While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. The program is funded by taxes that are paid by employers.
You can learn more about unemployment in the program overview here.
Unemployment Insurance benefits are weekly payments that are given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments can be provided via a direct deposit to their bank account.
You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Pennsylvania you must:
Learn more about Pennsylvania’s monetary requirements here and personal eligibility requirements here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Pennsylvania, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Pennsylvania Unemployment Office does not accept claims over the telephone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Pennsylvania’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, call Pennsylvania Teleclaims (PAT) toll free at (888) 255-4728, or at (877) 888-8104 for assistance in Spanish.
For those in need of TTY (services for the hard of hearing), you can call 888-334-4046.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Main Office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM:
You can also ask for assistance by using American Sign Language (ASL) through the department’s videophone services by calling (717) 704-8474. This service is only available on Wednesday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
For further assistance on how to file your initial claim, visit the Department of Labor and Industry here.
Unemployment benefits amounts are calculated based on the wages you received during your base year, where you can learn about here. After the gross wages for your base year are established, the highest paying quarter is chosen and then divided by 26, and your benefits are calculated based on that amount.
Currently, the maximum weekly benefit amount available in Pennsylvania is $605.
To understand how benefit amounts are calculated, you can view the chart provided by the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC), here.
For a complete breakdown of the benefits you may receive based on your previous earnings and situation, you can click here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Biweekly Claim through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements.
If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
Learn more about filing a Biweekly Claim here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Biweekly Certification Application every other week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This biweekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Biweekly Application here. File your Biweekly Certification Applications here.
To file a claim by phone, call the Pennsylvania Teleclaims (PAT) toll free at 1 (888) 255-4728, or at (877) 888-8104 for assistance in Spanish.
For those in need of TTY (services for the hard of hearing), call 1 (888) 334-4046.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed biweekly claims for two or more consecutive weeks. Or, if you file and have earnings over 1 1/2 times your weekly benefit amount for two consecutive weeks.
Note: The best time to file is on Sunday from 6am to 11pm, or from 6am to 9pm on a weekday (Monday-Friday).
If you disagree with your Unemployment benefits determination, you may appeal your claim to the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) within 15 days of receiving your determination. If you do not file an appeal within the 15 days, your determination will become permanent.
You may only file an appeal online through the appropriate UC Center. The UC Center that pertains to you will appear on your determination letter along with instructions on how to file your claim.
You will need to use the information given on your determination letter to fill out the online form pertaining to your UC Center to file your appeal. The following is a list of the UC Centers in Pennsylvania and links to their appeal forms:
Once you have determined your UC Center, fill out all the areas in red on the appeal form and submit the PDF. (Note: You will need Adobe to open and fill out your appeal claim.)
You may also print out the appeal form and mail or fax your appeal to the UC Center designated on your determination letter.
After submitting the appeal, continue to file a biweekly unemployment claim while you wait for a reply to your appeal. If you do not continue to file, you will not be awarded any unemployment benefits even if your determination is changed during the appeals process.
You can contact the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) customer service line at (888) 313-7284, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM if you have any additional questions about your unemployment claim.
For online assistance, you can try the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) Live Chat and let one of the department's experts help you in real time. This service is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
You can contact the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) customer service line at (888) 313-7284, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Contact TTY customer service line for the deaf and hard of hearing at (888) 334-4046 (toll free).
For ASL users, please contact the department’s videophone services at (717) 704-8474. These services are only available Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 4pm.
You can also contact Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) through email at UChelp@pa.gov.
For Employer UC services, please contact (833) 728-2367. Services are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.
To email Employer UC services, use this email address: UIEMPCHARGE@pa.gov.
For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, contact (855) 284-8545 Monday through Friday from 8am to 3 pm.
You can also email Pandemic Unemployment Assistance at ucpua@pa.gov or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation at uchelp@pa.gov.
Please be sure to provide your full name and your claim number in your email if you have already filed a claim with Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC). It typically takes the UC 2 to 4 weeks to answer any email inquiries.
Note: You cannot file Unemployment claims in person in Pennsylvania. However, there are unemployment offices that process appeals and receive customer service calls for certain areas.
All offices can be reached by calling the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) toll free customer service number at 1 (888) 313-7284. Find all offices locations, contact information, and hours of operation below, or here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Altoona | 1101 Green Ave. Altoona PA 16601-3483 | FAX: (814) 941-6801 |
| Duquesne | 14 North Linden St. Duquesne PA 15110-1067 | FAX: (412) 267-1475 |
| Erie | 1316 State St. Erie PA 16501-1916 | FAX: (814) 871-4863 |
| Harrisburg | 651 Boas St Fl 15 Harrisburg PA 17121-0751 | FAX: (717) 214-5463 |
| Indiana | 630 Kolter Dr. Indiana PA 15701-3570 | FAX: (724) 599-1068 |
| Scanton | 30 Stauffer Industrial Park Taylor PA 18517-9601 | FAX: (570) 562-4385 |
To find more information on Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
You can also try the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) Live Chat, here, and let one of the department's experts help you in real time. This service is available Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm.
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
If you have a question about Pennsylvania Business Unemployment Insurance:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Pennsylvania, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Pennsylvania’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone:
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Main Office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM:
You can also ask for assistance by using American Sign Language (ASL) through the department’s videophone services by calling (717) 704-8474. This service is only available on Wednesday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
For further assistance on how to file your initial claim, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry here.
You can learn how to check your application status by watching the video here.
You can also call the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) customer service line at (888) 313-7284.
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Biweekly Claim through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here, and scroll down to the “waiting week” section.
Learn more about the Filing a Biweekly Claim here.
The best time to file is on Sunday from 6am to 11pm, or from 6am to 9pm on a weekday (Monday-Friday).
If you disagree with your Unemployment benefits determination, you may appeal your claim to the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) within 15 days of receiving your determination. If you do not file an appeal within the 15 days, your determination will become permanent.
You may only file an appeal online through the appropriate UC Center. The UC Center that pertains to you will appear on your determination letter along with instructions on how to file your claim.
Use the information given on your determination letter to fill out the online form pertaining to your UC Center to file your appeal. The following is a list of the UC Centers in Pennsylvania and links to their appeal forms:
Once you have determined your UC Center, fill out all the areas in red on the appeal form and submit the PDF. (Note: You will need Adobe to open and fill out your appeal claim.)
You may also print out the appeal form and mail or fax your appeal to the UC Center designated on your determination letter.
After submitting the appeal, continue to file a biweekly unemployment claim while you wait for a reply to your appeal. If you do not continue to file, you will not be awarded any unemployment benefits even if your determination is changed during the appeals process.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Pennsylvania UC customer service line at 1 (888) 313-7284.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s customer service telephone line is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, except for the observed holidays listed here.
For online assistance, you can try the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) Live Chat and let one of the department's experts help you in real time. This service is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Visit or call your nearest local unemployment office for in person assistance. See all Pennsylvania unemployment office locations here.
You can also visit a few other resources on the Pennsylvania page for guidance on different parts of the application process. These resources include:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.