How To Apply For Pa Unemployment

Are You Available And Actively Searching For Work

To maintain your eligibility for unemployment benefits, you must be able to work, available to accept a job, and looking for employment. If you’re offered a suitable position, you must accept it. For the initial unemployment period, whether a position is suitable depends on several factors, including the level of skill and training required, the similarity between the work and your previous employment, how much the position pays, and the distance between the job site and your residence. However, as time goes on, you will be expected to modify your standards and consider accepting work that requires less skill or that pays lower wages.

You must conduct a reasonable search for work, which includes applying to at least two jobs and conducting at least one other work search activity per week. You should keep a record of your job search efforts, including the employers you have contacted, the dates you made contact, and the outcome. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry may contact you or your employer contacts to verify your efforts.

Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits And Eligibility

• If you’re unemployed through no fault of your own, you might qualify for Pennsylvania unemployment benefits. Learn who can claim benefits and how to apply.

Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation program can temporarily replace some of your lost wages if you become unemployed. The Office of Unemployment Compensation manages the UC system and provides re-employment services to help eligible claimants rejoin the workforce.

What Updates Are You Required To Provide Heres How To Keep Your Benefits

The reason you must file wyoming unemployment biweekly claims is because the unemployment office PA works off of your most recent data. So, if there are any changes in your PA unemployment claims status you are required to immediately report it. The PA unemployment benefits calculator reevaluates your benefit allocation on a week to week basis.

You May Like: Can You Start An Llc While On Unemployment

How Will I Receive My Payments

If youre approved for benefits and file your claims as required, you should get your first payment within four weeks of filing your initial claim. It may only cover one week, though, because theres typically a waiting week for benefits. Payments are generally issued within four days of filing your biweekly claim, although it could take up to 10 days for you to receive the payment.

You can choose to have your unemployment compensation deposited directly into your bank account. If you dont make this election, when the state determines that youre eligible for benefits it will automatically mail you a debit card.

Pennsylvania uses the U.S. Bank ReliaCard® debit card for benefits. You can check your balance online and withdraw money without a fee from tellers inside banks with a Visa symbol.

If you want to have your benefits deposited directly into your account, you can submit your bank details with your initial unemployment claim application. You can also add bank information later through Pennsylvanias online portal.

How Can I Qualify For Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits

To be eligible for PA unemployment benefits, you must meet these requirements.

• Lost your job through no fault of your own This includes being laid off for lack of work. Getting fired for willful misconduct, including breaking employer rules, absenteeism without a valid reason, or drug and alcohol abuse are grounds for losing eligibility. If you voluntarily quit your job, you may still be eligible for unemployment compensation. Youll have to show that you quit after repeated attempts to keep your job, and that you left for a compelling reason such as health issues, transportation problems or a significant change in job responsibilities.
• Been steadily employed over the previous year This means you must have earned wages of at least $116 per week in at least 18 weeks of what the department terms your base year. The base year is the first four quarters of the most recent five completed quarters. For example, if you had filed your claim in March 2020, your base year would have been October 2018 through September 2019. But, if you had filed a claim in April 2020, your base year would have been the full year of 2019.

Once youre approved for benefits and start receiving them, heres what youll have to do to maintain your eligibility.

• Be able and willing to work
• Be actively looking for a job
• Keep a record of your efforts to find a job
• While there may be some exceptions, youll generally have to register with the employment search organization Pennsylvania Careerlink

Also Check: How To Draw Unemployment In Kentucky

Eligibility Requirements For Washington Unemployment Benefits

In Washington, the Employment Security Department handles unemployment benefits and determines eligibility on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must meet the following three eligibility requirements in order to collect unemployment benefits in Washington:

• You must have worked a certain minimum number of hours.
• You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, as defined by Washington law.
• You must be able and available to work, and you must be actively seeking employment.

Donât Miss: Unemployment Ticket Number

Work Based Exposures And Illness May Be Eligible For Workers Compensation

Under certain circumstances, claims from health care workers and first responders for exposure to coronavirus will be allowed. Other claims that meet certain criteria for exposure will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For a claim to be accepted, there must be a documented or probable work-related exposure, and an employee/employer relationship.

L& I has answers to commonly asked questions online.

Follow lni.wa.gov, esd.wa.gov, and coronavirus.wa.gov/news for the most up-to-date information.

Recommended Reading: How To Apply For Unemployment In Indiana

Washington Unemployment Phone Numbers

Sometimes you just have to talk to a live person to get answers to your questions.

Be prepared for long waits because lots of people try to do the same thing that you are. Be patient and you will get through to someone who can help you. Even though it is frustrating to wait so long, please be courteous and polite. The staffers on the other line are over-worked and are doing everything they can to help all of the people.

Lihwap: Applications Opened Jan 4 2022 For New Program To Help Keep Water Turned On

This new program, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program opened applications on Jan. 4, 2022. Visit the Pennsylvania Dept. of Human Services website for more information.

Are you at risk of having your water shut off?

Help is available through the *NEW* Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program .

Applications opened Jan. 4, 2022. The program will help families who have overdue water bills or at risk of losing water service for their home.

Learn about eligibility and how to apply at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.pa.gov/waterhelp.

Apply for LIHWAP and other assistance online at www.compass.state.pa.us. You also can apply in person at a local County Assistance Office. Click for locations by county.

More details on LIHWAP are available in a news story at lasp.org/news.

Don’t Miss: How Do You Sign Up For Unemployment In Florida

What Are Extended Unemployment Benefits

If you have exhausted unemployment benefits or are worried about running out of them, there may be extended benefits funded by the federal government that will provide unemployment compensation beyond the maximum number of weeks provided by your state. These benefits are in place during times of high unemployment.

Donât Miss: What Ticket Number Is Pa Unemployment On

File A Weekly Certification

After you have filed your initial application for UC benefits or reopened an existing claim, you must file a certification for each week in which you are totally or partially unemployed.

A week for UC purposes begins on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday. The compensable week ending date is always a Saturday.

In most cases, you will file claims for weekly or every two weeks at one time. You will get paid according to when you file.

Filing can be done using the following methods:

If you are eligible for benefits, you should receive your first benefit payment within four weeks after the effective date of your application, provided you file your certifications on time.

You May Like: How To Get Money If Unemployed

Q: What Is Unemployment Compensation

A: Unemployment compensation is a government benefits program that protects workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own from imminent financial hardships. People who qualify to receive unemployment compensation get a weekly check and help finding a new job. Most people receiving unemployment compensation receive about ½ of what they earned at their job. However, you may receive more money if you have a dependant spouse or child. Unemployment compensation usually can last for up to 26 weeks. However, your unemployment compensation benefits can end after 16 weeks, or you can be denied benefits altogether, if you didnt work enough in the previous year.

Fcc Program Offers Discount For Internet Access Through The Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service and connected devices. The program is offered by the Federal Communications Commission . It is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

This benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. Income guidelines are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company using an online or mail-in application.

Learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, at www.fcc.gov/acp, or by calling 877-384-2575. Click for one-page PDF flyer: English| Spanish

Don’t Miss: Can You Collect Unemployment If You Get Fired In California

These Savings Accounts Are Fdic Insured And Could Earn You Up To 19x Your Bank

Many people are missing out on guaranteed returns as their money languishes in a big bank savings account earning next to no interest. Our picks of the best online savings accounts can earn you more than 19x the national average savings account rate. to uncover the best-in-class picks that landed a spot on our shortlist of the best savings accounts for 2022.

How Do Unemployment Benefits Work In Pennsylvania

The Office of Unemployment Compensation, a division of the commonwealths Department of Labor & Industry, handles the unemployment insurance benefits program in Pennsylvania. You can file a claim online, over the phone, by mail or by video call .

You can generally receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks. The amount you receive is based on how much money you earned while working during whats referred to as your base period a specified period during the time you were working before you became unemployed.

Don’t Miss: California Health Care For Unemployed

Q How Do I Apply For Benefits

A. You can apply for benefits anytime online.

• If you do not have access to a computer, smartphone or tablet, you can also apply by phone. The claims center number at 800-318-6022 will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. as follows:

• Monday: New applications for those with Social Security numbers ending in 0-3. Open only for questions about weekly claims and other general questions.

• Tuesday: New applications for those with Social Security numbers ending in 0-6. Open for questions about weekly claims and other general questions.

• Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Everyone can submit new applications. Open for questions about weekly claims and other general questions.

• You can also schedule a with a claims agent. However, due to a high volume of requests, the online application is suggested.

How Much Might I Get

Typically, the amount of unemployment compensation you receive is tied to how much money you made while you were working. For those making the highest quarterly base wage or less, your weekly benefit is roughly half your full-time weekly wage.

If your income fluctuated during your base period, you can calculate your weekly benefit by looking at your earnings from the base period in which you had the highest income. That quarters weekly earnings determine your unemployment compensation benefits.

The Department of Labor & Industry publishes financial charts detailing the weekly benefit that applies to different levels of income.

You can receive a small supplement to your weekly benefit if you have a dependent spouse and/or children. Youll get $5 per week for a dependent spouse and $3 for one dependent child. If you dont have a dependent spouse, you can receive $5 for the first dependent child and $3 for a second. Theres a weekly maximum of $8 for this supplement.

The minimum weekly benefit amount you can receive is $68, and the maximum is $580.

Again, the amount you receive may change if benefits are expanded during a major economic downturn.

Don’t Miss: What Are The Unemployment Numbers

Eligibility Criteria For Claiming Pa Unemployment Benefits

In general, you cannot get benefits if you have quit the job voluntarily. In other words, you must have been unemployed by no fault of your own. If you had to quit your job due to unfavourable conditions, you might qualify, but the state unemployment office will make a determination on case by case basis.

To get benefits, you must also be actively looking for work. If you are disabled you may not be eligible. Check if you can get disability insurance in that situation. Additionally, your previous job must have earned income sufficient to cover your living expenditure. So that means part-time work conditions do not meet the requirements.

You should file your application with PA Unemployment Insurance agency as soon as possible. While the State allows you to file a claim by telephone, the preferred method is over the Internet which gets you faster response and less wait time. When you file a claim, you will have to give important details, such as residence address, employment history etc. Make sure you give thorough and true information. Otherwise your claims may get delayed unnecessarily.

Watch this video to know if you are eligible to obtain unemployment benefits

Where Can I Apply For A Job Right Now

GoPuff, a goods delivery service launched in Philly, is hiring dozens of jobs in the city. Apply here. Theyre also hiring thousands of delivery drivers around the country. Learn more about GoPuff driver positions and apply here.

for more than 400 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia Metro area, a spokesperson told Billy Penn. Apply here.

ShopRite is hiring workers displaced from regular routine.Apply here.

Giant and Giant Heirloom have immediate openings for cashiers, stock clerks, drivers , cashiers and fulfillment center positions. A spokesperson could not say how many positions were being hired locally. Apply here or see a store manager for more info.

Aldi is hiring in all of its stores and warehouses. Right now there are 35 job listings for Philadelphia on the jobs site. Apply here.

Fresh Grocer is hiring additional staff due to increased shopper volume, a spokesperson told Billy Penn. According to the website, the store is hiring for cashier, clerk, maintenance and overnight positions in each of its Philadelphia locations. Apply here.

Philadelphia- and New Jersey-based produce delivery service Misfits Market is immediately hiring 100 Philly area workers at a rate of $16 an hour, no skills required. Apply here.

A Dominos spokesperson said the company wants to fill 700 jobs across the Philly region. Apply here.

Acme Markets has been hiring with immediate openings at all of its locations. Apply here or visit your local Acme grocery store.

Don’t Miss: Can You File Taxes From Unemployment

What If My Claim Is Rejected

If your claim was rejected and you feel you should be eligible for benefits, you have the right to appeal. You can also appeal if youre approved for less than you think you should receive. You can file your appeal by email or by mail, and it must be done within 15 days of receiving your determination.

An appeals referee will hear your appeal usually within 30 days of filing and you can bring documents or witnesses to help show why you believe the determination was incorrect.

If the referee rejects your appeal, you can appeal again to a board of review. Generally, the board wont conduct a hearing, but you can submit a written request to file new evidence.

How Unemployment Benefits Extensions In Pennsylvania Work

If you are interested in learning how to get an unemployment extension in Pennsylvania, you must first find out about the necessary eligibility requirements for state unemployment compensation extensions. Beyond the regular benefit period, there are special occurrences in all states when state governments activate emergency programs and enable benefit recipients to continue receiving benefits until the crises have been resolved. These are known as unemployment extensions.

However, extensions are not readily available to unemployed PA residents. In Pennsylvania, only those who have been laid off through no fault of their own are able to apply, and even then, benefits may not be available.

Read Also: Can I Get Obama Care If Unemployed