
How to tell if you are eligible for unemployment benefits?
You must be:
- Physically able to work.
- Available for work.
- Ready and willing to accept work immediately.
How much is the maximum unemployment benefit?
- A personal medical illness or injury prevented you from working
- You are caring for a minor child who has a medical illness
- You are caring for a terminally ill spouse
- You have documented cases of sexual assault, family violence or stalking
- You entered Commission-Approved Training and the job is not considered suitable under Section 20
What are the maximum unemployment benefits?
You may be eligible for the dependency allowance if you are the main support for any child who is:
- Under the age of 18
- Under the age of 24 and a full-time student at an educational institution
- Over the age of 18 and incapacitated due to a mental or physical disability
How much does unemployment benefits pay?
These types of income have to be reported:
- Holiday Pay
- Vacation Pay
- Sick Pay
- Paid Time Off
- Bonus Pay
- Lump Sum Separation Pay
- Periodic Separation Pay
- Pay earned by participating in military drills
- Retirement Pay

How do you calculate credit weeks for unemployment in PA?
Credit Weeks A credit week is any calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) within the base year in which an individual earned $116 or more, no matter when paid. You may have only one credit week per calendar week.
How are partial unemployment benefits calculated in PA?
You may work part-time and possibly receive an unemployment benefit for the week. Payment amount is determined using your “partial benefit credit,” (PBC) which is 30% of your weekly benefit rate (WBR). Your WBR and your PBC are added together, and then any earnings you report are subtracted from that total.
How is Pua calculated in Pennsylvania?
How is the PUA weekly benefit amount calculated? The PUA WBA is determined by comparing your high quarter income and total base-year income with the table used to determine financial eligibility and benefit rate for regular PA unemployment compensation. Your WBA will be based on your high quarter income.
How much money can you make and still collect unemployment in PA?
Under the Pennsylvania UC law, you can work part-time and earn up to 30 percent of your WBR in each claim week before your part-time earnings affect your UC weekly benefit payment.
What is the unemployment formula?
In general, the unemployment rate in the United States is obtained by dividing the number of unemployed persons by the number of persons in the labor force (employed or unemployed) and multiplying that figure by 100.
Did Pua get extended in PA?
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provided up to 79 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits due to COVID-19. PUA benefits ceased on September 4, 2021.
What does monetarily ineligible mean for Pua in PA?
In order to be eligible to receive unemployment benefits, you must have sufficient earnings in your base period from a covered employer. The base period is defined as the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. Without sufficient earnings, you will not be eligible to receive benefits.
Is pandemic unemployment still available?
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was a social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who lost all their employment due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The PUP scheme is closed.
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in PA for 2021?
$572Amount and Duration of Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania Your weekly benefit amount will be about 50% of your average weekly wages, subject to a weekly maximum of $572 (or $580 with dependents). Benefits are available for up to 26 weeks.
Do you have to pay back unemployment during Covid 19?
States tried clawing back overpayments from hundreds of thousands of people earlier in the pandemic. Labor Department officials issued initial rules in May 2021 that let states waive collection in some cases and asked states to refund any amounts already collected toward the overpayment.
How much unemployment will I get?
The unemployment benefit calculator will provide you with an estimate of your weekly benefit amount, which can range from $40 to $450 per week. Once you submit your application, we will verify your eligibility and wage information to determine your weekly benefit amount.
What is weekly benefit rate?
Your Weekly Benefit Rate is the amount you can receive if you are eligible for benefits for a week and your benefits are not reduced for any reason. Your Weekly Benefit Rate is calculated based on the wages you were paid in your base year. You must determine the total gross wages received during your base-year period and how much you received ...
How many weeks can you get UC benefits?
However, you can receive an allowance for dependents only for the number of weeks corresponding to your maximum benefit amount (i.e., between 18 and 26 weeks).
How much is the dependent allowance?
If you are eligible for benefits, you may receive an additional $5 weekly for a dependent spouse plus $3 weekly for one dependent child. If you have no dependent spouse, you can receive $5 weekly for one dependent child, plus $3 weekly for a second dependent child.
What is the high quarter of your paycheck?
The quarter in which you were paid the most money is known as your High Quarter. The High Quarter determines your Weekly Benefit Rate. However, it is not the only determining factor.
How much of your wages must have been paid in one or more quarters other than your high quarter?
To be eligible, at least 37 percent of the total qualifying wage (as in Part C of the Rate and Amount of Benefits Chart ) must have been paid in one or more quarters other than in your High Quarter.
How much qualifying wages are needed for a high quarter?
For instance, if your High Quarter was $1688, you must have at least $2,718 total qualifying wages in the base year.
How long does it take to get a biweekly unemployment claim in Pennsylvania?
It can take up to four to six weeks to receive the approval of your first biweekly claim.
How long does it take to get your first unemployment payment?
Here’s how you can calculate your weekly benefit rate. If you are eligible for benefits, you should receive your first benefit payment within four weeks after the effective date of your application, provided you file your biweekly claims on time.
How long do you have to file a biweekly claim?
The compensable week ending (CWE) date is always a Saturday. In most cases, you will file claims for two weeks at one time. This is called a “biweekly claim”. Although you will file for two weeks at a time, you will certify your eligibility for each week separately.
How often do you have to file a claim for unemployment?
After you have filed your initial application for UC benefits or reopened an existing application, you must file a claim for each week in which you are totally or partially unemployed.
How long does it take to receive a claim confirmation letter?
It will have your four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you will need to access your account AND file your biweekly claims.Claim confirmation letters are typically received within 7-10 business days via U.S. Postal Service.
Did Pennsylvania have low unemployment?
Before the pandemic, Pennsylvania had low unemployment with a near-record number of people working and the UC office was appropriately staffed for those conditions.
Who administers Pennsylvania unemployment benefits?
Unemployment compensation benefits are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Office of Unemployment Compensation, the state government agency that helps Pennsylvanian job seekers and workers.
How many weeks is MBA unemployment?
The calculator indicates your total maximum benefit amount for unemployment benefits. Your MBA is your credit weeks (up to a maximum of 26 weeks) multiplied by your WBR. Although the calculator does not take this into account, your MBA may be reduced by other payments received as well as other factors.
How many weeks do you have to work to get a credit?
These are your “credit weeks.”. You must have earned at least $116 in a week for that week to count. You must have worked at least 18 weeks to qualify for benefits. Your maximum benefit amount (MBA) is also affected by your credit weeks.
How long can you collect unemployment?
State benefits are typically paid for a maximum of 26 weeks. Some states provide benefits for a lower number of weeks, and maximum benefits also vary based on where you live. In times of high unemployment, additional weeks of unemployment compensation may be available. Regardless of how much you make, you never can collect more than ...
What percentage of unemployment is taxed?
Some states withhold a percentage of your unemployment benefits to cover taxes—typically 10%. If the option to have taxes withheld is available, you will be notified when you sign up for unemployment.
How long do you get unemployment if you are laid off?
The amount you receive depends on your weekly earnings prior to being laid off and on the maximum amount of unemployment benefits paid to each worker. In many states, you will be compensated for half of your earnings, up to a certain maximum. State benefits are typically paid for a maximum of 26 weeks. Some states provide benefits ...
What does it mean to be ineligible for unemployment?
It typically means you are ineligible if you quit—although there are exceptions, like if you quit because of impossible work conditions. If you are fired for cause, you also are likely ineligible. You also have to have been employed for a minimum amount of time or have earned a minimum amount in compensation.
Is unemployment taxable income?
Taxes on Unemployment. Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income, and the unemployment compensation you receive must be reported when you file your federal and state tax returns. 2 . Both state unemployment benefits and federally funded extended benefits are considered income and must be reported when you file your federal ...
How to calculate unemployment weekly?
To calculate your weekly benefits amount, you should: Work out your base period for calculating unemployment. Take a look at the base period where you received the highest pay. Calculate the highest quarter earnings with a calculator. Calculate what your weekly benefits would be if you have another job. Calculate your unemployment benefits ...
How long does it take to get unemployment?
If eligible for unemployment benefits, you can expect to receive your first payment within 3-4 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. In general, it takes approximately 3 weeks to process a claim; however, you will still need to claim benefits every week. The information you need before filing a claim:
What happens if you work while receiving unemployment?
In case you earn an income while receiving benefits, they would reduce the amount of benefits that you receive. If you work temporarily then you must report those earnings to the state unemployment agency and they will determine how much of the unemployment benefits would be reduced.
How long does unemployment last?
This is beneficial for those that are out of work for a long period. The maximum benefits duration has increased from 26 to 99 weeks in some states.
How to file a weekly claim?
You can file your weekly claim: Through the Internet – You can file your weekly claim online. You must have a User ID and PIN in order to file your weekly claim online. By phone – You must call the number given to you during the registration process.
Do higher wages get a larger benefit check?
In a way, this would be up to a cap that is tied to the average earnings in that state. So the employees with a higher wage would receive a larger benefits check but it is still a percentage of what they used to earn. The amount that an employee would receive differs from each state.
Can I file unemployment if I received severance pay?
Have your entire information ready before filing your claim. If you have received severance pay upon your separation from work, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits. So it is still important to call and file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
What does it mean when your unemployment payment is zero?
If your payment for the week is zero, it means you are not eligible to receive a benefit for the week because you had excessive earnings, meaning you are not considered unemployed that week .
What is partial benefit credit?
Partial Benefit Credit: Working Part-time. You may work part-time and possibly receive an unemployment benefit for the week. Payment amount is determined using your “partial benefit credit,” (PBC) which is 30% of your weekly benefit rate (WBR).
Can you use your own calendar to calculate unemployment?
Do not use any other combination of days to calculate your earnings. The days your employer includes in your paychecks or which day they typically pay you is not relevant for unemployment purposes. You must use your own calendar to track the work you do from Sunday through Saturday each week.
