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
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Website |
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Private Website |
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Phone |
888-313-7284 |
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UChelp@pa.gov |
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Apply Online |
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Weekly Certification |
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Appeal a Denial |
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Find a Local Office |
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Report Fraud |
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Coronavirus Updates |
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:
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Sufficient qualifying income and a minimum of 18 credit weeks within the base year
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A qualifying separation – meaning the claimant lost employment through no fault of his/her own or left employment with good cause
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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
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Base Period |
First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters |
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Alt Base Period |
Last 4 completed quarters |
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Duration of Benefits |
Weekly Payment |
Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year) |
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Min |
Max |
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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:
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Online submission: Complete the online application using Pennsylvania’s secure website
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Telephone claim: Use the statewide unemployment compensation toll-free number at 888-313-7284 to file your unemployment claim
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Mail: Submit a paper application by mail to an Unemployment Compensation service center.
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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
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Unemployment Office – Lehigh Valley |
555 Union Boulevard Allentown, PA 18109 |
610-437-5627 |
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Unemployment Office – Blair County |
1600 5th Ave Suite 200 Altoona, PA 16602 |
814-940-6200 |
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Unemployment Office – Bedford County |
1 Corporate Drive Suite 103 Bedford, PA 15522 |
814-623-6107 |
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Unemployment Office Centre County |
240 Match Factory Place Bellefonte, PA 16823 |
814-548-7587 |
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Unemployment Office – Columbia/Montour County |
415 Central Road Suite 2 Bloomsburg, PA 17815 |
570-387-6288 |
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Unemployment Office – McKean County |
40 Davis Street Bradford, PA 16701 |
814-363-9100 |
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Unemployment Office – Bucks County at Bristol |
1260 Veterans Highway Bristol, PA 19007 |
215-781-1073 |
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Unemployment Office – Butler County |
112 Hollywood Drive Suite 203 Butler, PA 16001 |
724-431-4000 |
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Unemployment Office – Cumberland County |
1 Alexandra Court Carlisle, PA 17015 |
717-243-4431 |
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Unemployment Office – Franklin County |
600 Norland Avenue Chambersburg, PA 17201 |
717-264-4584 |
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Unemployment Office – Chester City |
701 Crosby Street Suite B Chester, PA 19013 |
610-447-3350 |
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Unemployment Office – Clearfield County at Clearfield |
1125 Linden Street Suite 2 Clearfield, PA 16830 |
814-765-8118 |
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Unemployment Office – Potter County |
279 Rt 6 West Coudersport, PA 16915 |
814-274-9330 |
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Unemployment Office – Mon Valley |
570 Galiffa Drive Donora Industrial Park Donora, PA 15033 |
724-379-4750 |
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Unemployment Office – Clearfield County at DuBois |
602 West DuBois Ave Unit # 1 Dubois, PA 15801 |
814-371-0250 |
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Unemployment Office – Erie County |
1647 Sassafras Street Erie, PA 16502 |
814-455-9966 |
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Unemployment Office – Chester County |
479 Thomas Jones Way Suite 500 Exton, PA 19341 |
610-280-1010 |
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Unemployment Office – Adams County |
150 V-Twin Drive Gettysburg, PA 17325 |
717-334-1173 |
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Unemployment Office – Capitol Region |
100 N Cameron Street Suite 101 Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
717-783-3270 |
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Unemployment Office – Luzerne County |
75 North Laurel Street Hazleton, PA 18201 |
570-459-3854 |
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Unemployment Office Wayne County |
650 1/2 W Park St. Honesdale, PA 18431 |
570-229-3420 |
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Unemployment Office – Huntingdon County |
54 Pennsylvania Avenue Huntingdon, PA 16652-1299 |
814-641-6408 |
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Unemployment Office – Indiana County |
300 Indian Springs Road Indiana, PA 15701 |
724-471-7220 |
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Unemployment Office – Cambria County |
248 Main Street Suite 100 Johnstown, PA 15901 |
814-534-2500 |
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Unemployment Office – Armstrong County |
11931 State Route 85 Suite E Kittanning, PA 16201 |
724-548-5693 |
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Unemployment Office – Lancaster County |
1016 North Charlotte Street Lancaster, PA 17603-2764 |
717-509-5613 |
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Unemployment Office – Lebanon County |
243 Schneider Drive Lebanon, PA 17046-4875 |
717-274-2554 |
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Unemployment Office – Fayette County |
112 Commonwealth Drive Lemont Furnace, PA 15456 |
724-434-5627 |
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Unemployment Office – Lewistown |
6395 SR 103 North MCIDC Plaza Building 58 Lewistown, PA 17044 |
717-248-4942 |
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Unemployment Office – Clinton County |
8 North Grove Street Suite F Lock Haven, PA 17745 |
570-893-4022 |
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Employment & Training Inc. Fulton Site |
122 West Market Street Suite 100 Mcconnellsburg, PA 17233 |
717-485-5131 |
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Unemployment Office – Delaware County |
901 Media Line Road Media, PA 19063 |
610-723-1220 |
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Unemployment Office – Beaver County |
285 Beaver Valley Mall Route 18 Monaca, PA 15061 |
724-728-4860 |
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Unemployment Office – Carbon County |
50 E Locust St Nesquehoning, PA 18240 |
570-325-2701 |
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Unemployment Office – Lawrence County |
101 South Mercer Street Suite 101 New Castle, PA 16101 |
724-656-3165 |
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Unemployment Office – Alle-Kiski |
1150 5th Avenue Suite 200 New Kensington, PA 15068 |
724-334-8600 |
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Unemployment Office – Montgomery County |
1430 DeKalb Street Norristown, PA 19401 |
610-270-3429 |
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Unemployment Office – Oil Region |
255 Elm Street Suite 1 Oil City, PA 16301-1412 |
814-678-5050 |
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Unemployment Office – Northwest Philadelphia |
5847 Germantown Ave Philadelphia, PA 19144 |
215-978-6503 |
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Unemployment Office – Suburban Station |
1617 JFK Boulevard Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
215-557-2592 |
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Unemployment Office – West Philadelphia |
3901 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 |
215-473-3630 |
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Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center |
5321 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224 |
412-362-8580 |
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Unemployment Office – Allegheny East |
2040 Ardmore Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15221 |
412-436-2225 |
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Unemployment Office – Downtown Pittsburgh |
304 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
412-552-7100 |
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Unemployment Office – Schuylkill County |
201 – 203 East Arch Street Pottsville, PA 17901 |
570-622-5253 |
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Unemployment Office – Jefferson County |
103 East Union Street Suite 2 Punxsutawney, PA 15767 |
814-938-0504 |
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Unemployment Office – Berks County |
1920 Kutztown Road Suite F Reading, PA 19604 |
610-988-1300 |
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Unemployment Office – Lackawanna County |
135 Franklin Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 |
570-963-4671 |
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Unemployment Office – Mercer County |
217 West State Street Sharon, PA 16146 |
724-347-9257 |
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Pike County Workforce Development Agency |
837 Route 6 Unit 2 Shohola, PA 18458 |
570-296-2909 |
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Unemployment Office – Somerset County |
6022 Glades Pike Suite 100 Somerset, PA 15501-1461 |
814-445-4161 |
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Somerset County Office of Veterans Services |
300 North Center Avenue Ste. 380 Somerset, PA 15501 |
814-445-1551 |
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Unemployment Office – Elk County |
245 Depot Street St. Marys, PA 15857 |
814-834-2857 |
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Unemployment Office – Sunbury |
225 Market Street Sunbury, PA 17801 |
570-988-7300 |
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Unemployment Office – Susquehanna County |
1302 Main St Susquehanna, PA 18847 |
570-853-1103 |
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nemployment Office – Monroe County |
P.O. box 869, 2937 Route 611 Merchants Plaza Tannersville, PA 18372-0789 |
570-620-2850 |
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Unemployment Office – Bradford/Sullivan Counties |
312 Main Street Suite 1 Towanda, PA 18848-1844 |
570-265-2171 |
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Unemployment Office – Wyoming County |
1 Kim Avenue Warner Complex Suite 10 Tunkhannock, PA 18657 |
570-836-6840 |
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Unemployment Office – Washington County |
90 West Chestnut Street Suite 150 LL Washington, PA 15301 |
724-223-4500 |
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Unemployment Office – Greene County |
200 Greene Plaza Waynesburg, PA 15370-1324 |
724-852-2900 |
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Unemployment Office – Tioga County |
56 Plaza Lane Wellsboro, PA 16901-1763 |
570-724-1939 |
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Unemployment Office – Wilkes-Barre |
32 East Union Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 |
570-822-1101 |
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Unemployment Office – Lycoming County |
329 Pine Street Williamsport, PA 17701 |
570-601-5465 |
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Unemployment Office – York County |
841 Vogelsong Road York, PA 17404-0868 |
717-767-7600 |
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Unemployment Office – Youngwood |
151 Pavilion Lane Youngwood, PA 15697-1814 |
724-755-2330 |
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