PA UC work search exemption with future employer start date vs RESEA requirements

You still have to do RESEA stuff even with a start date! I thought the same thing last year and got my benefits stopped for two weeks because I skipped the scheduled workshop. The work search exemption and the RESEA program are considered different requirements by PA UC. It's stupid but thats how they do it.

call them asap! my boyfriend went thru this in february. if u have start date in writing u can get waiver but u HAVE to talk to someone in the RESEA dept not regular UC

This is actually a common confusion point. Let me clarify: 1. Having a verified start date with a new employer CAN exempt you from weekly work search requirements 2. However, RESEA (Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment) is a separate federal program that PA participates in. Selected claimants are required to participate regardless of work search exemption status. 3. The good news is that you can request a waiver specifically for RESEA if you have documentation of your start date. You'll need to speak directly with the RESEA coordinator (not regular UC staff). 4. Bring your offer letter to your scheduled RESEA appointment or contact them beforehand to request the exemption. 5. Don't ignore the RESEA notice while waiting to sort this out - that could result in benefit disqualification.

I see a lot of misinformation here. I work with employment services and can tell you that RESEA exemptions are available for people with confirmed start dates with NEW employers. The form is poorly worded. You need to speak with someone who specifically handles RESEA waivers - not just any UC representative. Bring your written job offer showing the start date, and you'll likely be granted an exemption. But do NOT ignore the notice while waiting to resolve this - attend any scheduled appointments until you have written confirmation of exemption.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO TRAP YOU!!! I had a written job offer last year and still got forced to attend RESEA. They made me do 3 job applications EVEN THOUGH I HAD A JOB ALREADY!!! Complete waste of time but if you dont do it they CUT YOU OFF immediately. PA UC system is broken and they dont care about your situation AT ALL!!!!

As an update for anyone finding this thread later: The official PA UC policy on RESEA and work search exemptions was clarified in January 2025. If you have a verified start date with ANY employer (new or previous), you can request exemption from RESEA using form UC-RESEA-EX. The form must be submitted with: 1. A copy of your offer letter showing start date 2. Contact information for the employer 3. Your signed attestation The confusion comes from outdated forms and varying information from representatives. Always get exemptions in writing, and continue participating in required activities until you receive official exemption confirmation.

Glad you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for future readers - when you submit that UC-RESEA-EX form, make sure to keep copies of everything and get a confirmation number if possible. I've seen cases where paperwork gets "lost" in the system. Also, if your start date gets pushed back for any reason, you'll need to update them immediately or risk losing your exemption. Good luck with the new job at Comcast!

Just want to echo what others have said about keeping documentation! I went through a similar RESEA situation last fall and the key is definitely getting everything in writing. One thing I'd add - if you're having trouble reaching the RESEA coordinator by phone, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) or use the online chat feature if it's available. Sometimes that's faster than waiting on hold for hours. The UC-RESEA-EX form process worked for me too, but it took about 10 business days to get the official exemption confirmation back. Don't panic if you don't hear immediately - just keep attending any scheduled appointments until you get that written confirmation. Congrats on landing the Comcast job!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since this thread has been so helpful! I went through the exact same situation in February - had a confirmed start date with a new employer but got the RESEA notice. Following the advice here, I called the RESEA coordinator first thing Monday morning and submitted the UC-RESEA-EX form with my offer letter. The whole process took about 8 business days, but I got my exemption approved! The key things that helped me: 1) Called right at 8 AM to avoid hold times, 2) Had all my documents ready (offer letter, employer contact info), and 3) kept attending scheduled activities until I got written confirmation of the exemption. One tip I'd add - when you submit the form, ask for an email confirmation that they received it. That saved me when they initially said they had no record of my submission. Having that email receipt got everything sorted out quickly. The system definitely has its quirks, but the exemption process does work if you follow the right steps!

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm in almost the exact same boat - got laid off from my retail job 6 weeks ago and just accepted a position starting April 28th. Got the RESEA notice yesterday and immediately panicked thinking I'd lose my benefits right before starting work. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the UC-RESEA-EX form is definitely the way to go. I'm going to call first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM with my offer letter ready. The tip about getting email confirmation of submission is clutch - I've had PA UC "lose" paperwork before too. Quick question for those who've been through this - did anyone have issues because their new job is in a different field than their previous one? I'm going from retail to office admin work. Wondering if that complicates the exemption process at all or if they just care that you have a confirmed start date regardless of the type of work. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences! This community is way more helpful than trying to navigate the PA UC website maze.