Filing a Biweekly Claim

After filing your initial application for UC benefits, you will receive a Claims Confirmation letter in the mail. This letter will provide you with your 4 digit PIN necessary to file your biweekly claim. This letter will also provide the date you will file your first biweekly claim, which is generally the second Sunday after completing your initial application for benefits.

When you file a biweekly claim, you will be filing for two weeks at a time. For UC purposes, a week is a calendar week that begins Sunday and ends Saturday. Although you will file for two weeks at one time, you will certify your eligibility for each week separately.

Quick Tips on Filing Biweekly Claims

To be unemployed, you must have a loss in both work hours and pay or “earnings.”

​Did You Work?	​Answer Yes if you worked at all during the week or will receive some type of pay (wages, leave, etc.) from your employer, if you expect to return to work for that employer after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.​
To avoid claim delays, properly report your earnings.​	Earnings include your gross earnings from any work performed, as well as full or partial salary, even if actual work was not performed. Potential earnings are any earnings you could have made, but you turned down the work. The Vacation pay field is for any type of leave payment (such as sick leave) expected to be paid to you from your employer, provided you expect to return to your employer after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
​Were you able and available for work?	Being confined to home does not necessarily mean you are not available to accept work. If you plan on returning to your employer after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, or you could work from home if requested, you are Available.  You are Able to work if you are mentally and physically capable of performing a job for which a labor market exists.

Select the “File a biweekly claim” button to get started!

File a Biweekly Claim

NOTE: THE DEPARTMENT CANNOT PAY YOU FOR WEEKS UNLESS A TIMELY BIWEEKLY CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED.

The best way to file your biweekly claim is online from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You also can file by phone by using the PA Teleclaims (PAT) system. Call 888-255-4728 (TTY services for the deaf and hard of hearing: 888-334-4046), from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Source: Filing a Biweekly Claim