www.paclaims.state.pa.us - Apply For Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits

If you have recently been let go, you may be entitled to collect unemployment. To find out, follow this guide on how to file for unemployment in Pennsylvania.

Finding a new job after you have been laid off can be difficult, especially in this economy. Many people are out of work, and competition is stiff in the hunt for work. Sometimes, it can take months to find employment. Fortunately, the state of Pennsylvania offers compensation that can help cover expenses while you look for work. While you won't make as much as you did with your old job, you could be entitled to a percentage of your past income, which can help get the bills paid while you get back on your feet.

Before you apply, make sure you have all of the information that will be asked of you. This includes your address and phone number, names and addresses of past employers, past employers' federal ID numbers (found on W2's), dates of employment, and wages earned. You will also need your drivers license and social security numbers. If you are not a United States citizen, you will need to provide your alien registration number, as well.

Take the time to gather all of this information before you begin the application process. If you are missing any of these things, your request will not be processed, and you will need to go back to find the missing info and then apply again.

There are three ways to file:

Over the internet at www.paclaims.state.pa.us

Via fax or mail - the downloadable form can be found on the site above

Over the telephone by calling 1-888-313-7284 (if the last digit of your social security number is even, call on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday; If it is odd, call Monday, Wednesday or Friday).
After you have completed your application, it may take up to two weeks to find out if you have been selected to receive benefits, as well as the amount of money that you can expect. Have patience, as the system can get bogged down. If you have not heard anything after 14 days, follow up with a phone call to make sure that your application has not been lost or delayed for some reason.

In order to receive benefits, you must be actively looking for work. You will be required to report to the state weekly and update them on your job search and employment status. The government only offers unemployment money to those who want to work, and therefore you will need to prove that you are making the necessary efforts to procure gainful employment.

If you are having difficulty finding a job or are in need of some job training, you can seek out assistance from Pennsylvania CareerLink®. This service provides help for job seekers, and can sometimes offer training courses at reduced costs.