Will taking a job with 15-day probation period jeopardize my PA UC benefits if it doesn't work out?

You should be okay taking the job. According to PA UC rules, if you accept suitable work and it doesn't work out through no fault of your own (like if they terminate you during probation), you can resume your previous claim as long as you're still in the same benefit year. Just make sure you report the work and earnings for the weeks you do work. The key phrase here is "through no fault of your own" - so if they let you go during/after probation because it's not a good fit, you're generally fine. If you quit without good cause, that could potentially disqualify you.

just take the job n see how it goes lol. better to have a job then be on uc anyway. if it doesntt work out just apply again. thats what I did

I was in a nearly identical situation in January. Got laid off from sales job after 5 years, was on UC for a few months, then took a job with a 30-day probation period. The new company let me go after 20 days saying I "wasn't catching on fast enough." Here's what you need to know: 1) You must report that you've found work on your weekly certification 2) You don't file a new claim when the job ends - you reopen your existing claim 3) When reopening, you'll need to explain why the job ended 4) Keep documentation of everything! Save the offer letter showing the probation period 5) If they let you go, request something in writing about why In my case, I was able to resume my previous claim without issues. They even automatically calculated the remaining balance and benefit weeks correctly. Just be 100% accurate with your dates of employment and earnings when you reopen. One thing though - that job offer does sound a bit suspicious. No interview at all? Just be careful it's not some kind of scam.

NEVER TRUST THE PA UC SYSTEM!!! I did EXACTLY what you're thinking about doing last year and it was a COMPLETE NIGHTMARE!!! Took a job with a 3-week training period, got let go because the company had "overhired" (their words, not mine), and then PA UC denied my reopened claim saying I didn't earn enough at the new job to qualify for a new claim BUT also said I couldn't go back to my old claim!!! Was without ANY income for 7 WEEKS while fighting with them!!! The system is BROKEN and they will use ANY excuse to deny benefits! That "overpayment" situation you mentioned is EXACTLY the kind of garbage they pull!!! They're looking for ANY reason to not pay you!!!

Anyone else noticing how impossible it is to actually reach someone at PA UC to get answers to questions like this? I've been trying for TWO WEEKS to talk to someone about my claim issues. All I get is busy signals or that automated message saying they're experiencing high call volume. I've called literally 60+ times on some days and can never get through. So frustrating when you need actual answers from a human being!

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure this job isn't paying you as a 1099 contractor during the "probationary period." I've seen companies try this trick where they bring you on as a "contractor" for the first few weeks, then transition you to W-2 if they like you. This matters because if you're categorized as self-employed (1099) rather than an employee (W-2), it can complicate your unemployment situation if the job ends. PA UC has different rules for how they handle self-employment income versus regular employment.

my cousin took job last mnth and got fired after 2 weeks, got his benifits back no problem just had to do the weekly filing thing again and say he got laid off

One more thing to be aware of - when you restart your claim after the job ends (if it does), there can sometimes be a 1-2 week processing delay before payments resume. Make sure you have some emergency funds set aside if possible to cover that gap. Also, continue filing your weekly certifications without interruption if the job ends. Report your last day of work accurately, and report any earnings for that week. The system will automatically adjust your benefit amount for the week based on your earnings. Finally, if your claim gets flagged for any reason when you reopen it, and you can't resolve it through the online portal, calling first thing Monday morning (right when they open at 8am) is usually the best time to get through to a representative.

when I moved from philly to pittsburgh last year I had a whole thing with unemployment where they kept saying I wasn't looking for work even though I was applying to like 5 jobs a week and eventually I just gave up fighting with them and took a job at target that I hated and paid way less than my old job just because dealing with PA UC was so stressful lol anyway this doesn't really answer your question but just wanted to say I feel your pain with how annoying the system is!! good luck!!

To answer your follow-up question: You don't need to call UC specifically to tell them you're starting a job. Just report it accurately on your weekly certification. When you answer "Yes" to the question about whether you worked or earned wages, you'll be prompted to enter the employer information and your earnings for that week. If the job doesn't work out, you'll need to reopen your existing claim (not file a new one). You can do this online through your PA UC dashboard. There will be questions about why the job ended - be honest and straightforward. If they terminated you during the probationary period, that should be considered "not your fault" and your previous claim should continue. Just remember that any earnings will need to be reported for the weeks you work, and those earnings may reduce or eliminate your benefit payment for those specific weeks, depending on how much you earn.

Just wanted to add one more consideration that might be helpful - since you mentioned this offer came without an interview and seems a bit rushed, make sure you get everything in writing before you start. Get a clear job description, the exact probation period terms, and what the evaluation criteria are for the probation period. Also, document your first day of work carefully because PA UC will want exact dates when you report your employment. Take a photo of your first paycheck stub too - it'll have your start date and employer info that UC might ask for later. I know the offer seems sketchy, but $22/hr is definitely better than UC payments, and from what others have shared here, it sounds like you should be able to resume your benefits if things don't work out. The fact that you're being proactive about understanding the rules puts you in a much better position than most people. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I've been through something similar! Last fall I took a temp-to-perm position that had a 3-week trial period while I was on UC. The job ended up being a disaster (they had me doing completely different work than advertised), and I was let go after 2 weeks. Here's what I learned: Keep ALL your paperwork from this job offer - the email from the recruiter, any offer letter, documentation about the 15-day probation period, everything. When I reopened my claim, PA UC asked for specific details about why the job ended and having that documentation made the process much smoother. Also, when you report your work on the weekly certification, be super precise with your dates and earnings. I made the mistake of estimating my hours the first week and it caused a flag on my account that took forever to resolve. One last thing - trust your gut about this job seeming sketchy. Even if it doesn't work out, at least you'll have tried, and based on what others are saying here, you should be able to get back on your original claim. The fact that you're asking these questions ahead of time shows you're being smart about it. Most people just wing it and end up in trouble later!