Unemployment Compensation Benefits

Millions of people in the United States have – or will – lose their jobs as a result of nationwide business shutdowns and shelter in place orders meant to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Caused by a large family of viruses known as coronaviruses, experts expect COVID-19 will continue to cause devastating financial and economic consequences for the American public at large. Luckily, during this time of need many state governments are providing resources and guidance that can help people who are struggling.

COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that often accompanied by a fever, shortness of breath, and a cough. Usually symptoms appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure. For most people, complications may be moderate but for some – like seniors or individuals who are immunocompromised or suffer from a chronic condition like diabetes or asthma – the complications can be deadly.

Pennsylvania residents whose jobs have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. Unemployment compensation is a program that provides temporary income support to individuals who lost their jobs through no fault of their own or if they are working less than their normal fulltime hours. Unemployment compensation typically gives approximately one-half of a person’s fulltime weekly wages. Applicants who have dependents like children may receive an extra amount in their weekly payouts, so long as they are chiefly or wholly caring for the child, children, or spouse in question.

Even people who have temporarily lost their jobs and expect to be returning to work at some point in the future are eligible to file for unemployment compensation benefits. Individuals who worked their full, regular hours for their full workweek should file their initial unemployment claim on a Sunday. For those whose separation from their employers resulted in an immediate change to their normal working hours an initial claim should be filed right away.

In these trying and difficult times, our team at Galfand Berger is doing our best to keep our readers updated. We will continue to provide updates on unemployment compensation benefits.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP Representing Injured Individuals Since 1947

If you have a legal question, please contact our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys. Galfand Berger has offices located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, call us at 800-222-8792 or complete our online contact form.