What is RESEA appointment at PA CareerLink? Got unexpected letter - help!
I just checked my mail and found a letter from PA UC telling me I need to schedule a RESEA appointment at CareerLink. I have no idea what this is or why they're making me do this! Will they cut off my benefits if I don't go? The letter seemed really official and had all these requirements. Has anyone gone through one of these appointments before? What documents should I bring? I'm freaking out because I don't want to mess up my claim - I really need these payments right now.
37 comments


Joshua Hellan
RESEA stands for Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment. It's basically a program where they check if you're actively looking for work and offer job search assistance. You were likely randomly selected - it's nothing to worry about as long as you attend. Bring your work search records, resume (if you have one), and photo ID. They'll help you with job search strategies and verify you're meeting UC requirements.
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Olivia Kay
•Thank you so much! Do they grill you with a lot of questions? I've been applying to jobs but haven't kept the best records of everything. Will they stop my benefits if my documentation isn't perfect??
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Jibriel Kohn
i had to do one of these last yr it was fine just make sure u show up on time they just talk about how to find jobs better and check ur work search stuff
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Olivia Kay
•Did they make you prove all your job applications? I'm worried because I didn't save confirmation emails for some of them.
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Edison Estevez
These RESEA appointments are MANDATORY - if you miss it they WILL suspend your benefits! I know because it happened to me in January. They didn't even care that I had a doctor's appointment the same day. Had to appeal and wait THREE WEEKS to get my payments restarted. The whole thing is just a way for them to cut people off benefits if you ask me.
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Joshua Hellan
•While it's true missing the appointment can lead to benefit issues, you can reschedule if you contact them before the appointment date. They're actually designed to help claimants find work faster, not to cut benefits.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
I went through this a few weeks ago. They'll want to see your job search records - the ones you're supposed to be keeping for your weekly claims (minimum of 3 work search activities per week). The career counselor helped update my resume and showed me some job search sites I didn't know about. It was actually kind of helpful.
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Olivia Kay
•That doesn't sound too bad! Did they check all your past weeks of job searches or just ask about recent ones?
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James Johnson
If you're having trouble getting through to schedule your RESEA appointment, I used Claimyr to get past the busy signals when I needed to talk to someone at UC about my RESEA letter. It got me through to a real person in about 10 minutes instead of spending days calling. You can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 or go to claimyr.com. Really helped me get my appointment scheduled when the online system wasn't working.
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Jibriel Kohn
•does that actually work? i tried calling careerlink like 20 times last month n never got thru
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Sophia Rodriguez
I had my RESEA meeting last month and it was actually helpful! The career counselor reviewed my resume and gave me some tips for my job search. They did check that I was completing my work search activities, but they weren't trying to "catch" me or anything. Just make sure you've been doing your required activities (applying to jobs, attending workshops, etc) and bring whatever documentation you have of those activities.
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Edison Estevez
•You got lucky with a good counselor. Mine was TERRIBLE! Just read from a script and barely looked at my resume. Complete waste of time except they do check your work search activities so you have to go or lose benefits!
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Mia Green
I got one of these letters too! But im confused because mine said I have to do this even though I already have a job interview lined up next week. Do I still need to go to this appointment? The whole thing makes no sense to me I mean why make people go through this if there already applying for jobs on there own???
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Joshua Hellan
•Yes, you still need to attend even if you have interviews scheduled. The RESEA program is required regardless of your current job prospects. Having interviews is great and you can discuss that during your appointment, but you must attend to maintain eligibility.
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Olivia Kay
Update: Just finished scheduling my appointment for next week. The CareerLink staff was actually really nice on the phone. They said to bring my ID, job search records, and resume if I have one. Thank you all for the advice! I'm still nervous but feeling much better about it now.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
After your RESEA appointment, make sure you continue submitting your weekly claims as usual. Some people think the RESEA replaces their weekly filing, but it doesn't. You'll still need to file your weekly certification and complete your work search activities. Good luck with your appointment!
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Olivia Kay
•Thank you! I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims. I appreciate everyone's help here!
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Javier Morales
Just wanted to add that if you're worried about your work search documentation not being perfect, don't stress too much about it. They understand that people might not have saved every single confirmation email or printed out every application. What they're really looking for is that you're making a genuine effort to find work. Keep a simple log going forward with company names, positions applied for, and dates - even handwritten notes work. The counselors are there to help you succeed, not to trip you up. You've got this!
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GalaxyGlider
•This is such helpful advice! I've been so worried about having perfect documentation but you're right - showing genuine effort is what matters most. I'm going to start keeping a simple log from now on. It's reassuring to know the counselors want to help rather than catch us making mistakes. Thanks for the encouragement!
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Charity Cohan
Don't panic! I went through my RESEA appointment about 6 months ago and it was way less scary than I expected. The counselor was actually pretty understanding - I had some gaps in my job search records too and she just helped me figure out how to keep better track going forward. They mostly want to see that you're trying, not that you're perfect. Bring whatever documentation you do have, your ID, and a positive attitude. The appointment took about 45 minutes and I actually learned about some job search resources I didn't know existed. You'll be fine!
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Demi Lagos
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I was definitely panicking about not having perfect records, but knowing they focus more on effort than perfection makes me feel so much better. 45 minutes doesn't sound too bad either - I was imagining it would be hours! Did they help you find any good job leads through those resources they showed you?
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Keisha Jackson
I just had my RESEA appointment last week and wanted to share my experience to help calm your nerves! The whole thing was actually pretty straightforward - I brought my ID, a rough list of jobs I'd applied to (even though it wasn't perfectly organized), and my resume. The counselor was really nice and didn't grill me at all. She mainly wanted to see that I was actively looking for work, which I was. We spent most of the time going over job search strategies and she showed me some websites I hadn't tried yet. The appointment lasted about an hour and honestly, I left feeling more confident about my job search. Don't stress too much about having perfect documentation - they really do want to help you succeed!
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Louisa Ramirez
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience. It sounds like the counselors really are there to help rather than intimidate us. I'm feeling much more confident now knowing that even a rough list of job applications is acceptable and that they focus on helping with job search strategies. An hour doesn't sound too overwhelming either. I really appreciate everyone in this community sharing their experiences - it's made such a difference in my stress level!
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Liam McGuire
I went through my RESEA appointment about 3 months ago and I was terrified beforehand too! But honestly, it turned out to be one of the most helpful things that happened during my unemployment. My counselor, Maria, was super understanding when I explained that I had been applying to jobs but wasn't great at keeping detailed records. She didn't make me feel bad about it at all - instead, she helped me set up a simple system to track my applications going forward. We also worked on my resume together and she pointed out some skills I had been underselling. The whole appointment took about 50 minutes and I walked out with a much better action plan for my job search. Just remember - they WANT you to succeed and find work. That's literally their job! Bring whatever documentation you have, be honest about your efforts, and try to go in with an open mind. You might actually find it helpful like I did!
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Nalani Liu
•Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed experience! It's really comforting to know that Maria was so understanding about the record-keeping issues - that's exactly what I've been worried about. The fact that she helped you set up a better tracking system and worked on your resume sounds amazing. I love that you mentioned they WANT us to succeed - I think I've been so focused on being "in trouble" that I forgot this is actually supposed to be a support service. Your experience gives me hope that I might actually walk away with some useful tools too. Thanks for the encouragement!
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QuantumQuest
Just wanted to add my experience from a few months ago! I was selected for RESEA too and was absolutely panicking like you are now. I had been doing my job searches but my record-keeping was pretty messy - some applications saved, some not, handwritten notes scattered everywhere. When I got to my appointment, the counselor (his name was David) was so much more relaxed than I expected. He looked at what I brought, asked me to walk him through my typical job search process, and then spent most of the time showing me better ways to organize my search and some job sites I hadn't discovered yet. The whole thing took about an hour and honestly, I got more job leads in that one session than I had found on my own in weeks! My biggest tip: just be honest about what you've been doing and what challenges you're facing. They really are there to help you succeed, not to catch you failing. You're going to do great!
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Sean O'Donnell
•Thank you for sharing David's approach - it sounds like he really knew how to put people at ease! I love that you mentioned getting more job leads in that one session than you had found in weeks on your own. That's exactly the kind of outcome I'm hoping for now that I've calmed down a bit. Your tip about being honest about challenges really resonates with me - I think I was getting so caught up in trying to look "perfect" that I forgot they might actually be able to help me with the areas where I'm struggling. It's amazing how much better I feel after reading everyone's real experiences instead of just worrying about worst-case scenarios!
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Selena Bautista
I had my RESEA appointment about 2 months ago and I completely understand your anxiety! I was in the exact same boat - panicking about my messy job search records and worried they'd find some reason to cut my benefits. But honestly, the whole experience was way more positive than I expected. My counselor was really patient and understood that most people aren't perfect record-keepers. She spent time helping me understand what counts as valid work search activities (turns out I was doing more than I realized!) and showed me some local job fairs and networking events I hadn't heard about. The appointment lasted about an hour and I actually left feeling more organized and motivated in my job search. Just bring whatever documentation you do have - even if it's not perfect - and remember that these counselors see dozens of people in your exact situation every week. They're used to working with real people, not perfect applicants! You've got this!
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Jabari-Jo
•This is so reassuring to read! I've been stressing about this appointment for days now, but hearing that your counselor was patient and understood that most people aren't perfect record-keepers really puts me at ease. I love that you found out you were doing more work search activities than you realized - I'm hoping that might be the case for me too since I've been applying to jobs but just haven't been super organized about tracking everything. The fact that she showed you local job fairs and networking events sounds really valuable too. Thank you for sharing such an encouraging experience - it's helping me shift my mindset from dreading this appointment to actually seeing it as an opportunity to get some professional guidance on my job search!
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Rami Samuels
I had my RESEA appointment just two weeks ago and wanted to jump in here since I see so many people sharing their positive experiences! Like everyone else has mentioned, I was absolutely terrified beforehand - I kept imagining some stern interrogation where they'd find every little flaw in my job search efforts. But wow, was I wrong! My counselor Lisa was incredibly kind and professional. I brought a messy folder of printed job applications, some screenshots on my phone, and a few handwritten notes - basically whatever I could scramble together. She didn't judge me at all for the disorganized documentation. Instead, she helped me understand that consistency matters more than perfection. We spent about 45 minutes going through my job search strategy, and she introduced me to PA CareerLink's online resources that I had no idea existed. She even helped me update my resume format to make it more ATS-friendly. Honestly, I walked out feeling like I had a much clearer roadmap for my search. The best part? She scheduled a follow-up call in 30 days to check on my progress, which made me feel supported rather than monitored. To anyone still worried: these folks genuinely want to see you succeed and get back to work. That's literally how the program is measured for success!
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Jeremiah Brown
•Wow, thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and recent experience! It's incredible how Lisa took the time to not only review your materials without judgment but also introduce you to resources you didn't know existed. The ATS-friendly resume help sounds invaluable - that's something I definitely need help with too. I love that she scheduled a follow-up call to check on your progress rather than just sending you on your way. That really shows they're invested in helping people succeed long-term, not just checking a box. Your point about the program being measured by success rates really makes sense - of course they want us to find jobs! I'm actually starting to feel excited about my appointment now instead of just terrified. Thank you for helping me see this as an opportunity rather than something to dread!
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LunarEclipse
I just had my RESEA appointment yesterday and wanted to share while it's still fresh! I was absolutely terrified after reading my letter - kept thinking they were going to find some reason to stop my benefits. But my counselor Jennifer was amazing! I brought a mix of things: some printed job applications, a few email confirmations I could find, and honestly just a handwritten list of places I'd applied to but didn't have proof for. She didn't care about the handwritten list at all - she said it showed I was being proactive about tracking my efforts. We spent about an hour going over job search techniques, and she helped me set up a profile on some job boards I'd never heard of. The most helpful part was when she showed me how to use keywords from job postings in my applications to get past those automated screening systems. I actually left with three specific job leads she found for me during our session! For anyone still worried: just show up with whatever you have and be honest about your efforts. They really do want to help you find work, not trip you up. It was honestly one of the most productive hours I've had since becoming unemployed!
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Emily Sanjay
•Thank you for sharing your experience from just yesterday! It's so helpful to hear from someone who literally just went through this. Jennifer sounds like she really knew how to put you at ease - I love that she didn't judge your handwritten list and actually saw it as being proactive. The tip about using keywords from job postings to get past automated screening systems is pure gold! And getting three specific job leads during the session itself - that's amazing! I'm really starting to see this appointment as a genuine opportunity now rather than something to fear. Your experience confirms what everyone else has been saying about these counselors truly wanting to help us succeed. I feel so much more confident going into mine now!
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Jean Claude
I went through my RESEA appointment about a month ago and I totally get your anxiety! I was in the exact same position - found the letter in my mailbox and immediately started panicking about losing my benefits. But honestly, it turned out to be really helpful! My counselor was super understanding about my scattered job search records. I brought whatever I could find - some email confirmations, a few printed applications, and just a basic list I wrote up of other places I'd applied. She didn't make me feel bad about the gaps at all. Instead, she helped me set up a better system for tracking applications going forward and showed me some job search websites that were specific to my field. The whole appointment took about an hour and I actually came away with some solid leads. The key thing I learned is that they genuinely want you to find work - that's literally their success metric! Just bring whatever documentation you have, be honest about your job search efforts, and try to go in with an open mind. You might be surprised by how much it actually helps your search!
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Zoe Stavros
•Thank you for sharing your experience! It's so reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same panic I'm feeling right now. I love that your counselor didn't make you feel bad about the gaps in your records and instead helped you build a better system going forward. That's exactly what I'm hoping for - some practical help rather than judgment. The fact that you came away with solid leads makes me realize this really could be a positive opportunity. I keep forgetting that their success depends on us finding jobs, so of course they want to help! I'm definitely going to try to shift my mindset and go in with an open attitude. Thanks for the encouragement!
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NeonNova
I just wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some anxiety for anyone still worried about their RESEA appointment! I had mine about 6 weeks ago and was absolutely terrified beforehand - I kept imagining they'd find every little mistake in my job search and cut off my benefits immediately. But my counselor Marcus was incredibly professional and supportive. I brought a pretty disorganized collection of materials: some screenshots of online applications, a few email confirmations, and honestly just a notebook where I'd been jotting down jobs I'd applied to. He didn't criticize my record-keeping at all! Instead, he praised me for at least trying to track my efforts and then spent time helping me create a simple spreadsheet system that's been so much easier to maintain. We also went over my resume and he suggested some formatting changes that have already gotten me more callbacks. The appointment lasted about 50 minutes and I genuinely felt like I had a coach in my corner afterward. For anyone still nervous: remember that these counselors see people in your exact situation every single day. They know unemployment is stressful and that perfect record-keeping isn't realistic for everyone. Just bring what you can and be ready to talk about your job search honestly. You might be amazed at how much they can help!
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Felicity Bud
•This is exactly what I needed to read! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Marcus - it sounds like he really understood that life gets messy when you're unemployed and perfect record-keeping isn't always realistic. I love that he praised you for trying to track your efforts rather than focusing on what was missing. The spreadsheet system tip is really practical too - I've been struggling with how to organize everything better. And getting more callbacks after the resume formatting changes shows this really can make a concrete difference! It's so encouraging to hear that you felt like you had a coach afterward rather than feeling judged. I'm actually starting to look forward to my appointment now instead of dreading it. Thank you for helping me see this as an opportunity to get professional help with my job search!
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