Pennsylvania Unemployment Weekly Claims

Pennsylvania Unemployment Weekly Claims

How To File a Weekly Claim

Filing your weekly claim is one of the most important components of ensuring that you are accurately paid PA unemployment benefits. In order to successfully file your weekly claim, you can follow the steps below.

Step 1

Log into your Pennsylvania unemployment dashboard account, where you’ll be prompted to follow the instructions for filing. If you’re filing a weekly certification, you’ll scroll down until you locate the File for Weekly Benefits link – it appears in the center column under Unemployment Services.

Step 2

Select “File Your Weekly Certification” to begin your certification process. After you read the explanation of certification, select Next. The system will prompt you to acknowledge that you have read and understand the presented information about penalties for potential PA unemployment fraud.

Step 3

The next screen will allow you the opportunity to update your contact information. Select

Update Contact Information if your address, telephone number, or email address has changed since originally establishing your PA unemployment eligibility.

Step 4

Now it’s time to report your work activity. You’ll see the dates for which you are filing. You’ll be asked a series of questions about your work activity for that time period, and your answers must accurately reflect your work situation for that week. For example, you must report any hours you worked and subsequent payment received, and you must report any offer of employment that you received, even if you did not accept.

The department will determine whether the offer was suitable. If you earned any income during the week, including regular pay, commissions, tips, vacation or holiday pay, potential earnings, paid sick leave, or any other earnings related to your previous job, select Yes so that you can report that information. From there, simply follow the prompts presented by the system to enter your information. Depending on how you answer these questions, you may be asked for additional information.

Step 5

Once all questions for the time period specified have been answered, you will have the opportunity to review and/or edit your answers. You will be asked to again acknowledge that you have read and understand potential fraud penalties before selecting Next. Unless you have further weeks to certify, you may select “No, I Would Like to Stop,” which will provide you with a claim summary.

What Is the Best Way To File a Weekly Claim?

You must file a weekly claim to be paid your PA unemployment compensation. The best way to file your weekly unemployment benefits claim is to file online. You can file your claim any time from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, and from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You also may file your weekly claim by phone by using the Pennsylvania Teleclaims (PAT) system. Simply call 888-255-4728 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tips for Filing a Weekly Claim

There are a few things you can keep in mind when it comes to successfully filing your weekly claim.

First, keep in mind that “weekly” can also mean “bi-weekly.” Pennsylvania will allow you to file on either a weekly or bi-weekly basis, and you’re paid according to when you file. So don’t be thrown when you see that the only option for filing is weekly. You can still file every other week and be paid according to that timetable. For Pennsylvania’s unemployment compensation purposes, a week comprises a full calendar week that begins Sunday and ends on Saturday. You can use the PA unemployment calculator to help determine which option is better for you.

When you get to the question, “Did you work?” answer “yes” if you worked at all – or if you received any kind of supplemental income or paid leave from your employer.

Once you answer in the affirmative, you’ll get to a follow-up question that asks you whether you worked normally or were compensated as if you worked a normal, full week. You won’t be eligible for benefits if the answer to either question is yes.

If you want to avoid any type of delay, be sure to accurately report your earnings. For example, if you received any vacation pay, you’ll need to answer “yes,” to the question of whether you worked, and then report the amount of money you received in vacation pay.

Also, be sure to correctly answer the question about being available to work. In some cases, even if you don’t have transportation to an on-site position but are available to work from home, you’ll need to answer “yes” to that question. Working from home is a common practice since the pandemic, so if your role can be performed from home, you should still indicate that you are able and available to work.

  1. do i have to reopen my claim i missed my bi weekly filling date but i have not received any checks yet its going on 3 weeks

  2. I have been trying to sign up for 4 weeks now and it keeps telling me I have an active claim but need to re-open. I re-opened on Jan 13,2019 and it told me to sign in on Jan. 27 and file but again it keeps telling me my claim is inactive. I am missing 4 weeks pay and I call the unemployment office 43 times in one day and it’s busy. How can I get this straightened out? I’m dying with no pay.

    • your best bet is to go to your local Pa carreer link office. They have a phone in service that connects you immediatly to te unemployment office people no busy signals. i dont even bother calling anymore.

      • Contact your local state representative ..stop at office full out your request for. unemployment… Unemployment will respond in 24 hour….and it free to file and free fax service

  3. ive filed my claim 12/9/18 and filed for my for my first bi-weekly claim for the week of 12/15/18 – 12/22/18. i got my an email stating my claim for the week has been accepted (i filed a claim for 2 weeks but im assuming im only recieving benefits for one due to the waiting week) i recieved this “confirmation of your claims” email on 12/26/18 and it is now 1/5/19, it tells me on the UC website that “no payments have been issued to you within the last 4 weeks” i have setup my US Bank Reliacard that was sent to me in the mail. i am wondering when i will recieve my benefits, tomorrow on 1/6/19 i am able to file for my 2nd bi-weekly claim, but am concerned as i have yet to recieve payment for my first claim.

    • Joshua,

      Please call the Claims Center right away to find out about the claim status and how you can sort our future payments.

  4. IF I COMPLETE MILITARY INACTIVE DUTY ANNUAL TRAINING DAYS WILL THEY COUNT AGAINST THE AMOUNT OF UIC BENEFITS I GET THAT WEEK? WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE 15 DAYS A YEAR.

    • Jessica,

      I suggest you call the Unemployment Office in your state for specific instructions since each state runs its own benefits program for Military personnel.

  5. I was wondering where my UC 2 week payment is for the weeks of September 1, 2018, and August 25, 2018. I quit my job, and I spoke to a lady Ruth Ann, and she told me I could claim those 2 weeks even though I quit my job. She sent papers in the mail to me to fill out and fax back. I did that. Then I got another phone call from Elaine when she asked me questions, and told me that she had to contact my employer, then she would send me a letter to let me know what is going on. I didn’t hear anything yet, but why would they say I can collect unemployment but I never got my payment yet ? Please let me know what is going on. Thank you very much… Susan L. Arcuri.

    • Susan,

      Please note this is a private forum and we do not have access to your claim file. Please call the Claims Center at regular intervals and chase for a payment update.

      • Am I getting paid for these 2 weeks for unemployment ? Ruth Ann told me that I was. ( weeks of September 1, 2018, and August 25, 2018.

        • Susan,

          If you’ve had an official confirmation from a representative of the Unemployment Office, you should have the payments as scheduled.

  6. I was found eligible for benefits…the holiday fell on Tuesday….my benefits WERE NOT posted on my card by Thursday…when should they post?

    • It would have been posted immediately after the holiday.

      Please call the Claims Center if you still haven’t received it.

  7. our work weeks go from wed to wed but the dates they give u to file for are sat to sunday. how do I do that??

    • The weekly claims window only opens during the designated time. Please file by phone or internet when the lines are open.

  8. I want to reopen my claim for a partial payment. i’m working only 2 days next week [2-12thru 2-18] and 3 the following week.When do I reopen my claim?

  9. Hello..
    I reopened a claim in December from 2016 and I already waited my waiting week at the beginning of the claim. I have not received payment but it says to keep filing claims. I only filed for one week and thats all I am due as I am no longer laid off.

  10. having problems getting thru to the numbers given for claims information, is there any other options? Is there an employment office I can go to to speak to a live person?

    • Due to an unprecedented shutdown of at least three call centers in the state, many calls from claimants are going unanswered. We also have strong reasons to believe that there will be a delay in processing claims and this situation is expected to continue for a few more weeks. Please be patient or visit a local CareerLink Office to get faster access to the Claims System by phone. You can also try filing the weekly claim over the internet.

    • Please call the claims center/customer service of the labor dept. in your state for further information. Make sure to chase at regular intervals.

  11. Each bi-week I report, I am asked the regular questions about work and not working. I have tried to answer as near as able with the varied blocks available. My situation seems to be unique, as I am required once a month sometimes for a full week, sometimes 4 days, to report for Grand Jury duty, working one week out of every month. My weeks of work were given to me at the start of the sessions, a total of 18 months. Nothing changes for me except possibly the number of total days I work there in the offices, in Harrisburg. For the last two report periods, at the end of filing, I am asked to immediately call in to UC offices, or my filing will be held. Why? Why must I call?

    • I guess we do not have much rights against an authority. Please call ans try to sort amicably. If you feel its not justified, please ask for an Adjudicator.

  12. Can not find the login area to claim my unemployment this coming weekend . Where do I go to login? I live in central pa.

  13. I received a lump sum payment from last company I worked for in form of a pension it was $1,513 on 8/2. I submitted my bi weekly claim on 8/19 when will I receive my first check

    • Did you report the receipt of the pension? Do you know how it may impact your beneift amount(s)? You can check claim status online. If your claim was submitted 8/19 – I think the earliest would be 8/22. Do not wait too long – call the local office if you can’t determine the answer shortly.

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