Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center
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Pennsylvania
These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on August 13, 2020.
For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Pennsylvania, we recommend that you visit Responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, the United Way's COVID-19 Resources or the Pennsylvania Chamber's Business Resources for Coronavirus.
Description of Program and Relief
Unemployment Compensation Program
Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Program provides temporary wage replacement income to eligible individuals during periods of unemployment or partial employment. Program applicants must be unemployed through no fault of their own in order to be eligible to receive benefits. Successful applicants may receive benefits for the duration of their unemployment or partial employment (up to 26 weeks).
Unemployment compensation may be available to individuals affected by COVID-19. Specifically, benefits may be available to:
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An individual whose employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19;
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An individual whose hours are reduced by his/her employer because of COVID-19;
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An individual who has been told not to work because his/her employer feels the individual might get or spread COVID-19; or
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An individual who is told to quarantine or self-isolate, or lives/works in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts.
Individuals seeking such benefits must follow the standard application process (see below), however, they need not satisfy work search and work registration requirements that usually apply. Additionally, while claimants normally become eligible for benefits during their second week of unemployment, Pennsylvania has suspended this restriction and is allowing claimants to receive benefits for their first week of unemployment, as well.
Government or Lead Agency
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
Dates Available
Open indefinitely (but at this time, benefits are available for a maximum of 26 weeks)
Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions
Standard eligibility criteria apply, except for work search and work registration requirements, which currently are being waived. To satisfy these criteria, an applicant must show (1) financial eligibility (requiring sufficient earnings and weeks of work in the applicant’s employment history), and (2) that the unemployment or partial employment is not the applicant’s fault. Beyond these threshold requirements, applicants must maintain eligibility in order to receive benefits on a continuing basis.
Application Deadlines (If Applicable)
Individuals who have worked their full, regular hours for a particular work week and who wish to seek unemployment compensation should file an application the Sunday of that week. Individuals whose work schedules change mid-week due to COVID-19 should file an application as soon as possible.
Applications are available electronically and may be submitted online for faster processing.
Contact for More Information
Unemployment Compensation Program – Phone: 1-888-313-7284
Unemployment Compensation Program – Videophone (for ASL users): 717-704-8474
List of Additional Information
Online Application and Guide for Filing an Initial Claim:
Self-Service Step-by-Step Instructions:
Claimant FAQs:
Claim Filing Online Assistant:
© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.