Unemployment Compensation
Unemployment Compensation benefits are available to help workers who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own. Benefits are administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. To be eligible for benefits, you must meet minimum work requirements in the past year at a covered job and apply for benefits after you have lost the job or had your hours reduced. For example, if you are reduced from full time to part-time employment or the business is laying people off because of downsizing or a plant shutdown, you can apply for benefits
Benefits are not available if you are fired because of behavior that is considered willful misconduct or if you voluntarily quit. Willful misconduct is something you have done that is against the employer's interests, such as not following the employee handbook or fighting with coworkers. You may also receive unemployment if you have quit your job for certain reasons; it is not considered a “voluntary quit” if you had a compelling reason for being unable to work when you quit. But you must be able and available for work when you apply for benefits and actively seek employment even while you receive the benefits.
You apply for unemployment compensation benefits online at the Unemployment Compensation Portal here: Apply for Unemployment Compensation Benefits | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You may also visit your local CareerLink office or call for information. The NPLS Employment Handbook also provides helpful information.
The Unemployment Service Center in your area will make a determination if your case qualifies you for benefits. If you are denied benefits and you disagree with the decision, you should file an appeal by the date that is noted in the denial letter; the deadline is 21 days from the date of the decision. The next step is to have a hearing before a referee, and it is very helpful to have advice or representation at that level.
NPLS may be able to advise and/or represent individuals in cases where benefits have been denied. We may also provide help with financial eligibility questions, overpayments, and other eligibility issues. It is important to apply for our services as soon as you receive a decision from the Service Center.
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FAQs
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I have worked in a warehouse packing shelves for two years. I was fired because I could not meet the daily quota. I did my job the best I could. Can I get unemployment?
Being fired does not automatically disqualify you from receiving unemployment compensation. If you did the job to the best of your ability, and performed the job according the employer’s work rules, you should be eligible for benefits.
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I quit my job because I thought the work was boring. Can I get unemployment?
No. Voluntarily quitting for such reasons will probably not get you unemployment benefits. You must have a “necessitous and compelling” reason to quit. The decision to quit should be rational. You must also exhaust all reasonable alternatives prior to quitting to be eligible.
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What if I do not agree with the Unemployment Center's decision?
If you do not agree with the decision, you can file an appeal. The date your appeal is due is listed on your Notice of Determination. You can file the appeal by mail, email, or fax. If you send the appeal by mail, it must be postmarked by the appeal date listed on the determination. If you are late filing, you may lose the ability to present your case.
