UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

File for Unemployment Compensation Online

Click here to file for Unemployment Compensation online with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and industry.

Understanding Unemployment Compensation
Want information on your rights to receive Unemployment Compensation? For more information check out these guides to Unemployment Compensation:

Obtaining free legal help to fight a UC denial
Has your employer denied your unemployment compensation claim? Both Philadelphia Legal Assistance and the University of Pennsylania Law School’s Employee Advocacy Project may be able to provide you with free legal representation.

Unemployment Compensation is Taxable
Most people are surprised to find out that Unemployment Compensation is taxable by the federal government.  Unfortunately, unless you filled out form W-4V, no taxes have been withheld from your weekly unemployment check.  When you file your taxes, be sure to declare your unemployment.  To avoid a big tax hit next year, you may want to consider filling out form W-4V , which asks the government to withhold taxes from each check.  For more information, see this IRS bulletin.

Looking for benefits available for laid off workers?
The Philadelphia Unemployment Project has prepared this information for unemployed workers who need financial help.

COBRA
Many workers who have been laid off or fired can continue to receive their employer-provided healthcare by paying for it out-of-pocket. In the most cases, your employer will have to cover 65% of these out-of-pocket costs. This program is sometimes called COBRA. For more information, check out these guides to COBRA: