PA UC waiting week work hour limits - can I work part-time without losing benefits?

i think u can work up to like 30% of ur benefit or something. just make sure u report whatever u make

During your waiting week, you can work part-time, but you need to report ALL earnings when you file your weekly certification. There's no specific hour limit - it's based on earnings. In PA, you can earn up to 30% of your weekly benefit amount (WBA) without reduction - this is called the 'partial benefit credit.' Anything over that gets deducted dollar-for-dollar from your benefit payment. For example, if your WBA is $400, you can earn up to $120 (30% of $400) without reduction. If you earn $150, your benefit would be reduced by $30 ($150-$120). But here's the important part - waiting week is unpaid anyway, so your earnings during this week only matter for REPORTING purposes. They won't affect any payment since you don't get paid for waiting week. Just make sure you accurately report everything to avoid future issues.

I went through this last year! The waiting week confused me too. Just be super careful to report your exact earnings. They will check with employers and if the numbers don't match you'll get an overpayment notice down the road which is a nightmare to fix. Also make sure you're doing your work search activities even during waiting week! You need to do at least 2 activities and log them. I almost got disqualified because I didn't realize this applied to waiting week too!

Yeah just log them on the UC website when you file your weekly claim. Keep detailed records too just in case they do an audit later.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE YOU!!! I worked ONE SHIFT during my waiting week back in February and somehow that messed up my entire claim!!! They said I "didn't report earnings correctly" even though I DID and then put me under investigation for 6 WEEKS with NO MONEY. Had to appeal and everything. PA UC is a NIGHTMARE to deal with!!!

I had a similar situation last year. The 30% partial benefit credit rule is correct, but I want to emphasize that the waiting week is all about establishing your claim properly. Make sure you track your hours AND earnings to the penny. I recommend keeping a journal with dates, times, and amounts earned with pay stubs as backup. The UC examiners can request proof of earnings at any point during your benefit year. For your specific situation, there's no hour limit during waiting week - you could technically work 40 hours, but you'd need to report those earnings. If your earnings during any week (including waiting week) exceed your weekly benefit amount plus the partial benefit credit, you'd be considered fully employed for that week. I know getting through to PA UC for questions is nearly impossible. I spent 3 days calling non-stop before I finally got help with a similar question. If you need to speak with someone quickly about your specific situation, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an actual UC agent without the endless busy signals. I used them when I had issues with my waiting week and got through in about 30 minutes instead of days of calling. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

When I was on UC last year I worked during waiting week at my old job for like 15 hours and reported it correctly. Then I got a part-time job a few weeks later and was still able to collect partial benefits as long as I wasn't making more than my weekly benefit amount plus that 30% partial credit thing. Every situation is different tho. Something else to keep in mind - if you work enough during waiting week they might not even count it as your waiting week! If you earn too much they could consider you fully employed that week and push your waiting week to the next week. Happened to my brother.

Just to add some clarification. The partial benefit credit (PBC) is calculated as 30% of your weekly benefit amount (WBA). So if your WBA is $500, then your PBC would be $150. If you earn money during a week, you can earn up to your PBC ($150 in this example) without any reduction in benefits. For earnings above your PBC, your benefit payment is reduced dollar-for-dollar. So if you earned $200 during a week with a WBA of $500 and PBC of $150: $200 - $150 = $50 reduction $500 - $50 = $450 benefit payment But as others mentioned, since waiting week is unpaid anyway, the earnings only matter for reporting accuracy. Just make sure you report everything to avoid future headaches.

so did u end up taking the job?

Good luck with the restaurant shifts! Just wanted to add one more thing - make sure you understand how they calculate your hours for reporting purposes. Some people get confused between actual hours worked vs. what to report for UC. You report your gross earnings (before taxes), not hours. So if you work 12 hours at $15/hour, you'd report $180 in earnings, not the 12 hours. The UC system cares about dollar amounts, not time worked. Also keep your pay stub or get a receipt from your friend showing exactly what you earned in case they ever ask for proof later.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact situation a few months ago. I worked about 10 hours at a temp job during my waiting week and reported exactly $147 in gross earnings. Everything went smoothly with my claim after that. One thing I learned that wasn't mentioned yet - if you're working for a friend's business (like the restaurant you mentioned), make sure they're treating you as a proper employee with taxes taken out, not paying you under the table. UC can cross-reference with tax records, and getting paid cash without proper documentation can cause issues later. Even if it's just a few shifts, having everything above board protects both you and your friend's business. Also, when you file your weekly certification, there's a specific question about whether you worked for an employer you have a financial interest in or are related to. Since it's your friend's restaurant, you might want to double-check how to answer that question correctly. Better to be overly cautious with reporting than to have problems down the line!

Just want to add something that helped me when I was dealing with PA UC last year - keep screenshots of everything you submit! I took screenshots of my weekly certifications showing exactly what earnings I reported and when I submitted them. This saved me when there was a discrepancy later and they questioned my reporting. The UC system sometimes has glitches where information doesn't save properly, so having your own records with timestamps can be a lifesaver. Also, if you're using direct deposit, make sure your bank info is correct in the system. Even though waiting week is unpaid, you want everything set up properly for when your benefits start. Good luck with everything!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation - just filed for UC in PA last week and have been worried about accidentally messing something up. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has really clarified things for me. One quick question - for those who have gone through this process, how long did it typically take to get your first payment after the waiting week? I know it varies, but just trying to get a general idea of what to expect for budgeting purposes. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - communities like this are so valuable when navigating these confusing government systems!

I'm new to PA UC and this thread has been so informative! I just wanted to add that I called the UC office yesterday (somehow got through after 2 hours of trying) and the representative confirmed what others have said here - during waiting week, you absolutely must report all earnings even though you won't receive a payment that week. She emphasized that failing to report earnings during waiting week can trigger an investigation later when they cross-check with employer records. She also mentioned that if you're working irregular hours or gig work during your benefit period, keep detailed records of each job separately. Apparently they sometimes audit claims and ask for documentation going back several months. The key is being completely transparent and accurate from day one, even during the unpaid waiting week. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know others have navigated this successfully!

This entire thread has been incredibly detailed and helpful! As someone who just started the UC process myself, I want to thank everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here. I've been taking notes from all the advice given, and I think the key points for anyone in a similar situation are: 1. Always report ALL earnings during waiting week, even though it's unpaid 2. Keep detailed records and screenshots of everything you submit 3. The 30% partial benefit credit rule applies to future weeks, not waiting week calculations 4. Make sure any work is properly documented with taxes taken out 5. Don't forget about work search requirements even during waiting week 6. If working for friends/family, be extra careful about proper reporting @Gabriel Freeman - I hope your restaurant shifts went smoothly and your claim processes without any issues! Your question really sparked a wealth of helpful information that I'm sure will benefit many other PA UC claimants who find this thread. Has anyone here had experience with how PA UC handles seasonal work or temporary employment while on benefits? I might have some seasonal opportunities coming up and want to make sure I handle them correctly.

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I'm actually going through the exact same situation right now - just filed for PA UC after getting laid off from my retail job, and I was so confused about working during the waiting week. Reading through everyone's experiences has been like having a personal guide through this maze of a system. The breakdown of the 30% partial benefit credit, the emphasis on reporting everything accurately, and especially the tips about keeping screenshots and detailed records - this is all stuff I never would have thought of on my own. I have a question for anyone who's been through this: when you report earnings during your weekly certification, is there a specific section where you enter the dollar amount, or do you just describe it in a text field? I want to make sure I'm putting the information in the right place when my time comes to file. Also, has anyone here had experience with PA UC's online portal glitching or having technical issues? I've heard horror stories about the website crashing during filing periods, and I'm worried about missing deadlines because of technical problems. Thanks again to everyone who shared their knowledge - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with government bureaucracy!

This has been such an amazing thread to read through! I'm actually in week 3 of my UC claim and wish I had found this information earlier. I made the mistake of not keeping detailed records during my waiting week when I did some freelance work, and now I'm paranoid that it might come back to bite me later. For anyone just starting this process, I can't stress enough how important it is to document EVERYTHING from day one. I've started keeping a simple spreadsheet with dates, hours worked, gross earnings, and which employer - even for tiny amounts. It takes 2 minutes but could save hours of headaches if there's ever a question about your claim. One thing I learned the hard way: make sure you understand your benefit year vs. your claim effective date. I got confused about when my waiting week actually started and almost missed filing a weekly certification because I miscounted. The PA UC system is not forgiving about late filings! Also, if you're doing any kind of cash work (like helping friends with moving, yard work, etc.), still report it even if you don't get a formal pay stub. The UC handbook specifically says to report ALL earnings, regardless of how informal the work arrangement is. Better safe than sorry with these government systems! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this kind of community knowledge sharing is invaluable!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently in my second week of benefits after completing my waiting week, and I can confirm that following the advice here worked perfectly for me. I worked about 8 hours at a local grocery store during my waiting week, reported exactly $96 in gross earnings, and had zero issues with my claim processing. A couple of additional tips from my recent experience: 1. When you report earnings, the system will ask for your employer's name and address - have this info ready even for temporary/one-off jobs. I had to scramble to get the grocery store's full business address when filing. 2. If you're working multiple small jobs in one week, you report the TOTAL earnings for that week, not separate entries for each employer. I learned this from calling the UC office (got through on my 4th try!). 3. Keep your pay stubs in a dedicated folder - both physical and digital copies. I scan everything to my phone immediately now. The waiting week earnings truly don't affect your future benefit payments since that week is unpaid anyway, but accurate reporting is crucial for avoiding investigations later. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - this community support made navigating PA UC so much less stressful!

This thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I'm actually in a very similar boat - just got laid off from my manufacturing job last week and filed for PA UC. I've been offered some weekend shifts at a warehouse through a temp agency during my waiting week, and I was terrified of messing up my claim right from the start. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity. The key takeaways I'm getting are: report every penny earned during waiting week even though it's unpaid, keep meticulous records with screenshots and pay stubs, and remember that the 30% partial benefit credit calculation doesn't really matter for waiting week since you don't get paid anyway - it's just about accurate reporting. One question I have for anyone who's dealt with temp agencies specifically - do they usually handle the tax documentation properly, or should I be extra careful about getting official pay stubs? I don't want to run into issues like some folks mentioned with informal work arrangements. Thanks to @Gabriel Freeman for asking the original question that sparked all this incredibly helpful discussion, and thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and practical tips. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes dealing with government bureaucracy bearable!