Any unemployed person can file a claim for UC benefits. Eligibility is determined by L&I after you apply — based on your earnings, employment history, and separation from work.
L&I will evaluate the following:
Financial Eligibility — based on wages earned and work duration, as reported by your past employers. A Financial Determination will be issued according to your communication preference.
Benefit Eligibility — whether you lost work through no fault of your own. Your employer will be allowed to provide detailed information regarding your separation.
Maintaining Eligibility — you must be able, available, and actively seeking work. You must not refuse any suitable offers of work. You must participate in any mandatory reemployment services, such as work registration and the RESEA program.
Have documents ready — including your last employer’s name, address, phone, and dates of employment.
Always provide accurate information — incorrect or fraudulent details can delay processing or lead to penalties.
Review the Initial Claims Requirment Checklist on this guide.
What happens after you file an application
If you file online, you’ll receive a confirmation page at the end of the online application and a confirmation email. This email will include the date you will need to file your continued claim — also called your weekly certification.
No matter what day of the week you submit your initial claim, it will be effective on Sunday. Your initial claim will remain active for one year, and between 18 and 26 full weeks of benefit payments will be available if you are eligible for benefits.
After your initial claim is filed, you must file a weekly certification for every week you want benefits (online or by phone).
You’ll get a confirmation letter. It will come either to your UC Message Center or via postal mail. It will give you important information, including your effective date. Claims are valid for 52 weeks.
Keep this letter in a safe place. It states your financial eligibility. Financial determination letters are typically received within three business days via your UC Dashboard communication preference.
If you have a question or need help managing your claim, there are multiple ways to reach the UC team:
UC staff are available by phone Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call us at 888-313-7284.
You can contact us by email any time: uchelp@pa.gov.
You can chat online with UC representatives on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For claimants who communicate with American Sign Language (ASL), videophone service is available every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. Call 717-704-8474.
For individuals with hearing or speech difficulties, use a TTY device to text 888-334-4046.