Will PA UC benefits continue if I take CareerLink training? Struggling with age discrimination
Hi everyone, I've been on unemployment for about 2 months now and feeling pretty discouraged. I've applied to 27 jobs in my field (medical billing) but only got 3 interviews and no offers. I'm 57 and even though nobody says it directly, I can tell my age is an issue during interviews. My CareerLink advisor suggested I could take their IT certification training program which would be a complete career change. I'm interested but worried - will this affect my PA UC benefits? Can I still collect unemployment while enrolled in CareerLink training? Has anyone done this without problems? I need to keep my benefits flowing while I retrain, can't afford to lose income now.
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Lucas Lindsey
Yes, you can absolutely continue receiving your UC benefits while attending approved CareerLink training programs! It's called the Training and Development (TAD) program, and it's specifically designed for this purpose. You'll need to get your training approved by submitting a PA 1663 form, which your CareerLink advisor can help with. Once approved, you'll be exempt from the work search requirements while you complete your training. I went through this process last year for a healthcare admin certification and had zero issues with my benefits.
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Emma Olsen
•Oh that's such a relief! I was afraid they'd cut me off if I wasn't actively looking for work in my current field. Do you know how long the approval process takes? I don't want to start the program and then find out weeks later it wasn't approved.
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Sophie Duck
my neighbor tried this and thye messed up her paperwork and she didnt get paid for 6 weeks becareful
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Emma Olsen
•That's terrifying! 6 weeks without benefits would destroy me financially. Did she eventually get it sorted out? Was it CareerLink's fault or UC's mistake?
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Austin Leonard
The program you're referring to is called Training and Development (TAD), and it allows you to receive UC benefits while in approved training without having to search for work. Here's what you need to know: 1. The training MUST be approved by UC before you start 2. You need to submit form PA 1663 (Application for TAD) 3. Approval is not automatic - the training must improve your employment prospects 4. Once approved, you're exempt from work search requirements 5. You still must file your weekly claims during training Age discrimination is unfortunately common despite being illegal. A career pivot through approved training could definitely help. I'd recommend getting the approval process started ASAP as it can take 2-3 weeks sometimes.
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Emma Olsen
•Thank you for the detailed information! I'll talk to my CareerLink advisor tomorrow about starting the PA 1663 form. Do you know if there's any way to check on the status of the approval once it's submitted? The UC website is so confusing to navigate.
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Anita George
Look into Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) too if your job loss was due to foreign competition. Pays for training AND extends benefits. Better than regular TAD program.
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Emma Olsen
•Unfortunately I was laid off due to office downsizing, not foreign competition. But that's good to know such a program exists - maybe it will help someone else reading this thread!
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Abigail Spencer
When I was on UC last year, I couldn't get ANYONE on the phone when I had questions about my training program approval. Busy signals for days! I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual UC rep in under an hour. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Totally worth it to get my TAD questions answered directly instead of guessing. The rep confirmed everything was approved and I was able to start my training with peace of mind.
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Sophie Duck
•is that a real thing? sounds like a scam lol
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Logan Chiang
I HATE HOW THEY TREAT OLDER WORKERS!!! I'm 62 and got laid off after 19 years. Applied to 150+ jobs and NOTHING! The system is BROKEN. Go for that training and get it in writing that your benefits continue. Don't trust what anyone tells you over the phone. I learned that the hard way when they cut my benefits because some idiot gave me wrong info about job search requirements.
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Emma Olsen
•I'm so sorry that happened to you. It really does feel like once you hit a certain age, employers just see a number instead of experience. Did you ever get your benefits restored after they cut them off?
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Lucas Lindsey
Just wanted to follow up since several people mentioned delays - my TAD approval took exactly 12 days from submission to approval. Once approved, my UC portal updated to show I was exempt from work search activities. The key is making sure your CareerLink advisor completes their portion of the form correctly. They need to confirm the training meets local labor market needs. For IT certifications, that's usually pretty easy since there's high demand.
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Emma Olsen
•Thanks for the timeline! That's really helpful. I've got an appointment with my CareerLink advisor tomorrow to discuss which IT certifications would be best for entry-level positions in our area. Having a specific timeline helps me plan financially.
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Isla Fischer
I actually just completed a CareerLink-approved Microsoft certification program while on UC benefits! The process was mostly smooth, but here are some tips: 1. Get the TAD application in ASAP - don't wait 2. Keep doing your work searches until you get official approval 3. Print out and save the approval letter when you get it 4. If you miss any classes, notify UC immediately 5. The weekly filing process stays exactly the same The training helped me land a help desk job at 59 years old. Best decision I made after 6 months of no interviews in my previous industry (manufacturing management).
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Emma Olsen
•Wow, this is incredibly encouraging! Congratulations on your new position! The Microsoft certifications are exactly what I was looking at. How long did the program take to complete? And did employers seem interested in your certification despite it being new/recent?
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Sophie Duck
my sister tried to call about her training thing for 2 weeks straight couldnt get thru to anyone finally got mad and drove to the office and they told her she couldnt be seen without an appointment!! whole system is a joke
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Abigail Spencer
•That's why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. UC offices don't take walk-ins anymore at most locations, and the phone lines are impossible. Having something that can actually get you through to a representative is so important when dealing with training approvals.
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Austin Leonard
To update on the timeline question: According to the PA UC office, TAD approvals are currently taking 10-14 business days on average. Once approved, it takes effect immediately. If you're close to exhausting your regular UC benefits, approved training may also qualify you for Training Extended Benefits (TEB), which provides up to 16 additional weeks of benefits while you complete your training program. Age discrimination is frustrating but focusing on in-demand skills like IT certifications can definitely help overcome those barriers.
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Emma Olsen
•Thank you for mentioning the Training Extended Benefits! I had no idea that existed. I've used about 8 weeks of benefits so far out of my 26 weeks, so hopefully the training program won't extend beyond my benefit year, but it's great to know there's a safety net if needed.
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