Just like in every other state, workers in Pennsylvania who are temporarily out of work due to no fault of their own might be eligible for unemployment benefits. Benefit amounts, prior earnings requirements, and eligibility rules are going to vary by state.
So if you are wondering about what to expect with regards to unemployment in Pennsylvania, then you’ve come to the right place. So keep on reading and we will take you through everything that you will want to know!
Eligibility Requirements for Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits
In Pennsylvania, unemployment benefits are handled by the Department of Labor & Industry. This group also decides eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
An applicant needs to meet three different requirements in order to receive unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania.
First off, you need to be available and able to work and you need to be actively looking for work. Second, you need to be out of work due to no fault of your own. Lastly, your past earnings need to meet certain minimum requirements.
You Need to File an Initial Claim
In order to receive unemployment benefits, you will first need to file an initial claim. If you file your claim online then you will get a confirmation message at the end of the online application. You will also receive a confirmation email.
This email will tell you the date that you will file your biweekly or continued claim.
Regardless of which day you send your initial claim, it is going to be effective on Sunday. It will stay active for one year with anywhere between four and six months of benefit payments available.
File Your Biweekly Claim
Unemployment compensation is similar to working for two weeks and receiving a paycheck a few weeks later.
After your two weeks are over, you will file a biweekly claim. This will tell the government that you were out of work so that they can give you temporary financial support.
You can file using the Pennsylvania Teleclaims line or file online. You will have between Sunday and Friday to complete the claim.
For your initial filing and claim, it can take between one and two months to receive the approval determination. Even if you aren’t approved yet, you should continue to file your claim.
Eventually, you will receive a payment within a few days after you file your biweekly claim.
It is very important to remember that you could lose your benefits if you don’t continue to file your biweekly claim.
You Will Receive Your Financial Determination Letter
When you get your financial determination letter, you should put it in a safe place. These kinds of letters are usually received via the United States Postal Service within ten to fifteen days.
Your financial determination letter is going to tell you several things. First, you will get your application for benefits date (AB date) as well as the date that your claim expires.
You will also see your weekly benefit amount and your eligible weeks. It will also tell you how those amounts were determined.
Lastly, you will see how much you will get if you are totally out of work. The letter will also show you how to figure out your partial benefits if you end up working part-time.
If You have Claim Issues
If you run into a problem with your employment claim then you will be asked to contact the government. However, you should contact them through email. In order to avoid delays, you should only send them one email.
For specific questions related to your unemployment claim, you should give your full name and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
How to Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania
Was your claim for unemployment denied? If this is the case then you will have fifteen days to appeal that decision. The appeal that you make must be in writing. You can make it in letter format.
You will then need to email or mail to the Department of Labor & Industry to the address that is written in the notice of your denial.
After your request for an appeal is received, a hearing is going to be scheduled before an administrative official. This official is referred to as a referee.
The referee is going to see evidence from both you and your employer and issue a written decision. If you do not agree with the referee’s decision then you can appeal to the Board of Review. You will need to do this by the date that is stated in the referee’s notice of decision.
If you don’t agree with the decision by the Board of Review then you will have one month to appeal to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
The Department of Labor & Industry will provide you with more information on this whole process at their website. You can read more here to learn more about applying for unemployment benefits.
The Importance of Knowing About Unemployment in Pennsylvania
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now understand what to expect when it comes to unemployment in Pennsylvania. As we can see, there are several processes that you need to follow in order to make sure that everything goes smoothly. But if you have a problem, you also now know how to solve that issue.
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