Eligibility
Any unemployed person can file a claim for UC benefits. Eligibility is determined by L&I after you apply — based on your earnings, employment history, and separation from work.
L&I will evaluate the following:
Financial Eligibility — based on wages earned and work duration, as reported by your past employers. A Financial Determination will be issued according to your communication preference.
Benefit Eligibility — whether you lost work through no fault of your own. Your employer will be allowed to provide detailed information regarding your separation.
Maintaining Eligibility — you must be able, available, and actively seeking work. You must not refuse any suitable offers of work. You must participate in any mandatory reemployment services, such as work registration and the RESEA program.
Tips for Filing
Have documents ready — including your last employer’s name, address, phone, and dates of employment.
- Always provide accurate information — incorrect or fraudulent details can delay processing or lead to penalties.
- Review the Initial Claims Requirment Checklist on this guide.
What happens after you file an application
If you file online, you’ll receive a confirmation page at the end of the online application and a confirmation email. This email will include the date you will need to file your continued claim — also called your weekly certification.
No matter what day of the week you submit your initial claim, it will be effective on Sunday. Your initial claim will remain active for one year, and between 18 and 26 full weeks of benefit payments will be available if you are eligible for benefits.
After your initial claim is filed, you must file a weekly certification for every week you want benefits (online or by phone).
You’ll get a confirmation letter. It will come either to your UC Message Center or via postal mail. It will give you important information, including your effective date. Claims are valid for 52 weeks.
Keep this letter in a safe place. It states your financial eligibility. Financial determination letters are typically received within three business days via your UC Dashboard communication preference.
If you have a question or need help managing your claim, there are multiple ways to reach the UC team:
- UC staff are available by phone Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call us at 888-313-7284.
- You can contact us by email any time: uchelp@pa.gov.
- You can chat online with UC representatives on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- For claimants who communicate with American Sign Language (ASL), videophone service is available every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. Call 717-704-8474.
- For individuals with hearing or speech difficulties, use a TTY device to text 888-334-4046.
PAULA Virtual Assistance
PAULA provides general information about the unemployment program. For questions or concerns about unemployment compensation, please call PAULA virtual assistance at (833) 755-0882.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every claimant's situation is different, but there are some questions that we hear often.
UC eligibility cannot be predetermined. Your eligibility will be based on the information provided by you and your employer(s) after you file an application for benefits.
The Pennsylvania UC Law establishes various requirements for eligibility for UC benefits. Among them are the following:
- You must have sufficient qualifying wages and a minimum of 18 credit weeks in your base year.
- You must have a qualifying separation.
- And, you must be able and available to accept suitable work and not refuse work when offered.
The first week of the benefit year that you are unemployed and otherwise eligible for benefits is called the "waiting week." Benefits are not payable for the waiting week, but you must file a weekly certification for that week in order to be paid benefits for any claim weeks after your waiting week.
A credit week is any week within the base year that you earned at least $116.
You need to have a minimum of 18 credit weeks in your base year to be eligible for any amount of benefits.
When you are granted benefits, your benefit year provides you with a 52-week period beginning with the date of your application for UC benefits. If you claim the full amount for each week, you will receive your maximum allowance of benefits in 18-26 weeks. If you receive partial benefits due to part-time earnings, the duration of your claim can extend beyond 26 weeks. Benefits end when your balance is exhausted, or your benefit year ends -- whichever happens first.
If your benefit year ends, and you worked during your 52-week benefit year, you can reapply. Your financial eligibility will be redetermined.
If you are eligible for benefits, you should receive your first benefit payment within two weeks after the effective date of your application, provided you file your weekly certifications on time.
Moving forward, you’ll receive payment within two to three days after filing your weekly certification.
Language services
L&I's Office of Unemployment Compensation (UC) provides a variety of language services, free of charge, to assist claimants who speak a language other than English.