Harrisburg lawmakers are expected to send a bill soon to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk that would change the way workers access unemployment benefits — a measure seen as a win for seasonal workers and also survivors of domestic violence.
The legislation delays a change to the formula used to calculate unemployment payments. As a result, people who work seasonally should retain, on average, about $32 more each week, according to pro-labor advocates. That formula was set to change next year, but instead it will be reconsidered in 2029.
“Some 140,000 folks would’ve seen a significant reduction in their benefits, about $40 a week,” said Senate Democratic leader Jay Costa in a reference to the state’s seasonal workforce, such as those in the construction industry.
“When you’re unemployed, and you lose $40 a paycheck, it’s a lot of money,” added Republican Sen. Devlin Robinson of Allegheny County. Lawmakers “wanted to stop that from happening,” he added.
First introduced by Rep. Jason Dawkins (D-Philadelphia), the bill was approved by the Senate last week. It was sent back to the House and could be voted on concurrence as soon as Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for House leadership. (A companion bill by Robinson was instead tabled to amend Dawkins’ measure.)
The bill also expedites benefit approval for workers who are forced to quit their jobs due to fear of harm from an abuser. Survivors of domestic violence would be asked to confidentially prove they fled employment. That’s hugely important, said Megan McConahy, who leads AWARE crisis centers in Mercer County.
“Cutting the red tape for survivors is always important because … you can’t wait two months, you know, you can’t wait six months to go through the entire process,” she said.
The documentation required to show that a person has experienced abuse is wide-ranging, ensuring the process isn’t burdensome for survivors, according to Alex Cantrell, director of policy at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Among the options are protection-from-abuse orders as well as court, police or medical records. But counselors, relatives and friends may also submit statements on behalf of a person who was abused, and that person also has the option to self-affirm in a statement. The legislation intends to prevent employers from learning why a former worker applied for the benefit.
But Cantrell says a Senate amendment to the bill may unintentionally disqualify some survivors, because it’s common for people in abusive situations to not have consistent employment. To be eligible for benefits, workers will have to earn more money before qualifying if they’ve taken on a part-time job — a change to the underlying bill.
“A lot of the time, survivors experience challenges when it comes to financial stability, access to jobs, [and] timeframe of when they’re able to work,” often due to a controlling partner, Cantrell said.
“We wish [the bill] was a bit broader,” Cantrell added. “We’re happy that there is going to be an easier path for some survivors, though.”
Barney Oursler, who leads the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee and advocates for people who are out of work, said his organization is also not happy about all of the changes in the bill.
But he said the group supports the legislation because its good aspects — aiding seasonal workers and people fleeing domestic violence — outweigh what the group sees as its negatives.
“The benefit far outweighed the losses for the other issues that were in the package,” Oursler said.
Those provisions seen by Oursler as losses — but supported by groups such as the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry — include another change that benefits employers, so they can more easily challenge an unemployed individual’s refusal of a new job offer.
The groups say that keeps former workers from turning down work to continue getting unemployment payments.
“It strengthens protections against claimants who avoid pursuing employment, fixes a technical flaw that would have driven up system costs, and helps employers avoid tax increases when former employees qualify for benefits,” said Alex Halper, the chamber’s senior vice president of government affairs, in a statement after the bill passed the Senate.
The measure also ensures employers won’t be docked for unemployment claims if a former worker qualifies due to domestic violence.