Labor & Industry Secretary Urges People With Expiring Unemployment Compensation Benefits to Continue Filing Claims

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvanians whose unemployment compensation benefits expired before the 99-week limit should continue filing claims, Labor & Industry Secretary Sandi Vito advised today.

"Unemployed Pennsylvanians who haven't received all the benefits possible under the federal emergency and extended benefit programs should continue filing claims," said Vito. "Doing so will expedite processing and speed payment in the event that Congress is able to reach an agreement and extend these crucial lifelines for people struggling to find work."

The Department of Labor & Industry mailed notices to nearly 100,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians whose benefits ended, or soon will end, with instructions on how to continue filing the appropriate type of claim.

Although Pennsylvania's employment situation has improved over the past three months, Congress' failure to extend funding for Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Emergency Benefits could result in 140,000 Pennsylvanians losing unemployment compensation benefits in December, with another 72,000 losing benefits in January, 2011.

"The people receiving these benefits lost jobs through no fault of their own. They did not ask to be in the predicament they face, and there's no doubt that they would rather be working than waiting for Congress," Vito said. "In the meantime, the best way to ensure speedy receipt of benefits that will be reinvested in the economy – if Congress reauthorizes the programs – is for claimants to continue filing."

For more information about filing for unemployment compensation in Pennsylvania, visit www.uc.pa.gov.

Media contact: Christopher S. Manlove, 717-787-7530

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

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