PENNSYLVANIA, USA — People receiving unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania are facing a Saturday deadline as the state is now requiring them to apply for jobs.
The work search requirement applies to anyone receiving unemployment compensation (UC), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Claimants must apply for two jobs and complete one work search activity every week.
Have questions over the work search requirement? Find answers here to commonly asked questions.
"You will need to apply for two jobs and complete one search activity by midnight Saturday," said PA Sect of Labor & Industry Jennifer Berrier. "Beginning Sunday individuals who self certify that they have completed the work search requirement during the process to file for benefits. And, they should keep a log of their work search activities in case they are selected for an audit."
Reference the PA Unemployment Compensation Handbook for a complete list of requirements.
PA CareerLink is working to help people struggling to apply for jobs. Its locations provide free computer service plus scheduled job fairs and training programs to build resumes.
What PA CareerLink is doing:
"CareerLink has an abundance of services and we're now beginning to feature in person workshops. Starting this week we're doing Microsoft Word in house which is great for people who need to build up their skills because everybody at least needs to apply for a job on a computer," said Judy Wechter of PA CareerLink in Lancaster County. "So the Microsoft Word workshop on site here every Monday is so exciting."
In addition to Microsoft Word training, Wechter said PA CareerLink is also holding another training for resume building tips.
"Everybody needs to have a resume. It's your calling card as I said. You need to be able to have that," Wechter said. "But the most important piece about that is we're marrying that, we're pairing that, to a lab. So right after you have the workshop where we recommend you how to put a resume together and what those tips are we're going to give you an opportunity to have a lab where you do all the work yourself, have help from us, answer any of your questions."
Throughout the month of July PA CareerLink will also have employers on site. To learn more about the employers planning to visit PA CareerLink call 717-509-5613 or stop by a PA CareerLink location.
Hear from two employers who visited PA CareerLink who are currently looking to fill open positions:
Read more on PA's work search requirement
The PA Dept of Labor provided the following answers to questions asked by FOX43:
What if you are self-employed and are in the process of opening your business again? Does that count as work search?
The requirement to complete work search is based on filing for unemployment benefits. Each week a person certifies that they have been unemployed, they will also need to certify that they completed work search activities. The requirements are the same for individuals who identify as self-employed.
What if your company is in the process of rehiring you? Can you provide that documentation as work search?
Individuals who have written recall dates from their employer are exempt from work search requirements.
Who , if anyone, is exempt from work search?
The full list of exemptions is at the bottom of page of the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Handbook.
What happens if someone gets offered a job and turns it down? Do they lose their benefits?
An individual becomes ineligible for benefits if they decline suitable work without good cause. More information about refusing suitable work can be found here.
What is the top complaint you continue to receive about the rollout of the new website? Any more updates/fixes coming ahead?
Since the new unemployment system launched on June 8, L&I has issued nearly 1.2 million payments totaling more than $1.1 billion. Those numbers are consistent with the weekly claims and new claims that were filed on the old system, indicating the strong majority of people have successfully transitioned to using the new system.
What is the average time people are waiting to receive checks from the moment they file a new claim?
The majority of individuals filing for unemployment benefits are automatically approved by the system. Some individuals with complex cases that require manual review are waiting several weeks for determinations. The new unemployment system allows for staff to write nearly twice as many determinations each week, which is reducing the number of individuals awaiting determinations.
According to the PA Dept. of Labor & Industry website:
Can I be exempt from work search requirements?
Some individuals are exempt from the work search requirements and may not be asked this question. Exemptions include:
Individuals who receive work through a union hiring hall
Individuals on a Shared Work plan through their employer
Individuals in Trade Act training
Individuals attending a RESEA session for the week
Individuals who have written recall dates from their employer
If you are presented with the question, "Did you complete your required work searches and/or work search activities during the week beginning Sunday, [date], and ending with Saturday, [date]?" and are exempt, you will select "Yes." For more information about exemptions, please reference the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Handbook.