UC: Registering for PA Career Link

Quick Overview

• Fully register for work at PA CareerLink® within 30 days after filing an application for UC benefits.
• Must register even if you get your job through a Union hiring hall.
• Failure to fully register within 30 days will cause you to become ineligible for benefits.
• Starting in week 3, you must conduct an active job search for each week you claim benefits.

Why do I need to register?

In 2013, Pennsylvania started requiring that individuals who filed for unemployment compensation benefits register for PA CareerLink® employment search services. You must complete the registration within 30 days of filing for benefits, or you will lose your unemployment compensation benefits.

How do I register for PA CareerLink® employment search services?

• Within 30 days after filing an application for Unemployment Compensation benefits, visit www.pacareerlink.pa.gov
• On the homepage, click on Register
• On the next page, click on Unemployment Compensation (UC) Claimant
• Follow instructions and prompts to complete registration
• If you already have a Keystone ID, you may log in using that information, and you do not need to register again.

How do you know you have completed your registration?

• When you have completed your registration, you will be brought to your "dashboard" (do not stop going through the sign-up screens until you get to the dashboard page)
• Your dashboard should have a UC Registration Compliance Box
• Make sure the Compliance Box indicates that your status is Complete, NOT Incomplete.
• If it states Complete, you are good to go
• If it states Incomplete, you missed a step somewhere and need to go back and complete it.

What do I do if I am having trouble registering?

• If you have trouble with the registration, do not have access to a computer, or need assistance in completing the registration, you can go to your local CareerLink® Office for assistance.
• If you have access to a computer, the following website can be used to find your local Careerlink® Office: https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jp online/Admin/Common/SearchOffices.aspx
• If you do not have access to a computer and need assistance, please call your local Careerlink® Office, the numbers for the county offices in our service areas can be found on the back page.
• If you are denied Unemployment Compensation Benefits for failure to register on Careerlink® in time and you have a good reason why you did not, file an appeal.

Contact numbers for local Careerlink® Offices

Call 1-844-333-5248 or locally at:

• Cameron County - (814) 834-2857
• Crawford County - (814) 337-5574
• Elk County - (814) 834-2857
• Erie County - (814) 455-9966
• Forest County - 1-844-333-5248
• McKean County - (814) 363-9100
• Mercer County - (724) 347-9257
• Potter County - (814) 274-9330
• Venango County - (814) 678-5050
• Warren County - 1-844-333-5248

Contact Northwestern Legal Services

NWLS provides free legal help to eligible low-income individuals in civil legal matters. To apply for service, call:

• Toll-free: 1-800-665-6957
• Erie County: 452-6957

Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 4 PM

 Apply Online