Unionized hospitality workers wait in line in a basement garage to apply for unemployment benefits at the Hospitality Training Academy Friday, March 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. Fearing a widespread health crisis, Californians moved broadly Friday to get in front of the spread of the coronavirus, shuttering schools that educate hundreds of thousands of students, urging the faithful to watch religious services online and postponing or scratching just about any event that could attract a big crowd.
Unionized hospitality workers wait in line in a basement garage to apply for unemployment benefits at the Hospitality Training Academy Friday, March 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. Fearing a widespread health crisis, Californians moved broadly Friday to get in front of the spread of the coronavirus, shuttering schools that educate hundreds of thousands of students, urging the faithful to watch religious services online and postponing or scratching just about any event that could attract a big crowd.
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(Harrisburg)—Self-employed residents, independent contractors and gig workers are now able to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits in Pennsylvania.
As a result, the state Department of Labor and Industry is bracing for a high volume of applications over the next few days.
The PUA program is part of the new federal expansion to unemployment benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Pennsylvanians who meet eligibility requirements can apply online. Payments to approved claimants are expected to be sent within two to four weeks after an initial claim is submitted.
Information needed for proof of employment or self-employment can include, but is not limited to:
Copies of recent paycheck stubs;
Bank receipts showing deposits;
1099s;
Billing notices provided to your customers;
Recent advertisements for your business or services;
Statements from recent customers;
Current business licenses, ledgers, contracts, invoices; and/or
Building leases.
Anyone collecting the PUA benefits is also eligible for the extra $600 a week from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.
The Commonwealth hopes to have a new phone line available soon for individuals without internet access or for those who require a translator.
More information about unemployment compensation is available at www.uc.pa.gov.
