Friday, March 22, 2024

How To Collect Unemployment In Pa

Don't Miss

What Financial Information Do You Need To Provide To Collect Benefits Some Of These Are Easy To Miss

How to file an unemployment claim in PA during the coronavirus outbreak

Since the Pennsylvania benefits system works off of your most recent information you will need to inform them of any changes in your PA unemployment status immediately. If you file a claim to receive benefits for a certain week you must submit information regarding any money you earned during that week.

If you worked part-time inform them of the hours you worked and the payment you received. And if you did not work at all during the week then submit your weekly earnings as zero. Moreover, even if you didnt work during the week but received backlogged payments from your previous employer in the form of vacation pay or fuel allowance you must report these funds as well.

How Long Do You Have To File For Unemployment

Though you must file your unemployment claim straight away, its up to you when you wish to start the claim. You may feel like waiting the next quarter to get an elevated rate. You know you will be out of work all winter and want to wait until then to file your claim. Or you may have some other reasons. But you should recognize that you may not be able to go back and claim the weeks you were away from work and did not claim. You must also be aware that you dont pass your benefit year end. If there is an addition, you may be hurting yourself.

How Does A Severance Package Affect Unemployment Benefits In Pa

Pennsylvaniaseverance payunemploymentseverance payunemployment

. Likewise, can you collect unemployment if you have a severance package in PA?

Under Pennsylvania law, the amount of UC benefits former employees are eligible to receive can be greatly reduced to zero in some instances if the employees receive severance payments. In practical effect, severance pay often serves the same purpose as unemployment benefits.

Likewise, do you have to claim severance pay on unemployment? Severance pay is not deducted from unemployment insurance benefits and does not affect your eligibility to receive benefits. However, you must report severance pay at the time you file your unemployment insurance claim.

Similarly, can you collect unemployment benefits if you received a severance package?

A: You can certainly apply for unemployment benefits, but how you receive your severance will affect your eligibility for unemployment. If the weekly severance amount equals or exceeds 1.5 times the amount of your weekly unemployment benefit, you are not eligible for unemployment benefits for that week.

Will severance pay affect Social Security benefits?

Usually, those payments will not affect your Social Security benefit if they are for work done before you retired. Some special payments to employees include bonuses, accumulated vacation or sick pay, severance pay, back pay, standby pay, sales commissions, and retirement payments.

Also Check: Can You Get Covered California If You Are Unemployed

Continuing Weekly Certification Of Benefits

After receiving their first payment, claimants must continue certifying for benefits every week. Claim weeks start on Sunday and end on Saturday claimants file for benefits every two weeks, but verify their eligibility for each week at that time. Claimants can certify weekly claims online from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. They can also call 888-255-4728 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday to certify by phone.

Claimants must look for work and report their findings to the PDLI to continue receiving unemployment claims. To do this, they must register online with the Pennsylvania CareerLink system within 30 days after filing their initial claim to report any potential jobs they sought each week. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state suspended these requirements, but the PDLI will reinstate them on .

Financial Requirements For Social Security Disability

PA starts new unemployment program for those who exhaust ...

The SSA imposes different financial requirements on eligibility for SSDI and SSI:

  • You must meet certain standards concerning your work history. A 55-year old, for example, must have worked at least eight years during his working lifetime, five of which must have been during the last ten years. These standards vary according to age.
  • To be eligible for SSDI, you must not be involved in substantial gainful activity, which means that you are not eligible for disability benefits if you earn at least $1,220 per month .
  • To become eligible for SSI you dont need any work history, but you must meet very low family asset and income maximums.

Recommended Reading: How Do I Sign Up For Unemployment In Tn

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.

How Often Do You Need To Search For Jobs This One Is Really Important

According to the PA unemployment contact, you are required to apply for a minimum number of jobs per week. And no leeway is given to those who do not meet these requirements.

The benefit week is the weekly system used to distribute funds to workers. It begins on a Sunday and ends on the next Saturday. The maximum time frame you can receive unemployment benefits is 26 weeks. These benefit weeks may occur anytime between the 52 week benefit year. The benefit year begins after the filing of the initial claim.

According to the Department of Unemployment Pennsylvania, you are required to apply for two jobs and register for one job search activity on the website JobGateway every week, starting week three of your benefit year. These job applications dont need to happen in person. You can also submit your resume online, email an employer or conduct a Skype interview. Additionally, you can also use the unemployment phone numbers PA.

The important thing is that you follow through on the instructions you receive from your employer, and keep detailed notes of your search activities as evidence. These detailed records will prove necessary the next time you file a claim.

You May Like: Va Disability 100 Unemployability

What Happens If You Do Not File Your Claim On Time

You must file your biweekly claims on time to continue receiving benefits without interruption. If you forget to file a claim your account may go inactive. And your benefits will be cut off. To remedy this situation you will have to contact a helpline using the Pennsylvania unemployment compensation phone number and submit a request for reactivation.

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

Unemployment claims in PA can be back dated

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 I Overdraft My Emerald Card

Earnings Requirement For Unemployment Eligibility

You must meet all three of the following wage requirements to qualify for benefits in Pennsylvania:

  • You must have earned at least $1,688 in your highest-paid calendar quarter of the base period.
  • You must have earned at least 37% of your total base-period wages outside of your highest paid calendar quarter. In other words, your highest-paid quarter may account for up to 63% of your total base period wages. So if you earned $3,000 in the highest paid quarter, you must have earned at least $4,762 in the entire base period to qualify.
  • You must have at least 18 credit weeksweeks in which you earned at least $116during the base period.

Pa Unemployment Eligibility Requirementsdont Skip These

To receive unemployment benefits you must meet the set of standards set by the PA unemployment laws. There are three main requirements issued by the PA department of unemployment.

Financial Eligibility

The first step towards receiving pa state unemployment benefits is meeting the predetermined financial requirements. After filing a claim you must prove your eligibility to the PA dept of unemployment. Within this, you must give them proof of sufficient earnings during your most recent periods of employment, i.e. your base period.

If they are satisfied with your work history the pa.dept.of unemployment issues a Notice of Financial Determination. This notice declares you either eligible or ineligible. And informs you of the amount of financial assistance the state will provide you with.

Reason for unemployment

The second most important factor in determining your eligibility is your reason for unemployment. If you were fired because of incompetence, irregularity, ineffectiveness, poor work ethics, misconduct, violation of company policy, drug or alcohol possession, or falsification of official documents you are not eligible to receive pa.uc benefits. Additionally, you also do not qualify if you participated in a work strike or voluntarily quit your job.

And if you are still facing PA unemployment eligibility issues and are confused about whether or not you qualify call the pa unemployment number for assistance.

Recommended Reading: Va Form Unemployability

Q: If You Are Pregnant Can You Collect Unemployment Compensation

A: Yes. The same rules apply to pregnant women as apply to everyone else. However, pregnancy is not considered good cause to voluntarily quit a job. If you choose not to work because you are pregnant, you cannot receive unemployment compensation. However, if your company fires you because of your pregnancy , you can receive unemployment compensation. You can continue to receive your unemployment compensation benefits after the child is born if you are able and available to work.

What Are Extended Unemployment Benefits

PA Unemployment Biweekly Claim Procedure

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.

Don’t Miss: What Ticket Number Is Pa Unemployment On

My Employer Furloughed Me Do I Qualify What If I Am Self

A variety of workers who normally could not access unemployment insurance will be able to receive benefits thanks to changes from the state’s Office of Unemployment Compensation.

The state declined to answer questions about how the changes are being applied, but a review of the changes indicates that furloughed workers, self-employed people and contractors will qualify.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Loophole

If you work but earn less than $1,220 per month, you will be eligible for disability and partial unemployment benefits.

The potential problem with this approach, other than the reduction in the amount of your unemployment benefits, is that Pennsylvania will require you to continue seeking full-time work, yet your disability payments are based on the assumption that your disability prevents you from working full-time.

You May Like: When Does Unemployment Deposit Money In Ga

Q: Can You Get Partial Unemployment Compensation If Your Hours Are Cut Back

A: You may be able to receive partial unemployment compensation if your work hours are cut back because of a lack of work. At your job, you can earn up to 40% of your weekly unemployment compensation amount without losing any unemployment benefits. Anything you earn over this amount is deducted from your weekly check.

Can You Collect Unemployment If Not In The Us

Claim Unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania

If you meet the criteria for unemployment benefits and stay outside of the United States, you must be entitled to receive those UC benefits as long as you can show that you are able and available for work in the local job market. This does not mean that you can file a claim and then go on a vacation.

Recommended Reading: Applying For Unemployment In Missouri

How To Appeal A Denial Of Unemployment Benefits In Pennsylvania

If your claim for unemployment is denied, you have 15 days to appeal the decision. Your appeal must be in writing and mailed or emailed to the DLI to the address listed in the notice of denial.

After receiving your appeal request, a hearing will be scheduled before an administrative official called a Referee. The Referee will receive evidence from both you and your employer and issue a written decision. If you disagree with the Referee’s decision, you may appeal to the Board of Review by the date stated in the Referee’s notice of decision. If you disagree with the Board’s decision, you have 30 days to appeal to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

The DLI provides additional information on the unemployment process at its website .

Receive Financial Determination Letter

Keep this letter in a safe place. It states your financial eligibility. Financial determination letters are typically received within 3 business days via your UC Dashboard communication preference.

Your financial determination letter will tell you:

  • Your benefit year begin date AND the date your benefit year expires.
  • Your weekly benefit amount and eligible weeks AND how they were calculated.
  • How much you will receive if you are totally unemployed and how to estimate your partial benefits for part-time work.

Read Also: Bank Of America/kdol

How To File A Claim According To Pennsylvania Unemployment Law Some Quick Tips From The Pros

Filing for a claim the first time only qualifies you to receive aid for a particular length of time. If you continue to remain unemployed you must inform the state of your status to receive aid. You do this by filing a claim. Unemployment law in PA requires you to file a biweekly claim in most cases. This means that once you file a claim you do not need to file again for another two weeks. Benefits are paid by the state once every two weeks.

However, you also need to certify your claim, i.e, receive your benefits. So, you may collect your benefits for each week separately. Generally, a week may start on Sunday and end the next Saturday.

Am I Eligible For Unemployment Benefits

Pa Unemployment Initial Claim

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following conditions:

  • You’ve been laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic, earned enough wages and meet the weekly eligibility requirements.
  • You’re medically quarantined due to the coronavirus, meet the minimum amount of wages and are not receiving sick pay or other leave from your employer.
  • You’re caring for a child whose school or daycare site has closed due to the coronavirus, you’re not receiving sick pay or other leave from your employer, and you meet the meet the minimum amount of wages.
  • You may be eligible if your hours were reduced and you’re still employed.
  • Your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19.
  • Your employer reduces your hours because of COVID-19.
  • You have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread COVID-19.
  • You have been told to quarantine or self-isolate, or live/work in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts.

More:How to file for unemployment in Pennsylvania if your job is affected by coronavirus

Read Also: How To Sign Up For Unemployment In Tennessee

How Much Will You Receive In Unemployment Benefits In Pennsylvania

Your weekly benefit is either an amount based on your earnings during the highest-paid quarter of the base period or half of your usual earnings, whichever is higher. The maximum weekly benefit changes regularly currently, it’s $583.

In Pennsylvania, the number of credit weeks you worked during the base period determines how you’re your benefits will last. You may receive between 18 and 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits from Pennsylvania. When the state’s unemployment rate is especially high, extended benefits may be available. .aspx” rel=”nofollow”> extended benefits for details on the current status of extended benefits, including how these benefits work with the pandemic-related benefits available from the federal government, as discussed above.)

When Do The Changes Take Effect

The work search requirements restarted July 12, meaning that when you file an unemployment claim on Sunday, July 18, you will need to certify that you have applied for two jobs and completed one work search activity for the week.

You will also need to be able to prove your job search, and maintain records of that search for two years from the date of your claim. If you cant prove that you completed the work search requirement for a particular week, L& I may deny your benefits, or require you to pay back the benefits you may have received.

Read Also: Individual Unemployability Va

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.

Why Is This Happening Now

Pennsylvania’s Secretary Of Labor Offers Tips On How To Get Unemployment Pay Faster

L& I announced the return of work search requirements in May, saying that workers can more safely return to the workplace as vaccinations in the state rise and the coronavirus case count continues to fall.

Also in May, Pennsylvanias unemployment rate was about 6.9%, Spotlight PA reports. That month, the American economy added more than 500,000 jobs, but thousands remained unfilled in the state. And dozens of county chambers of commerce signed a letter asking officials to reinstate the requirement.

» READ MORE: Human error, lack of oversight led to multimillion-dollar unemployment mistake, Wolf administration discloses

But because of a glitchy rollout of the states new unemployment benefits system in June, some experts have said that the work search requirement could make navigating the system more difficult. Melissa Evans, an attorney with Neighborhood Legal Services in Pittsburgh, told Spotlight PA that the change is premature while Pennsylvanians continue to have issues receiving their benefits.

I have lots of clients who are six, seven months out from a date of termination, who are still waiting for a notice of termination as to whether or not they will be receiving unemployment compensation benefits, Evans said.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the citys push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org.

Read Also: How Do I Sign Up For Unemployment In Washington State

More articles

Popular Articles