PA UC waiting week confusion - initial claim vs first weekly claim?

its the 1st week after u file ur claim. u dont get paid for that week but u still gotta file for it

The waiting week in PA is the first week you're eligible for benefits after filing your initial claim. You must file a weekly certification for this week even though you won't receive payment for it. It's essentially a "qualifying week" before benefits begin. In your case, if you filed on 4/12/2025, your waiting week would typically be the week ending 4/19/2025 (PA unemployment weeks run Sunday-Saturday). You'll need to file a weekly certification for this waiting week when the system allows you to, but won't receive payment for it. Then you'll file for the following week ending 4/26/2025 and should receive payment for that one if you meet all eligibility requirements. The waiting week requirement helps ensure you're actively seeking work and remain eligible before payments begin.

Why do they even have a waiting week?? So stupid to make people wait an extra week when they're already struggling after losing a job. Just another way for the state to save money on our backs!!

I recently went through this process and can confirm what others have said. Your waiting week is the first week you're eligible after filing your initial application. So for you, that would be the week ending 4/19/2025. One tip: don't miss filing for this waiting week! Even though you don't get paid for it, if you don't file for it, it will delay your future payments. The system needs to see you completed all the steps. Also, if you're having any trouble reaching PA UC to ask questions about this or anything else, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent after weeks of trying on my own. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Honestly saved me so much frustration when I had questions about my backdating request.

Everybody here is wrong! The waiting week isn't the first week after you apply! It's the week BEFORE you apply! That's why it's called "waiting" - you were waiting to apply! I got so confused by this too and had to call like 50 times to get it straightened out.

Make sure you also remember that even during your waiting week, you still need to complete and record your work search activities (applying to jobs, networking, etc.). You need at least 2 work search activities each week. The system might not prompt you specifically about this for the waiting week, but it's required and they can audit you later. I learned this the hard way and almost had an overpayment issue because I didn't realize the work search requirement applied to the waiting week too. Just wanted to save you that potential headache!

I just went through this whole process in March and I just want to point out that your financial determination letter is just step one. Make sure you're checking your dashboard for any "open issues" that could delay your payments even after the waiting week. I thought I was all set after getting my financial determination, but then had some identity verification thing pop up that took another 3 weeks to resolve!!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me - when you file for your waiting week, make sure to keep a screenshot or record of your confirmation number. PA's system sometimes has glitches and doesn't always show your filing history correctly. Having that confirmation number saved me when I had to prove I filed for my waiting week during a later review. Also, if you can, try to file early in the week (like Sunday evening) rather than waiting until the last minute on Saturday - the system tends to be less overloaded then.

One thing I'd add that caught me off guard - make sure you have your banking info ready when you file your first weekly claim (the waiting week). Even though you won't get paid for that week, the system will ask you to set up direct deposit during that first filing. I wasted time scrambling to find my routing number and account info, and almost missed the filing deadline because of it. Having your bank details, work search activities logged, and any separation documents from your employer all ready to go will make the process much smoother. Also seconding what others said about filing early in the week - Sunday nights around 8-9pm seem to be the sweet spot when the system actually works properly!

I went through this exact same situation last year and can confirm what most people here are saying is correct. The waiting week is definitely the first week after you file your initial claim that you're eligible for benefits. Since you filed on 4/12/2025, your waiting week would be the week ending 4/19/2025 (remember PA weeks run Sunday to Saturday). You'll need to file a weekly certification for this week but won't receive payment for it. Then starting with the week ending 4/26/2025, you should receive your $510 weekly benefit if everything else checks out. Two things that really helped me: 1) Set up your direct deposit info during that first waiting week filing even though you won't get paid - it'll save time later, and 2) Start documenting your job search activities immediately since you need at least 2 per week including the waiting week. I used a simple spreadsheet to track company names, positions applied for, and dates. Don't stress too much about "messing something up" - as long as you file for each week (including the waiting week) and meet the work search requirements, you'll be fine. The system is pretty straightforward once you get through that first filing. Good luck!

Just want to add my experience as someone who recently navigated this same confusion! I was laid off in February and had the exact same questions about the waiting week timing. What helped me was thinking of it this way: the waiting week is like a "probationary period" where you prove you're actively looking for work and meeting all requirements before payments start. You file for it just like any other week, but it's unpaid. One tip that saved me stress - when you file for your waiting week (which for you would be the week ending 4/19), the system will walk you through everything step by step. Don't overthink it! Just answer the questions honestly about your work search activities and availability to work. Also, keep in mind that even after your waiting week, there can sometimes be a few days processing delay before your first payment hits your account. So don't panic if you don't see the money immediately after filing for your second week. In my case, it took about 3 business days after filing for the payment to show up in my bank account. You've got this! The hardest part (getting approved) is already done. Now it's just following the weekly routine and staying on top of your job search requirements.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me! The waiting week definitely confused me at first too, but here's what I learned: Your waiting week will be the week ending 4/19/2025 (the first week you're eligible after filing your initial claim on 4/12). You absolutely must file a weekly certification for this week even though you won't receive payment - think of it as proving you're meeting all the requirements before benefits kick in. A few practical tips that helped me: - File early in the week (Sunday evening around 8-9pm works best - less system crashes) - Have your bank info ready even for the waiting week filing since they'll ask you to set up direct deposit - Start your job search documentation immediately - you need at least 2 work search activities per week including the waiting week - Take screenshots of your confirmation numbers in case there are system glitches later The good news is once you get through that waiting week and file for the week ending 4/26, you should start seeing your $510 payments (usually takes 2-3 business days to hit your account after filing). The process becomes much more routine after that first time. Don't stress too much - you've already done the hard part by getting approved!

I went through this same confusion when I was laid off earlier this year! The waiting week is definitely the first week you're eligible after filing your initial claim - so for you that would be the week ending 4/19/2025. What really helped me understand it was realizing that PA wants to make sure you're genuinely unemployed and actively looking for work before they start paying benefits. So you file for that waiting week just like any other week (work search activities, answering availability questions, etc.) but you don't get paid for it. One thing I wish someone had told me - even though it's called a "waiting" week, don't actually wait to start your job search! You need those 2 work search activities documented for that first week too. I started applying to jobs immediately after filing my initial claim so I'd have activities to report. The system will guide you through everything when you file that first weekly certification. Just be honest about your work search efforts and availability. After you complete your waiting week and file for the week ending 4/26, that's when you should see your first $510 payment (usually takes a few business days to process). You're almost there - getting the financial determination letter was the hardest part! The weekly filing routine becomes pretty straightforward once you do it the first time.

I'm going through this exact same process right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was laid off two weeks ago and just got my financial determination letter approved yesterday. Like many others here, I was totally confused about when the waiting week actually occurs. From everything I've read here and on the PA UC website, it's clear that the waiting week is the first week you're eligible for benefits after filing your initial claim - not the week before you applied. So you'll need to file for the week ending 4/19/2025 as your waiting week, even though you won't receive payment for it. One thing I'm planning to do based on all the great advice in this thread is create a simple tracking system right away for my job search activities. It sounds like you need at least 2 work search activities per week starting with that waiting week, so I'm going to start applying for jobs immediately and document everything in a spreadsheet. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so much less stressful when you can learn from people who've actually been through the process! The tip about filing on Sunday evenings to avoid system crashes is definitely something I'll remember too.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely on the right track! The waiting week is the first week you're eligible after filing (so week ending 4/19 for you), and you must file for it even though there's no payment. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to double-check that your employer reported your separation correctly to PA UC. Sometimes there can be discrepancies in the separation reason or last day worked that can cause delays even after you get your financial determination. You can see this info in your dashboard under "Monetary Determination" - just make sure the dates and reason match what actually happened. Also, when you start filing your weekly certifications, pay attention to the specific wording of the questions. They ask things like "Did you work or earn any money?" and "Were you able and available to work?" - answer these carefully and honestly. Even small inconsistencies can trigger reviews that delay payments. The fact that you're asking these questions and being proactive puts you ahead of a lot of people. You've got this! Just remember - file for that waiting week, keep detailed job search records, and file early in the week to avoid system issues.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful for someone new to unemployment benefits! I'm actually in a similar situation - got laid off last week and just submitted my initial claim a few days ago. The waiting week concept was really confusing me too, but after reading all these responses it's clear that it's the first week you're eligible after filing (not the week before you apply like I initially thought). I love all the practical tips people have shared - especially about filing on Sunday evenings to avoid system crashes, keeping screenshots of confirmation numbers, and starting a job search spreadsheet immediately. The advice about having bank info ready even for the waiting week filing is something I definitely wouldn't have thought of. One quick question for those who've been through this - when you say "at least 2 work search activities per week," do things like updating your LinkedIn profile or attending virtual networking events count, or does it have to be actual job applications? I want to make sure I'm meeting the requirements properly from the start. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a lifesaver for navigating these confusing government systems!