YOUR WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENTS
Q. What are the weekly work search requirements?
A. Generally,beginningwiththethirdweekinyourbenetyearforwhichyouleaUCclaim,youmustapply for two jobs and
participateinone work search activityeachweek.
Q. What kind of jobs may I apply for?
A. Youmayapplyforjobsthatwouldprovidesuitablework;thatis,anyworkthatyouarecapableofperforming.However,
youareallowedtolimityourjobapplicationstojobsthatofferemploymentandwagessimilartowhatyouhadbeforeyou
becameunemployed,andarewithina45-minutecommute.Ifadheringtothatlimitationpreventsyoufromapplyingfortwo
jobs,youmustchooseoneoftwooptionsforeachjobapplicationthatyouareunabletomake:(1)youmayparticipateina
worksearchactivity,or(2)youmaydisregardthatlimitationandapplyforajobofferingsuitablework.
Q. What are the acceptable ways to apply for a job?
A. Youmayapplyforajobinperson;bymail,phoneorelectronictransmission;bysubmittingajobapplicationorrésumétothe
employer;orbyfollowingahiringprocedureestablishedbytheemployer.Arepeatedapplicationforthesamejobdoesnot
countunlessthereisareasonablebasistobelievethattheemployer’shiringcircumstanceshavechanged.
Q. What qualies as a work search activity?
A. Youmaychoosefromthesesevenworksearchactivities:
•Attendajobfair
•SearchpositionspostedonthePACareerLink
®
systemorInternetjobbanks
•CreateorpostarésuméinthePACareerLink
®
systemorpostarésuméinotherrésumé-postingservices
•Contactcolleagues,formerco-workersorotherindividualsinsimilarprofessionsoroccupationstomakeknownyouravailability
foremploymentorobtaininformationaboutavailablepositions,prospectiveemployersorotheremploymentopportunities
•Utilizeanemploymentagency,employmentregistryorschoolplacementservice
•Takeacivilservicetestorotherpre-employmenttest
•ParticipateinaprogramoractivityofferedthroughthePennsylvaniaCareerLink
®
system
IfyouliveoutsideofPennsylvania,youmayparticipateinthesetypesofactivitiesofferedbyyourstateemploymentservice.
Q. May I take credit for a job interview?
A. Yes,youmaysubstituteajobinterviewbyanemployerforoneofyourjobapplicationsoraworksearchactivity.
Q. May I take credit for an extra job application?
A. Yes,ifyouapplyformorethantwojobsinaweek,youdonothavetoparticipateinaworksearchactivityduringthatweek.
Q. Are the weekly requirements different if I am working part time?
A. Ifyouareworkingparttimeduringaweekandyouearnmorethanyourpartialbenetcredit(PBC),youonlyhavetoapplyfor
onejobduringtheweek,insteadoftwo,andyoudonothavetoparticipateinaworksearchactivityduringthatweek.
Q. Do I have to keep a record of my job applications and work search activities?
A. Yes.YouareencouragedtouseFormUC-304,entitled“WorkSearchRecord.”AcopyoftheformisincludedinthePennsylvania
UCHandbook(FormUCP-1),andtheformisavailableatwww.uc.pa.gov.YouarenotrequiredtouseFormUC-304aslongas
yourrecordincludesthesameinformationthatwouldbecontainedonFormUC-304.Youmustretainyourrecordforaperiodof
twoyearsfromyourApplicationforBenets(AB)date.Donotsendyourworksearchrecordtothedepartmentunlessyouare
askedtodoso.
Q. How do I know if I have met the work search requirements for a week?
A. YoumayusethischarttoverifythatyouhavesatisedtheUCworksearchrequirements.Eachcolumninthechartrepresentsone
ofthethreeweeklyrequirements.Ineachcolumn,checktheboxthatindicateshowyousatisedthatrequirementorasubstitute
requirement.Youmayenteronlyonecheckmarkforeachjobapplication,worksearchactivityorinterview.If you are able to
check one box in each column, you have satised your UC work search requirements for the week.
1
st
Job Application 2
nd
Job Application Work Search Activity
Iappliedforajob.
Iparticipatedinaworksearch
activitybecauseIamlimitingmy
jobapplications.
Ihadajobinterview.
Iappliedforajob.
Iparticipatedinaworksearch
activitybecauseIamlimitingmy
jobapplications.
Ihadajobinterview.
Iparticipatedinaworksearch
activity.
Iappliedfora3rdjob.
Ihadajobinterview.
I worked part time during the week and earned more than my PBC. A second
job application and a work search activity are not required.
UC-304 REV 08-18 (Page 2)
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