www.dli.state.pa.us - File Unemployment Pennsylvania

If you want to file go to the PA Department of Labor and Industry website at www.paclaims.state.pa.us and click on your language preference to proceed. Then Fill out all of the information on the form.

All fields are required unless there is an (optional) message at the field. When you have finished entering data in a field, use the TAB key to move to the next field. If you want to go back to a previous field, hold the SHIFT key and press TAB. When you have finished entering data on a screen, click on the NEXT button at the bottom of the screen to advance to the next screen. If you want to go back to a previous page, click on the BACK button at the bottom of the page. Do not use the BACK arrow on your browser. If you exit the application before receiving a confirmation page, the information you have provided will be deleted.

Once you complete the form you will receive a confirmation number. After this time period there is a mandatory 1 week waiting period before unemployment benefits can earned. The waiting period does not start until you file the unemployment application. If you are eligible, you can expect to receive the first benefit within 4 weeks of filing the application.

After the initial filing, PA requires that you continue to file bi-weekly. You can do this through your online account. Report any income including cash, meal allowances, lodging, tips, Military Reserve or National Guard Pay for federal active duty and the two-week training camp, and any other kind of compensation you have received in exchange for work or service you performed. It is important to continue to file the bi-weekly unemployment filing in PA to continue to receive unemployment payments.

Prepare documents required to apply for unemployment in PA

Your name, address, social security number and other personal details such as telephone number, email address etc.

Dependents name, date of birth and their social security number.

Details of your previous employer. For each employer, you need to provide

Name and address
Telephone number
Start and end dates of employment

If you had out-of-state employment in the past 18 months, you also need to provide the employment details.

Reason you lost the job – it has to be involuntary to be eligible to receive benefits.
Your job skills summary

If you are not an US citizen, keep your alien registration number and work authorization.

However if you are on a work visa such as H1-B, immigration experts do not advise claiming unemployment insurance.