Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionHow do I know if I should apply for "regular" unemployment compensation (UC) or for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)?
You should file for regular UC if you have an employer and
- you have been laid off, or
- your hours have been reduced through no fault of your own, or
- you cannot work because a medical or public official has directed you to quarantine or self-isolate because of COVID-19 exposure, symptoms, or a positive diagnosis; or
- you are caring for someone who is suspected of having or has tested positive for COVID-19.
You should file for PUA if you are ineligible for regular UC because you have lost income due to COVID-19 and
- are self-employed, or
- are seeking part-time work, or
- lack sufficient work history, or
- have exhausted all rights to regular UC or extended benefits.
How do I know if I am eligible for PUA?
You may be eligible for PUA if you are self-employed, do not have sufficient work history to qualify for regular UC, or have exhausted your rights to regular UC benefits or extended benefits.
PUA provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to covered individuals who are not eligible for regular UC and who are otherwise able and available to work except that they are unemployed, partially employed, or because of any one of the following COVID-19-related reasons:
You have been diagnosed with or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and are seeking a medical diagnosis;
A member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
You are providing care for a family member or a member of your household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
Your child or other person in the household for whom you are the primary caregiver is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that school or facility care is required for you to work;
You are unable to reach your place of employment because of a quarantine or stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
You are unable to reach your place of employment because you have been advised by a health care provider to self-isolate or quarantine because you are positive for or may have had exposure to someone who has or is suspected of having COVID-19;
You were scheduled to start a new job and do not have an existing job or are unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
You have become the breadwinner/major supporter for a household because the head of your household has died as a direct result of COVID-19;
You had to quit your job due to being diagnosed with COVID-19 and being unable to perform your work duties;
Your place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You worked as an independent contractor with reportable income and COVID-19 has severely limited your ability to continue performing your work activities and/ or has forced you to suspend such activities for one of the above COVID-19 reasons.
For example, a driver for a ridesharing service and who receives an IRS Form 1099 from the ridesharing service.
Clergy and those working for religious organizations who provide documentation to support one of the COVID-19 reasons.
Other workers who may not be covered by the regular UC program under Pennsylvania law and provide documentation to support one of the COVID-19 reasons.
An application specific for PUA claims is available a www.uc.pa.gov, select "File for PUA."
How do I determine if I am "self-employed"?
Federal guidelines for PUA define "self-employed individuals" as those whose primary reliance for income is on the performance of services in the individual's own business or on the individual's own farm.
For the purposes of PUA, "self-employed" includes independent contractors, gig economy workers, and workers for certain religious entities.
In Pennsylvania, the determination of whether you are an "employee" or an "independent contractor" depends on the conditions of your work, not on what your employer tells you or how your employer has classified you.
To be considered an independent contractor, both of the following must be shown to the satisfaction of the department:
The individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of the services involved, both under the contract of service and in fact, and
As to such services, the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business.
If an individual performs services in the construction industry, the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act (Act 72), imposes additional criteria that must be met for the individual to be recognized as an independent contractor. Under Act 72, all of the following requirements must be satisfied:
The individual has a written contract to perform the services,
The individual is free from control or direction over the performance of the services involved both under the contract of service and in fact, and
As to such services, the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business.
I have never worked before. Am I eligible for PUA?
You may be eligible for PUA even if you have never worked before and
you were scheduled to commence employment and do not have a job or are unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency; OR
your job offer was rescinded because of COVID-19; OR
you have become the breadwinner or major supporter for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19.
I am a small business owner. Am I eligible for PUA?
Yes, you may be eligible for PUA if your primary source of income is from work you do for your own business or on your own farm.
How will my weekly benefit amount be calculated if I don't provide proof of base period wages?
If an you do not provide proof of base period wages (calendar year 2019 wages), your weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on whichever is higher - the record of wages already on file or the minimum PUA weekly benefit amount.
You may submit additional documentation at any time during the Pandemic Assistance Period to substantiate wages earned or paid during your base period.
How much will I receive in PUA benefits?
The amount of PUA benefits you will receive is based on your previous income reported. PUA benefits may not be more than the state's maximum weekly benefit rate for regular UC, which is $572 in Pennsylvania. PUA benefits may not be less than half of the state's average weekly benefit amount. In Pennsylvania, the minimum PUA payment is $195.
All individuals collecting PUA will receive $600 per week from Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), in addition to weekly benefits as calculated above. FPUC payments will begin the week ending April 4, 2020. The last week that FPUC is payable is the week ending July 25, 2020.
I already filed a "regular" UC claim, but it looks like I'm eligible under PUA. What should I do?
If you believe you are eligible for PUA and have already filed a UC claim, you may be denied from regular UC. A denial from regular UC will not affect your eligibility for PUA, which was created specifically for individuals who are not eligible for regular UC. You can file for PUA through the application created specifically for PUA claimants.
Am I eligible for the extra $600 a week that people collecting UC receive?
Yes, if you are eligible for PUA you are also eligible for $600 per week under the FPUC program.
PUA provides benefits for up to 39 weeks for weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 27, 2020. PUA payments will not be made for weeks of unemployment after December 31, 2020. No additional forms or applications are required for FPUC. The $600 per week additional payment will be automatically added to your PUA benefit.
How long will these benefits be available?
The maximum length of time a person may collect PUA benefits is 39 weeks. Eligibility is based on your unemployment caused by one or more of the reasons listed in the FAQ "How do I know if I am eligible for PUA?"
PUA Benefits will no longer be available after the week of December 25, 2020. The last week the FPUC is payable is the week ending July 25, 2020.
I'm able to telework. Can I collect benefits under PUA?
No. If you are able to telework with pay or declined an option to telework for the same number of hours, you are not eligible for PUA.
My hours have been reduced. Can I collect benefits under PUA?
If you are working fewer hours due to COVID-19 and it has resulted in a loss in income, and you are not eligible for regular UC, you may be eligible for PUA.
My employer remains open, but I am on paid leave. Should I file for PUA instead?
If you are receiving paid sick leave or other leave benefits, you are not eligible for PUA.
If you exhaust your paid leave but are unable to work for one or more of the COVID-19 related reasons listed in the FAQ "What kind of documentation do I need for my PUA claim?," you may be eligible for regular UC or PUA at that time.
Am I eligible for PUA if I had to quit my job because I tested positive for COVID-19 or was being treated by a medical professional for COVID-19 symptoms and could not telework or otherwise continue work activities?
Yes, you may be eligible for PUA in this situation.
Am I eligible for PUA if I had to quit my job because I came in direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been diagnosed by a medical professional as having COVID-19, and, on the advice of a qualified medical health professional I was required to resign from my job in order to quarantine?
Yes, you may be eligible for PUA in this situation.
I work in the gig economy. Am I eligible for PUA?
Yes, gig workers with reportable income may be eligible if:
You are unemployed, partially employed, or unable or unavailable to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely limited your ability to continue performing your customary work activities and you have had to suspend your work
Federal guidelines include specific eligibility criteria to gig workers who otherwise may not meet the eligibility requirements as "covered individuals" under PUA.
I am self-employed and my income and hours have declined greatly because of COVID-19. Am I eligible for PUA?
Self-employed individuals, independent contractors, or gig workers who are unable to work because of COVID-19 and have had to suspend their work may be eligible for PUA.
I am self-employed. While I was working, I was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Am I eligible for PUA?
Self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and gig workers who are unable to work because of COVID-19 may be eligible for PUA. To learn more about eligibility requirements for PUA, please refer to the FAQ "How do I know if I am eligible for PUA?"
I have penalty weeks to serve on my UC claim. Am I eligible to receive PUA benefits while not receiving any UC payment?
You may be eligible for PUA benefits if you remained totally or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 reasons and you are ineligible for UC benefits. The US Department of Labor informed Pennsylvania that individuals serving penalty weeks on UC, PEUC, or EB cannot be eligible for PUA payments for the same weeks. If you are in this situation and you opened a PUA claim in anticipation of the PUA benefits being available, simply stop filing weekly PUA claims to prevent your PUA overpayment from becoming larger. If you are otherwise unemployed, you should continue filing for your regular UC (or PEUC or EB) benefits in order to serve the penalty weeks.