Pennsylvania officials say they’ve processed 90-percent of eligible unemployment claims since pandemic began

Pennsylvania officials say they’ve processed 90-percent of eligible unemployment claims since pandemic began

By Hayden Mitman

July 14, 2020

Officials with Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry say they’ve delivered more than $26 billion in unemployment claims since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But as WLVR’s Hayden Mitman reports, 10 percent of eligible applicants are still waiting.

The $26 billion dollars is a combination number that includes the regular state unemployment program and special pandemic emergency funding from the federal government. 

That extended emergency benefits program is expected to end later this month. 

Susan Dickinson with the State Department of Labor and Industry says recipients should prepare for their checks to drop. 

“The FPUC is ending on the week of July 25th so, any payments made for weeks between April 4th to July 5th is eligible for the FPUC $600 payment, but, there is no law set to extend that at the federal level, so that’s ending July 25th and for any claim weeks after that there will be no payment tied to that,” said Dickinson.  

She says so far, the state has paid benefits for more than 90 percent of eligible applicants. 

“As I hear about people who claim they have been waiting to hear from us or have been waiting to get compensation, I encourage people to visit our website, learn how unemployment works. It’s not an upfront payment, it’s something you need to file for every two weeks.” 

Critics say the department hasn’t processed claims quickly enough. Some state lawmakers have called on the house oversight committee to investigate the Labor & Industry Department’s response to the pandemic.  

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