Discuss the following benefits your employer may provide
Unemployment Compensation (UC) Benefits
If you are employed in Pennsylvania and are unable to work because of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), you may be eligible for Unemployment or Workers' Compensation benefits. The Department of Labor & Industry will continue to provide important employment benefit updates as the situation evolves.
You may be eligible if:
Your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19
Your employer reduces your hours because of COVID-19
You have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread COVID-19
You have been told to quarantine or self-isolate, or live/work in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts
Apply:
Important info:
If you are eligible for UC, you will receive two letters and a four-digit PIN
Your PIN will arrive in the U.S. mail – keep it in a safe, easy to remember place
If approved, your first benefit payment should arrive within four weeks of filing for UC
Continue filing your bi-weekly claim (every two weeks) – even while waiting for approval
We are experiencing very large call volumes. Please email us at uchelp@pa.gov, or via UC LiveChat.
(NEW) The Waiting Week is suspended. Previously, claimants were not eligible for benefits during their first week of unemployment (the "waiting week.") This has been suspended; eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed
(NEW) Work Search and Work Registration requirements are temporarily waived for all UC claimants. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain their UC benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with www.PACareerLink.gov.
At this time, benefits are not being extended beyond 26 weeks.
Important information for CLAIMANTS in BANKRUPCTY – DUE TO COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, regular mail collection to the Department of Labor & Industry may be delayed or interrupted for the next few weeks due to many commonwealth employees working from home. As a result, if you have sent the department a bankruptcy notice, it may not be reviewed in time to avoid sending you billing notices or automatically offsetting your benefits. To provide us with you bankruptcy notice in a timely fashion, please send information about your bankruptcy to the following resource account at RA-OUCB-BPC@pa.gov. If you are able, please attach a copy of any bankruptcy paperwork to the email to expedite processing. If you are unable to attach the bankruptcy notice, please include your name, bankruptcy number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number on the email.
We will make every effort to stop inappropriate collection efforts once we receive your email. If an amount is mistakenly taken by offset, a refund will be made as soon as possible.
Workers' Compensation (WC) Benefits
Two filing options:
· If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 in your workplace, you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation (WC) by either:
o Notifying your employer to file a typical "disease-as-injury" WC claim, which requires you to provide medical evidence that you were exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace
o Notifying your employer to file an "occupational disease" WC claim, which requires you to show that COVID-19 is occurring more in your occupation/industry than in the general population
Claims:
· All WC claims (including COVID-19) are thoroughly reviewed, and decisions are made based on the facts and merits of each claim and the law
· If your COVID-19 claim is denied, you may file a petition with the WC Office of Adjudication
For the most accurate and timely COVID-19 information in Pennsylvania, visit the
PA Department of Health website, health.pa.gov, Facebook page and Twitter account.
Unpaid Wage Claims
If you have been laid off and have not received your last paycheck or compensation you are owed, payment is be required by state law. If your regular payday has passed without payment, contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.
Family Medical Leave Act
If you or your employees are out with the flu or are caring for ill family members, check with the Department of Labor (DOL) for information on whether such leave is covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Under the FMLA, covered employers must provide employees job-protected, unpaid leave for specified family and medical reasons, which may include the flu where complications arise. Employees on FMLA leave are entitled to the continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms as existed before they took FMLA leave.
Employees are eligible to take FMLA leave if they work for a covered employer and:
· have worked for their employer for at least 12 months;
· have at least 1,250 hours of service over the previous 12 months; and
· work at a location where at least 50 employees are employed by the employer within 75 miles.
See the Federal FMLA website for guidance.
U.S. Small Business Association Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19)
SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for a small business. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov(link sends e-mail)
Search for Employment
Looking for work? Register on PA CareerLink and use the job search function to explore new occupations. There are several other resources on the site like links to trainings, job counselors, and more!
Note to UC Claimants: Work Search and Work Registration requirements are temporarily waived for all UC claimants. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain their UC benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with www.PACareerLink.pa.gov.