Improved Unemployment Rate Brings Six-Week Reduction in Benefits

Maximum Duration of Benefits Drops to 93 Weeks on April 2

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Because Pennsylvania's three-month average unemployment rate in January dropped to 8.4 percent, the commonwealth will no longer qualify for the six weeks of benefits available through Tier 4 of the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or EUC, program.

This means the maximum duration of unemployment benefits will be reduced from 99 weeks to 93 weeks after April 2, 2011.

"Many factors have contributed to this statistical drop in the unemployment rate," said Department of Labor & Industry acting Secretary Patrick T. Beaty. "We are encouraged to see Pennsylvania's economy creating more job opportunities."

Individuals who exhaust their EUC Tier 3 benefits on or before April 2, 2011, will be eligible to file for the six weeks of EUC Tier 4 benefits. Claimants who exhaust their EUC Tier 3 benefits after April 2, 2011, will be contacted by the department with instructions on how to file for other additional benefits.

The federal EUC program was established in 2008 to provide unemployment benefits for individuals who have exhausted the maximum 26 weeks of state benefits. Pennsylvanians may qualify for EUC Tier 1 (20 weeks), Tier 2 (14 weeks) and Tier 3 (13 weeks) benefits, as well as 20 weeks of state extended benefits, while those programs remain in effect.

To file an unemployment compensation claim, or to learn more about unemployment compensation programs, visit www.uc.pa.gov.

Media contact: David Smith, 717-787-7530

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

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