Weekly benefit amount and weeks in Pennsylvania

The weekly benefit

Weekly benefit

$68–$605

Maximum: claims that first went into effect after January 1, 2023 (L&I: the maximum rose from $594 to $605)

How it is figured

Your weekly benefit rate depends on your highest-quarter wages. L&I reads it from the Rate and Amount of Benefits chart in the UC Law, from $68 a week (highest quarter $1,688 to $1,712) up to $605 a week (highest quarter $15,388 or more). The chart already includes a reduction required by law. Your rate should be about half of your full-time weekly wage; if it is not, and it is not the top rate, you can appeal your Notice of Financial Determination on time and ask for a recalculation. Under the UC Law's solvency rules, L&I also cuts each weekly payment by a set percentage: 3.2% since the week ending January 7, 2023. For example, L&I says a person at the $605 maximum is paid $585 before other deductions.

Dependents

If you were wholly or chiefly supporting them when you applied, you can get $5 a week for a dependent spouse plus $3 for one dependent child, or (with no dependent spouse) $5 for one child plus $3 for a second child. The allowance is never more than $8 a week.

Official

Official table or notice

Law: Pa. UC Law sec. 404(a), (e) (Table Specified for the Determination of Rate and Amount of Benefits)

The wage test

You need at least $1,688 in your highest-paid quarter, enough total base-year wages for your highest-quarter amount, at least 37% of your base-year wages paid outside your highest quarter, and at least 18 "credit weeks" (weeks in which you earned $116 or more).

Source: the "qualifying wages" in L&I's chart, at least $2,718

Your base year is usually the first four of the last five full calendar quarters before your claim starts. If you do not qualify because of a work-related injury covered by workers' compensation, you can ask for an alternate base year: the four full calendar quarters just before the injury. You must appeal your financial determination on time to ask for it.

The state's wage tests

• $1,688 in your highest quarter, total base-year wages at least the qualifying-wage amount in the chart, 37% of wages outside the highest quarter, and 18 credit weeks — At least 37% of base-year wages paid outside the highest quarter; at least 18 credit weeks of $116 or more; total base-year wages at least the qualifying-wage amount listed for your highest-quarter wages (see qualifying_wages_table)

Law: Pa. UC Law secs. 4(g.1), 401(a), 404(e)

Official source: Source page

Estimate your weekly benefit

Enter the gross wages (before taxes) you were paid in each quarter of your base period. We apply the state's own table and formula to your numbers.

How long it lasts

Up to 26 weeks.

The most you can get in your 52-week benefit year is your weekly rate times your number of credit weeks in the base year, up to 26 times your weekly rate. So full payments last from 18 to 26 weeks. If you get partial payments because you work part time, your benefits can stretch over more weeks.

Law: Pa. UC Law sec. 404(c)

Official source: Source page

Waiting week

The first week you are unemployed and otherwise eligible is an unpaid waiting week. You must file a weekly certification for it to be paid for later weeks.

Law: Pa. UC Law sec. 401(c)

Official source: Source page

Working part time

You can work part time and still get a partial payment. Your partial benefit credit is 30% of your weekly benefit rate. L&I adds your weekly rate and your partial benefit credit, then subtracts your gross earnings for the week. You get the difference, but never more than your weekly rate. Report your gross earnings for the Sunday-to-Saturday week you did the work, even if you have not been paid yet.

Earnings not deducted (as the data states it)

An amount equal to 30% of your weekly benefit amount is not deducted.

Law: Pa. UC Law secs. 4(i), 404(d)

Official source: Source page

What applies in every state

• You must have earned enough wages, or worked enough, during a period called the base period. In most states it is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.
• It generally takes two to three weeks after you file to get your first payment. Some states require a one-week waiting period, so the second week you claim is the first week paid.
• Unemployment benefits count as income for federal income tax. You must report them on your federal tax return.

  Law: 26 U.S.C. 85(a)

Free help

Call 1-888-313-7284. Legal aid and other free help in Pennsylvania → Official sources →