PA UC waiting week confusion after multiple layoffs - do I lose benefits each time?

This doesn't sound right. The waiting week should only happen once per benefit year. If you're on the same UC claim and getting laid off/rehired by the same employer, you shouldn't have to serve a new waiting week each time. Are you starting a new claim each time you get laid off? That would be your problem. You should be reopening your existing claim, not filing a brand new one.

i had something kinda similar happen last year. kept getting temp work then laid off. the key is to REOPEN ur claim not start new one each time. its somewhere on the dashboard i think

This is a really common mistake. To reopen an existing claim, log into your dashboard at www.uc.pa.gov and look for the option that says "Reopen an Existing Claim" instead of "File a New Claim." You'll need to provide information about your most recent employment and separation reason, but you won't have to completely restart the benefit process. As for your previous weeks, you might be able to appeal those determinations if it hasn't been more than 15 days since you received each disqualification notice. Check your determination letters for the appeal deadline and instructions. You would need to explain that you mistakenly filed new claims rather than reopening your existing claim.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE PEOPLE!!!!! They WANT you to mess up so they don't have to pay benefits. I swear they make the process complicated on purpose. I've been dealing with PA UC for years (seasonal landscaping) and even I get confused sometimes about reopening vs. filing new. It's criminal how they treat working people who are just trying to get by when work is slow.

You mighta been bettter off just callin them directly to figure this out. I had a similar issue and spent 3 days trying to get thru to PA UC. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get thru to an agent in like 15 minutes. They have this system that calls for you and gets you on the line with UC fast. Saved me so much frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Honestly wish I'd known about it sooner, cause the agent helped me fix my claim issues right away.

wait do u have to do job searches too each time this happens? because that's another thing to keep track of. i think u need to do at least 2 work search activities each week u claim even if ur getting called back soon

One more important tip: When you certify for your weekly benefits, make sure you're accurately reporting any work and earnings during that week. If you work partial weeks, you may still be eligible for partial UC benefits depending on how much you earned. Just be very careful to report everything correctly to avoid overpayment issues later.

so did u figure it out?? did u fix ur claim?? im curious bc i might be in the same boat soon lol

Good luck with your appeal! One final suggestion - keep detailed records of all your communications with UC, including screenshots of your claim status changes and copies of any documents you submit. This documentation can be invaluable if you need to prove anything later in the process.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation with seasonal work and had no idea about the difference between reopening vs filing new claims. @Christopher Morgan I really hope your appeal works out - please keep us posted on how it goes. It's crazy how many people probably make this same mistake because the system isn't clear about it. I'm bookmarking this post for reference when I inevitably get laid off again this winter!