Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate has fallen low enough to automatically conclude the Extended Benefits program, effective the claim week ending Saturday, May 15. Individuals on the EB program will be moved to the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which will be in place until the week ending Sept. 4. The change in program does not cause any changes in the filing process or benefit amount.
“The declining unemployment rate is a sign that Pennsylvania’s economy continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Department of Labor & Industry Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “For individuals in harder-hit industries, the federal PEUC program will provide assistance as businesses continue to recover.”
Claimants of PEUC, as well as Unemployment Compensation, should file for weekly benefits before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, to ensure their claim is processed prior to the system being taken offline on Thursday, June 3.
The transition from the current 40-year-old UC system to a new, modern system began Sunday, May 30. The system will be offline and unavailable briefly while data is migrated from the old system to the new one, which is the most complex part of any IT system upgrade. The new system is slated to be faster and easier to use, and is expected to be live on June 8.
Individuals who are scheduled to file a biweekly claim the week of May 30 to June 5 must have their filing complete by 9 p.m. Wednesday to have their claim processed before the system is taken offline. These individuals can also file for these weeks after the new system comes online but the payment date may be later.
Visit uc.pa.gov for more information.
