* This site is privately owned and is not affiliated or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Pennsylvania Unemployment

Understanding Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Insurance Benefits

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry provides unemployment insurance benefits to temporarily help out-of-work Pennsylvania workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. 

Pennsylvania unemployment benefits are designed as a temporary stop-gap to help provide financial stability while a worker looks for a new job. Such examples include the Unemployment Compensation Board in the state of Pennsylvania. Under UC Law, this allows unemployed individuals the opportunity to file an unemployment claim and receive benefits if the worker is eligible. Listed below is the Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits Office to reach out and learn more about your UC benefits.

Pennsylvania Unemployment Services

Website

https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits

Private Website

Pennsylvania Unemployment

Phone

888-313-7284

Email

UChelp@pa.gov

Apply Online

https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file

Weekly Certification

File a Weekly Claim

Appeal a Denial

File an Appeal

Find a Local Office

https://www.dli.pa.gov/regional-services

Report Fraud

https://www.uc.pa.gov/Pages/Report-Fraud-Here.aspx

Coronavirus Updates

https://www.pa.gov/guides/get-vaccinated/

How To Qualify for Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits

Individual eligibility cannot be determined until a claimant files an initial claim for review. However, most eligible claimants will be able to show the following eligibility requirements:

  • Sufficient qualifying income and a minimum of 18 credit weeks within the base year

  • A qualifying separation – meaning the claimant lost employment through no fault of his/her own or left employment with good cause

  • Willingness and availability to accept suitable work whenever it is offered

Once your initial unemployment compensation claim is submitted, your information will be reviewed and you will receive a decision as to your eligibility.

Benefit Payments and Duration

Base Period

First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters

Alt Base Period

Last 4 completed quarters

Duration of Benefits

Weekly Payment

Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year)

Min

Max

18-26 weeks

$68

$572

$14,872

How To Apply for Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits

To submit your initial claim for unemployment assistance, you may use any of the methods outlined below:

  • Online submission: Complete the online application using Pennsylvania’s secure website

  • Telephone claim: Use the statewide unemployment compensation toll-free number at 888-313-7284 to file your unemployment claim

  • Mail: Submit a paper application by mail to an Unemployment Compensation service center.

  • Videophone:  For individuals whose chief mode of communication is American Sign Language, video service is available every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. at 717-704-8474. Sign language is the ONLY means of communication provided through this method.

After submitting your unemployment claim, you will receive a confirmation letter within seven to 10 business days, which will include the Personal Identification Number you will need to check the claim status and file your biweekly claim.

Managing Your Unemployment Benefits

Once your initial claim is approved, you also are required to file a biweekly claim for unemployment compensation benefits you’d like to receive for the previous two weeks. As part of this process, you’ll answer questions related to any money earned in the previous weeks, activities related to your job search, and any job offers you’ve received since your last claim.

You can file your weekly claim online or use Pennsylvania Teleclaims by calling 888-255-4728.

Filing an Appeal in Pennsylvania

If you are unhappy with the decision regarding your initial unemployment claim, you have the right to file an appeal. You may submit a Request for Hearing online or by mail.

When requesting a hearing through the mail, you can use the appeal form that came with your determination letter, or you can write the letter yourself to the address that will appear on your determination letter.

Your determination letter will also include a fax number for appeals if you would prefer to send your request for appeal that way. You also may submit a request for appeal via email to UCAppeals@pa.gov.

You must appeal within 15 days of the date on which your determination letter was postmarked. At this point, your case will be reviewed by a Referee, who will issue a second determination. You then may appeal this decision to the Board of Appeals. All final appeals will be addressed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Reporting Fraud in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry takes all reports of unemployment compensation fraud very seriously. If you believe someone is fraudulently using your identity to collect unemployment compensation, you can report this activity using the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s secure online reporting form

You can also call Pennsylvania’s Fraud Hotline at 800-692-7469 and report fraud over the phone.

To report anyone you suspect of fraudulently receiving UI benefits, submit an Unemployment Claims Fraud form. This may include claimants who are working and not appropriately reporting wages or those who cannot work due to illness, disability, or incarceration.

Pennsylvania Unemployment Office Locations

Unemployment Office – Lehigh Valley

555 Union Boulevard

Allentown, PA 18109

610-437-5627

Unemployment Office – Blair County

1600 5th Ave

Suite 200

Altoona, PA 16602

814-940-6200

Unemployment Office – Bedford County

1 Corporate Drive

Suite 103

Bedford, PA 15522

814-623-6107

Unemployment Office Centre County

240 Match Factory Place

Bellefonte, PA 16823

814-548-7587

Unemployment Office – Columbia/Montour County

415 Central Road Suite 2

Bloomsburg, PA 17815

570-387-6288

Unemployment Office – McKean County

40 Davis Street

Bradford, PA 16701

814-363-9100

Unemployment Office – Bucks County at Bristol

1260 Veterans Highway

Bristol, PA 19007

215-781-1073

Unemployment Office – Butler County

112 Hollywood Drive

Suite 203

Butler, PA 16001

724-431-4000

Unemployment Office – Cumberland County

1 Alexandra Court

Carlisle, PA 17015

717-243-4431

Unemployment Office – Franklin County

600 Norland Avenue

Chambersburg, PA 17201

717-264-4584

Unemployment Office – Chester City

701 Crosby Street

Suite B

Chester, PA 19013

610-447-3350

Unemployment Office – Clearfield County at Clearfield

1125 Linden Street

Suite 2

Clearfield, PA 16830

814-765-8118

Unemployment Office – Potter County

279 Rt 6 West

Coudersport, PA 16915

814-274-9330

Unemployment Office – Mon Valley

570 Galiffa Drive

Donora Industrial Park

Donora, PA 15033

724-379-4750

Unemployment Office – Clearfield County at DuBois

602 West DuBois Ave Unit # 1

Dubois, PA 15801

814-371-0250

Unemployment Office – Erie County

1647 Sassafras Street

Erie, PA 16502

814-455-9966

Unemployment Office – Chester County

479 Thomas Jones Way

Suite 500

Exton, PA 19341

610-280-1010

Unemployment Office – Adams County

150 V-Twin Drive

Gettysburg, PA 17325

717-334-1173

Unemployment Office – Capitol Region

100 N Cameron Street

Suite 101

Harrisburg, PA 17101

717-783-3270

Unemployment Office – Luzerne County

75 North Laurel Street

Hazleton, PA 18201

570-459-3854

Unemployment Office Wayne County

650 1/2 W Park St.

Honesdale, PA 18431

570-229-3420

Unemployment Office – Huntingdon County

54 Pennsylvania Avenue

Huntingdon, PA 16652-1299

814-641-6408

Unemployment Office – Indiana County

300 Indian Springs Road

Indiana, PA 15701

724-471-7220

Unemployment Office – Cambria County

248 Main Street Suite 100

Johnstown, PA 15901

814-534-2500

Unemployment Office – Armstrong County

11931 State Route 85 Suite E

Kittanning, PA 16201

724-548-5693

Unemployment Office – Lancaster County

1016 North Charlotte Street

Lancaster, PA 17603-2764

717-509-5613

Unemployment Office – Lebanon County

243 Schneider Drive

Lebanon, PA 17046-4875

717-274-2554

Unemployment Office – Fayette County

112 Commonwealth Drive

Lemont Furnace, PA 15456

724-434-5627

Unemployment Office – Lewistown

6395 SR 103 North

MCIDC Plaza Building 58

Lewistown, PA 17044

717-248-4942

Unemployment Office – Clinton County

8 North Grove Street

Suite F

Lock Haven, PA 17745

570-893-4022

Employment & Training Inc. Fulton Site

122 West Market Street

Suite 100

Mcconnellsburg, PA 17233

717-485-5131

Unemployment Office – Delaware County

901 Media Line Road

Media, PA 19063

610-723-1220

Unemployment Office – Beaver County

285 Beaver Valley Mall

Route 18

Monaca, PA 15061

724-728-4860

Unemployment Office – Carbon County

50 E Locust St

Nesquehoning, PA 18240

570-325-2701

Unemployment Office – Lawrence County

101 South Mercer Street

Suite 101

New Castle, PA 16101

724-656-3165

Unemployment Office – Alle-Kiski

1150 5th Avenue

Suite 200

New Kensington, PA 15068

724-334-8600

Unemployment Office – Montgomery County

1430 DeKalb Street

Norristown, PA 19401

610-270-3429

Unemployment Office – Oil Region

255 Elm Street Suite 1

Oil City, PA 16301-1412

814-678-5050

Unemployment Office – Northwest Philadelphia

5847 Germantown Ave

Philadelphia, PA 19144

215-978-6503

Unemployment Office – Suburban Station

1617 JFK Boulevard

Suite 200

Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-557-2592

Unemployment Office – West Philadelphia

3901 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

215-473-3630

Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center

5321 Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15224

412-362-8580

Unemployment Office – Allegheny East

2040 Ardmore Boulevard

Pittsburgh, PA 15221

412-436-2225

Unemployment Office – Downtown Pittsburgh

304 Wood Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412-552-7100

Unemployment Office – Schuylkill County

201 – 203 East Arch Street

Pottsville, PA 17901

570-622-5253

Unemployment Office – Jefferson County

103 East Union Street

Suite 2

Punxsutawney, PA 15767

814-938-0504

Unemployment Office – Berks County

1920 Kutztown Road Suite F

Reading, PA 19604

610-988-1300

Unemployment Office – Lackawanna County

135 Franklin Avenue

Scranton, PA 18503

570-963-4671

Unemployment Office – Mercer County

217 West State Street

Sharon, PA 16146

724-347-9257

Pike County Workforce Development Agency

837 Route 6 Unit 2

Shohola, PA 18458

570-296-2909

Unemployment Office – Somerset County

6022 Glades Pike

Suite 100

Somerset, PA 15501-1461

814-445-4161

Somerset County Office of  Veterans Services

300 North Center Avenue

Ste. 380

Somerset, PA 15501

814-445-1551

Unemployment Office – Elk County

245 Depot Street

St. Marys, PA 15857

814-834-2857

Unemployment Office – Sunbury

225 Market Street

Sunbury, PA 17801

570-988-7300

Unemployment Office – Susquehanna County

1302 Main St

Susquehanna, PA 18847

570-853-1103

nemployment Office – Monroe County

P.O. box 869, 2937 Route 611

Merchants Plaza

Tannersville, PA 18372-0789

570-620-2850

Unemployment Office – Bradford/Sullivan Counties

312 Main Street

Suite 1

Towanda, PA 18848-1844

570-265-2171

Unemployment Office – Wyoming County

1 Kim Avenue

Warner Complex Suite 10

Tunkhannock, PA 18657

570-836-6840

Unemployment Office – Washington County

90 West Chestnut Street

Suite 150 LL

Washington, PA 15301

724-223-4500

Unemployment Office – Greene County

200 Greene Plaza

Waynesburg, PA 15370-1324

724-852-2900

Unemployment Office – Tioga County

56 Plaza Lane

Wellsboro, PA 16901-1763

570-724-1939

Unemployment Office – Wilkes-Barre

32 East Union Street

Wilkes Barre, PA 18701

570-822-1101

Unemployment Office – Lycoming County

329 Pine Street

Williamsport, PA 17701

570-601-5465

Unemployment Office – York County

841 Vogelsong Road

York, PA 17404-0868

717-767-7600

Unemployment Office – Youngwood

151 Pavilion Lane

Youngwood, PA 15697-1814

724-755-2330

Author