UC is money paid to people who have lost a job through no fault of their own. It is temporary income meant to help make ends meet while people look for a job.
UC Amnesty
IMPORTANT SEQUESTRATION NOTICE
Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation Payments to be Reduced
As a result of mandatory sequestration, federal emergency unemployment compensation, or EUC, benefits for Pennsylvanians will be reduced effective with benefits paid for the week ending April 6.
The maximum benefit entitlement of EUC will be reduced by 10.7 percent for all payments for weeks that begin on or after March 31 through Sept. 28, 2013.
Labor & Industry is mailing notifications to individuals affected by this reduction.
Pennsylvania's New Debit Card for UC Cardholders -- Updated March 15, 2013
From March 4 through March 11, individuals who have received unemployment compensation (UC) benefits via their blue debit card (EPPICard) will be mailed a new gold Chase debit card, which should be activated immediately using the instructions enclosed with the debit card.
Read more about Pennsylvania's New Debit Card.
NOTICE: UC Changes as of January 1, 2013
In accordance with Act 60, changes to UC law are going into effect on Jan. 1, 2013. These changes will affect claimants with an AB date on or after Jan. 6, 2013. Several of these changes will affect a large number of claimants.
Some highlights of the changes:
A claimant now must have a minimum of 18 credit weeks in order to be eligible for any amount of benefits. A credit week is now defined as a week in the base year in which the claimant was paid at least $100, whereas previously it was $50.
The minimum weekly benefit rate is now $70.
A Partial Benefit Credit is equal to 30 percent of the claimant’s weekly benefit rate, rather than the previous 40 percent.
49.5 percent of a claimant’s total base year wages must be paid in one or more quarters other than the high quarter for a claimant to be eligible for benefits.
For calendar year 2013 – 2019, the maximum weekly benefit rate will hold at $573.
Detailed information on all Act 60 changes will be provided with all Notices of Financial Determinations. View the Act 60 frequently asked questions.
UC Claimant Fax Line
If you are having trouble getting through on the UC telephone lines, download the fax cover sheet, complete and fax your question to the UC service centers at 717-525-5160. A UC service center representative will call you to resolve your issue. Please be sure to fill in all of the information on the fax cover sheet or you will not receive a return call. If you choose to send a fax, please do not call the UC service center or send another fax until you receive a call from a UC service center representative.
If you received a letter stating that your UC debt has been recovered through the federal Treasury Offset Program (TOP), and you have a question or concern, you MUST call Benefit Payment Control at 717-787-4621. Do not call the UC service centers for information on this program. The service centers do not administer the TOP program and cannot provide you with any TOP information. Benefit Payment Control is to be called for TOP purposes only. If you need to open a UC claim, reopen a claim, or have questions regarding your claim, you must call 1-888-313-7284.
JobGateway SM
To be eligible for UC or emergency unemployment compensation, or EUC, claimants must register for employment-search services within 30 days after filing an application for benefits. Claimants now have a new resource to complete this registration requirement and to search for available jobs: JobGateway SM .
Complete your registration and get a head start on returning to work by visiting JobGateway SM - www.jobgateway.pa.gov - and create a free, secure account right now.
Please note: Claimants cannot file for UC at the JobGateway. UC claims in Pennsylvania can only be filed through this website or by calling the UC service center.
May 23, 2013 Memorial Day Service Information On Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27, 2013, online services and Pennsylvania Teleclaims, or PAT, will be available. However, services through 888-313-7284 will not be available in observance of the holiday.Read More
April 19, 2013 Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 7.9 percent in March The state’s unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.9 percent in March according to employment statistics released today by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.Read More
February 12, 2013 Presidents’ Day Service Information On Feb. 18, 2013, online services and Pennsylvania Teleclaims (PAT) will be available. However, services through 888-313-7284 will not be available in observance of the holiday.Read More
