Pennsylvania Unemployment Eligibility
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry oversees the review and administration of unemployment benefits in the state of Pennsylvania. Laid-off and furloughed employees for the state’s companies have to make sure that they are eligible for Pennsylvania unemployment benefits before receiving weekly checks. Since the maximum weekly benefit as of January 2009 is $558 per week, workers need to check Pennsylvania unemployment eligibility lest they lose out on temporary income.
The first criterion for Pennsylvania unemployment eligibility is the applicant’s ability to meet minimum qualifying wages. Pennsylvania unemployment insurance laws require applicants to have made at least $50 per week in a minimum of 16 credit weeks over the past year. The department’s staff uses the last four out of five quarters as a base year to calculate an applicant’s applicable wages. If a worker was injured or possesses a physical handicap, the department can use an alternate base year upon request.
Another criterion for Pennsylvania unemployment eligibility is whether an applicant meets the state’s qualifying separation standard. This standard separates employees who are released from their duties because of corporate or economic problems and workers who are fired or quit their jobs based on personal preferences. Once a worker meets the qualifying separation standard, this worker must register with a local employment office to actively seek work. The state of Pennsylvania will not provide weekly benefits to workers who refuse to accept work based on hourly preferences, wages, and professional considerations.
To become eligible for Pennsylvania unemployment benefits, an unemployed worker has to fill out the appropriate application materials. Each applicant must provide a Social Security number, recent pay stub, and contact information for the most recent employer. Pennsylvania applies higher standards for recently moved workers, alien workers, and others who may not meet aforementioned criteria for eligibility.
