared stories about problems they encountered when they just stopped filing without properly closing their claims. It seems like taking those extra few minutes to do the final certification correctly can save so much headache later if you ever need to file again. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable when navigating these bureaucratic systems!

Just wanted to add my experience from when I transitioned off UC last year - make sure you double-check that your final certification actually went through properly! I thought I had submitted it correctly, but there was some kind of technical glitch and it didn't process. I only found out weeks later when I got a letter asking why I hadn't filed. Had to call and explain the situation, which took forever to resolve. So after you submit that final certification marking your return to work, maybe check your online account a day or two later to confirm it shows as submitted. Also, keep any confirmation emails or screenshots just in case. The extra verification step could save you from unexpected complications later!

This whole thread has been incredibly informative! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. One small thing I'd add - if anyone is worried about remembering all these steps, you might want to set a reminder on your phone for the week you start your new job to make sure you don't forget to file that final certification. I know when I start a new job I'm usually focused on first-day nerves and getting settled in, so having that reminder could be helpful. Also, if your new employer asks about your UC status during onboarding, you can confidently tell them you're handling the proper closure process. Some HR departments actually appreciate knowing their new hires are being responsible about these things. Congrats again to everyone who found new work!

This has been such a comprehensive discussion! As someone who's new to this community and dealing with unemployment for the first time, I really appreciate how everyone shared their experiences and specific steps. It's reassuring to see there's a clear consensus on the proper procedure: keep filing until you actually start working, then indicate on that week's certification that you've returned to full-time employment. The warnings about "irregular closures" and system flags from just stopping filing are especially valuable - I never would have known those could be issues. The additional tips about documentation, checking submissions went through, and even setting phone reminders are so practical. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge. This kind of detailed guidance makes navigating these systems so much less stressful!

This thread is a goldmine of information! I'm currently on UC benefits and anticipating a job offer soon, so this is exactly what I needed to read. The step-by-step breakdown is so clear: continue filing weekly certifications until you actually start working, then mark that you've returned to full-time work on that week's certification. What really caught my attention were all the stories about people who just stopped filing and ran into problems later - "irregular closure" and system flags sound like a nightmare to deal with. I'm definitely going to follow the proper procedure and keep documentation like several people suggested. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and creating such a helpful resource for the community!