Your weekly benefit rate is the money you get if you qualify for unemployment compensation. Your rate depends on the income you received in your base year. A base year includes the first four quarters (or 12 months) of your last five quarters from the date you applied for unemployment. To illustrate, if you filed your claim in the months of October, November or December 2010 (the fourth quarter of the year) your base year started on July 1st 2009 and finishes on June 30th, 2010. How much you earned in your base year (or the first 12 months of the last 15) determines how much (if anything) you get in your unemployment compensation checks. Let us do the math.

Step 1. Calculate the total income you earned in your base period. You need to add your gross wages, not your take home money. Your gross wages includes what you pay towards social security, tax and health insurance.

Step 2. Work out how much you got in each of the four quarters in your base period and identify which is your high earning quarter. Your high earning quarter will decide how much you will receive in your check. Remember each quarter has three months: January to March, April to June, July to September and October to December.

Now you are ready to calculate your benefits rate. To even qualify for unemployment benefits you must have earned $1,320 throughout the benefits year, $800 of which you must have earned in one quarter. Your weekly benefits are divided into tiers depending on how much you earned in your highest earning quarter. The table below details the tier system. Let us explain how the table works.

Part A Highest Quarterly Wage	Part B Rate of Compensation	Part C Qualifying Wages	Part D Amount of Compensation Duration 26 Weeks	Part E Amount of Compensation Duration 16 Weeks
$ 800 – 812	$ 35	$ 1320	$ 910	$ 560
813 – 837	36	1360	936	576
838 – 862	37	1400	962	592
863 – 887	38	1440	988	608
888 – 912	39	1480	1014	624
913 – 937	40	1520	1040	640
938 – 962	41	1560	1066	656
963 – 987	42	1600	1092	672
988 – 1012	43	1640	1118	688
1013 – 1037	44	1680	1144	704
1038 – 1062	45	1720	1170	720
1063 – 1087	46	1760	1196	736
1088 – 1112	47	1800	1222	752
1113 – 1162	48	1840	1248	768
1163 – 1187	49	1880	1274	784
1188 – 1212	50	1920	1300	800
1213 – 1237	51	1960	1326	816
1238 – 1262	52	2000	1352	832
1263 – 1287	53	2040	1378	848
1288 – 1312	54	2080	1404	864
1313 – 1337	55	2120	1430	880
1338 – 1362	56	2160	1456	896
1363 – 1387	57	2200	1482	912
1388 – 1412	58	2240	1508	928
1413 – 1437	59	2280	1534	944
1438 – 1462	60	2320	1560	960
1463 – 1487	61	2360	1586	976
1488 – 1512	62	2400	1612	992
1513 – 1537	63	2440	1638	1008
1538 – 1562	64	2480	1664	1024
1563 – 1587	65	2520	1690	1040
1588 – 1612	66	2560	1716	1056
1613 – 1637	67	2600	1742	1072
1638 – 1662	68	2640	1768	1088
1663 – 1687	69	2680	1794	1104
1688 – 1712	70	2720	1820	1120
1713 – 1737	71	2760	1846	1136
1738 – 1762	72	2800	1872	1152
1763 – 1787	73	2840	1898	1168
1788 – 1812	74	2880	1924	1184
1813 – 1837	75	2920	1950	1200
1838 – 1862	76	2960	1976	1216
1863 – 1887	77	3000	2002	1232
1888 – 1912	78	3040	2028	1248
1913 – 1937	79	3080	2054	1264
1938 – 1962	80	3120	2080	1280
1963 – 1987	81	3160	2106	1296
1998 – 2012	82	3200	2132	1312
2013 – 2037	83	3240	2158	1328
2038 – 2062	84	3280	2184	1344
2063 – 2087	85	3320	2210	1360
2088 – 2112	86	3360	2236	1376
2113 – 2137	87	3400	2262	1392
2138 – 2162	88	3440	2288	1408
2163 – 2187	89	3480	2314	1424
2188 – 2212	90	3520	2340	1440
2213 – 2237	91	3560	2366	1456
2238 – 2262	92	3600	2392	1472
2263 – 2287	93	3640	2418	1488
2288 – 2312	94	3680	2444	1504
2313 – 2337	95	3720	2470	1520
2338 – 2362	96	3760	2496	1536
2363 – 2387	97	3800	2522	1552
2388 – 2412	98	3840	2548	1568
2413 – 2437	99	3880	2574	1584
2438 – 2462	100	3920	2600	1600
2463 – 2487	101	3960	2626	1616
2488 – 2512	102	4000	2652	1632

2513 – 2537	103	4040	2678	1648
2538 – 2562	104	4080	2704	1664
2563 – 2587	105	4120	2730	1680
2588 – 2612	106	4160	2756	1696
2613 – 2637	107	4200	2782	1712
2638 – 2662	108	4240	2808	1728
2663 – 2687	109	4280	2834	1744
2688 – 2712	110	4320	2860	1760
2713 – 2737	111	4360	2886	1776
2738 – 2762	112	4400	2912	1792
2763 – 2787	113	4440	2938	1808
2788 – 2812	114	4480	2964	1824
2813 – 2837	115	4520	2990	1840
2838 – 2862	116	4560	3016	1856
2863 – 2887	117	4600	3042	1872
2888 – 2912	118	4640	3068	1888
2913 – 2937	119	4680	3094	1904
2938 – 2962	120	4720	3120	1920
2963 – 2987	121	4760	3146	1936
2988 – 3012	122	4800	3172	1952
3013 – 3037	123	4840	3198	1968
3038 – 3062	124	4880	3224	1984
3063 – 3087	125	4920	3250	2000
3088 – 3112	126	4960	3276	2016
3113 – 3137	127	5000	3302	2032
3138 – 3162	128	5040	3328	2048
3163 – 3187	129	5080	3354	2064
3188 – 3212	130	5120	3380	2080
3213 – 3237	131	5160	3406	2096
3238 – 3262	132	5200	3432	2112
3263 – 3287	133	5240	3458	2128
3288 – 3312	134	5280	3484	2144
3313 – 3337	135	5320	3510	2160
3338 – 3362	136	5360	3536	2176
3363 – 3387	137	5400	3562	2192
3388 – 3412	138	5440	3588	2208
3413 – 3437	139	5480	3614	2224
3438 – 3462	140	5520	3640	2240
3463 – 3487	141	5560	3666	2256
3488 – 3512	142	5600	3692	2272
3513 – 3537	143	5640	3718	2288
3538 – 3562	144	5680	3744	2304
3563 – 3587	145	5720	3770	2320
3588 – 3612	146	5760	3796	2336
3613 – 3637	147	5800	3822	2352
3638 – 3662	148	5840	3848	2368
3663 – 3687	149	5880	3874	2384
3688 – 3712	150	5920	3900	2400
3713 – 3737	151	5960	3926	2416
3738 – 3762	152	6000	3952	2432
3763 – 3787	153	6040	3978	2448
3788 – 3812	154	6080	4004	2464
3813 – 3837	155	6120	4030	2480
3838 – 3862	156	6160	4056	2496
3863 – 3887	157	6200	4082	2512
3888 – 3912	158	6240	4108	2528
3913 – 3937	159	6280	4134	2544
3938 – 3962	160	6320	4160	2560
3963 – 3987	161	6360	4186	2576
3988 – 4012	162	6400	4212	2592
4013 – 4037	163	6440	4238	2608
4038 – 4062	164	6480	4264	2624
4063 – 4087	165	6520	4290	2640
4088 – 4112	166	6560	4316	2656
4113 – 4137	167	6600	4342	2672
4138 – 4162	168	6640	4368	2688
4163 – 4187	169	6680	4394	2704
4188 – 4212	170	6720	4420	2720
4213 – 4237	171	6760	4446	2736
4238 – 4262	172	6800	4472	2752
4263 – 4287	173	6840	4498	2768
4288 – 4312	174	6880	4524	2784
4313 – 4337	175	6920	4550	2800
4338 – 4362	176	6960	4576	2816
4363 – 4387	177	7000	4602	2832

4388 – 4412	178	7040	4628	2848
4413 – 4437	179	7080	4654	2864
4438 – 4462	180	7120	4680	2880
4463 – 4487	181	7160	4706	2896
4488 – 4512	182	7200	4732	2912
4513 – 4537	183	7240	4758	2928
4538 – 4562	184	7280	4784	2944
4563 – 4587	185	7320	4810	2960
4588 – 4612	186	7360	4836	2976
4613 – 4637	187	7400	4862	2992
4638 – 4662	188	7440	4888	3008
4663 – 4687	189	7480	4914	3024
4688 – 4712	190	7520	4940	3040
4713 – 4737	191	7560	4966	3056
4738 – 4762	192	7600	4992	3072
4763 – 4787	193	7640	5018	3088
4788 – 4812	194	7680	5044	3104
4813 – 4837	195	7720	5070	3120
4838 – 4862	196	7760	5096	3136
4863 – 4887	197	7800	5122	3152
4888 – 4912	198	7840	5148	3168
4913 – 4937	199	7880	5174	3184
4938 – 4962	200	7920	5200	3200
4963 – 4987	201	7960	5226	3216
4988 – 5012	202	8000	5252	3232
5013 – 5037	203	8040	5278	3248
5038 – 5062	204	8080	5304	3264
5063 – 5087	205	8120	5330	3280
5088 – 5112	206	8160	5356	3296
5113 – 5137	207	8200	5382	3312
5138 – 5162	208	8240	5408	3328
5163 – 5187	209	8280	5434	3344
5188 – 5212	210	8320	5460	3360
5213 – 5237	211	8360	5486	3376
5238 – 5262	212	8400	5512	3392
5263 – 5287	213	8440	5538	3408
5288 – 5312	214	8480	5564	3424
5313 – 5337	215	8520	5590	3440
5338 – 5362	216	8560	5616	3456
5363 – 5387	217	8600	5642	3472
5388 – 5412	218	8640	5668	3488
5413 – 5437	219	8680	5694	3504
5438 – 5462	220	8720	5720	3520
5463 – 5487	221	8760	5746	3536
5488 – 5512	222	8800	5772	3552
5513 – 5537	223	8840	5798	3568
5538 – 5562	224	8880	5824	3584
5563 – 5587	225	8920	5850	3600
5588 – 5612	226	8960	5876	3616
5613 – 5637	227	9000	5902	3632
5638 – 5662	228	9040	5928	3648
5663 – 5687	229	9080	5954	3664
5688 – 5712	230	9120	5980	3680
5713 – 5737	231	9160	6006	3696
5738 – 5762	232	9200	6032	3712
5763 – 5787	233	9240	6058	3728
5788 – 5812	234	9280	6084	3744
5813 – 5837	235	9320	6110	3760
5838 – 5862	236	9360	6136	3776
5863 – 5887	237	9400	6162	3792
5888 – 5912	238	9440	6188	3808
5913 – 5937	239	9480	6214	3824
5938 – 5962	240	9520	6240	3840
5963 – 5987	241	9560	6266	3856
5988 – 6012	242	9600	6292	3872
6013 – 6037	243	9640	6318	3888
6038 – 6062	244	9680	6344	3904
6063 – 6087	245	9720	6370	3920
6088 – 6112	246	9760	6396	3936
6113 – 6137	247	9800	6422	3952
6138 – 6162	248	9840	6448	3968
6163 – 6187	249	9880	6474	3984
6188 – 6212	250	9920	6500	4000
6213 – 6237	251	9960	6526	4016
6238 – 6262	252	10000	6552	4032

6263 – 6287	253	10040	6578	4048
6288 – 6312	254	10080	6604	4064
6313 – 6337	255	10120	6630	4080
6338 – 6362	256	10160	6656	4096
6363 – 6387	257	10200	6682	4112
6388 – 6412	258	10240	6708	4128
6413 – 6437	259	10280	6734	4144
6438 – 6462	260	10320	6760	4160
6463 – 6487	261	10360	6786	4176
6488 – 6512	262	10400	6812	4192
6513 – 6537	263	10440	6838	4208
6538 – 6562	264	10480	6864	4224
6563 – 6587	265	10520	6890	4240
6588 – 6612	266	10560	6916	4256
6613 – 6637	267	10600	6942	4272
6638 – 6662	268	10640	6968	4288
6663 – 6687	269	10680	6994	4304
6688 – 6712	270	10720	7020	4320
6713 – 6737	271	10760	7046	4336
6738 – 6762	272	10800	7072	4352
6763 – 6787	273	10840	7098	4368
6788 – 6812	274	10880	7124	4384
6813 – 6837	275	10920	7150	4400
6838 – 6862	276	10960	7176	4416
6863 – 6887	277	11000	7202	4432
6888 – 6912	278	11040	7228	4448
6913 – 6937	279	11080	7254	4464
6938 – 6962	280	11120	7280	4480
6963 – 6987	281	11160	7306	4496
6988 – 7012	282	11200	7332	4512
7013 – 7037	283	11240	7358	4528
7038 – 7062	284	11280	7384	4544
7063 – 7087	285	11320	7410	4560
7088 – 7112	286	11360	7436	4576
7113 – 7137	287	11400	7462	4592
7138 – 7162	288	11440	7488	4608
7163 – 7187	289	11480	7514	4624
7188 – 7212	290	11520	7540	4640
7213 – 7237	291	11560	7566	4656
7238 – 7262	292	11600	7592	4672
7263 – 7287	293	11640	7618	4688
7288 – 7312	294	11680	7644	4704
7313 – 7337	295	11720	7670	4720
7338 – 7362	296	11760	7696	4736
7363 – 7387	297	11800	7722	4752
7388 – 7412	298	11840	7748	4768
7413 – 7437	299	11880	7774	4784
7438 – 7462	300	11920	7800	4800
7463 – 7487	301	11960	7826	4816
7488 – 7512	302	12000	7852	4832
7513 – 7537	303	12040	7878	4848
7538 – 7562	304	12080	7904	4864
7563 – 7587	305	12120	7930	4880
7588 – 7612	306	12160	7956	4896
7613 – 7637	307	12200	7982	4912
7638 – 7662	308	12240	8008	4928
7663 – 7687	309	12280	8034	4944
7688 – 7712	310	12320	8060	4960
7713 – 7737	311	12360	8086	4976
7738 – 7762	312	12400	8112	4992
7763 – 7787	313	12440	8138	5008
7788 – 7812	314	12480	8164	5024
7813 – 7837	315	12520	8190	5040
7838 – 7862	316	12560	8216	5056
7863 – 7887	317	12600	8242	5072
7888 – 7912	318	12640	8268	5088
7913 – 7937	319	12680	8294	5104
7938 – 7962	320	12720	8320	5120
7963 – 7987	321	12760	8346	5136
7988 – 8012	322	12800	8372	5152
8013 – 8037	323	12840	8398	5168
8038 – 8062	324	12880	8424	5184
8063 – 8087	325	12920	8450	5200
8088 – 8112	326	12960	8476	5216
8113 – 8137	327	13000	8502	5232

8138 – 8162	328	13040	8528	5248
8163 – 8187	329	13080	8554	5264
8188 – 8212	330	13120	8580	5280
8213 – 8237	331	13160	8606	5296
8238 – 8262	332	13200	8632	5312
8263 – 8287	333	13240	8658	5328
8288 – 8312	334	13280	8684	5344
8313 – 8337	335	13320	8710	5360
8338 – 8362	336	13360	8736	5376
8363 – 8387	337	13400	8762	5392
8388 – 8412	338	13440	8788	5408
8413 – 8437	339	13480	8814	5424
8438 – 8462	340	13520	8840	5440
8463 – 8487	341	13560	8866	5456
8488 – 8512	342	13600	8892	5472
8513 – 8537	343	13640	8918	5488
8538 – 8562	344	13680	8944	5504
8563 – 8587	345	13720	8970	5520
8588 – 8612	346	13760	8996	5536
8613 – 8637	347	13800	9022	5552
8638 – 8662	348	13840	9048	5568
8663 – 8687	349	13880	9074	5584
8688 – 8712	350	13920	9100	5600
8713 – 8737	351	13960	9126	5616
8738 – 8762	352	14000	9152	5632
8763 – 8787	353	14040	9178	5648
8788 – 8812	354	14080	9204	5664
8813 – 8837	355	14120	9230	5680
8838 – 8862	356	14160	9256	5696
8863 – 8887	357	14200	9282	5712
8888 – 8912	358	14240	9308	5728
8913 – 8937	359	14280	9334	5844
8938 – 8962	360	14320	9360	5760
8963 – 8987	361	14360	9386	5776
8988 – 9012	362	14400	9412	5792
9013 – 9037	363	14440	9438	5808
9038 – 9062	364	14480	9464	5824
9063 – 9087	365	14520	9490	5840
9088 – 9112	366	14560	9516	5856
9113 – 9137	367	14600	9542	5872
9138 – 9162	368	14640	9568	5888
9163 – 9187	369	14680	9594	5904
9188 – 9212	370	14720	9620	5920
9213 – 9237	371	14760	9646	5936
9238 – 9262	372	14800	9672	5952
9263 – 9287	373	14840	9698	5968
9288 – 9312	374	14880	9724	5984
9313 – 9337	375	14920	9750	6000
9338 – 9362	376	14960	9776	6016
9363 – 9387	377	15000	9802	6032
9388 – 9412	378	15040	9828	6048
9413 – 9437	379	15080	9854	6064
9438 – 9462	380	15120	9880	6080
9463 – 9487	381	15160	9906	6096
9488 – 9512	382	15200	9932	6112
9513 – 9537	383	15240	9958	6128
9538 – 9562	384	15280	9984	6144
9563 – 9587	385	15320	10010	6160
9588 – 9612	386	15360	10036	6176
9613 – 9637	387	15400	10062	6192
9638 – 9662	388	15440	10088	6208
9663 – 9687	389	15480	10114	6224
9688 – 9712	390	15520	10140	6240
9713 – 9737	391	15560	10166	6256
9738 – 9762	392	15600	10192	6272
9763 – 9787	393	15640	10218	6288
9788 – 9812	394	15680	10244	6304
9813 – 9837	395	15720	10270	6320
9838 – 9862	396	15760	10296	6336
9863 – 9887	397	15800	10322	6352
9888 – 9912	398	15840	10348	6368
9913 – 9937	399	15880	10374	6384
9938 – 9962	400	15920	10400	6400
9963 – 9987	401	15960	10426	6416
9988 – 10012	402	16000	10452	6432

10013 – 10037	403	16040	10478	6448
10038 – 10062	404	16080	10504	6464
10063 – 10087	405	16120	10530	6480
10088 – 10112	406	16160	10556	6496
10113 – 10137	407	16200	10582	6512
10138 – 10162	408	16240	10608	6528
10163 – 10187	409	16280	10634	6544
10188 – 10212	410	16320	10660	6560
10213 – 10237	411	16360	10686	6576
10238 – 10262	412	16400	10712	6592
10263 – 10287	413	16440	10738	6608
10288 – 10312	414	16480	10764	6624
10313 – 10337	415	16520	10790	6640
10338 – 10362	416	16560	10816	6656
10363 – 10387	417	16600	10842	6672
10388 – 10412	418	16640	10868	6688
10413 – 10437	419	16680	10894	6704
10438 – 10462	420	16720	10920	6720
10463 – 10487	421	16760	10946	6736
10488 – 10512	422	16800	10972	6752
10513 – 10537	423	16840	10998	6768
10538 – 10562	424	16880	11024	6784
10563 – 10587	425	16920	11050	6800
10588 – 10612	426	16960	11076	6816
10613 – 10637	427	17000	11102	6832
10638 – 10662	428	17040	11128	6848
10663 – 10687	429	17080	11154	6864
10688 – 10712	430	17120	11180	6880
10713 – 10737	431	17160	11206	6896
10738 – 10762	432	17200	11232	6912
10763 – 10787	433	17240	11258	6928
10788 – 10812	434	17280	11284	6944
10813 – 10837	435	17320	11310	6960
10838 – 10862	436	17360	11336	6976
10863 – 10887	437	17400	11362	6992
10888 – 10912	438	17440	11388	7008
10913 – 10937	439	17480	11414	7024
10938 – 10962	440	17520	11440	7040
10963 – 10987	441	17560	11466	7056
10988 – 11012	442	17600	11492	7072
11013 – 11037	443	17640	11518	7088
11038 – 11062	444	17680	11544	7104
11063 – 11087	445	17720	11570	7120
11088 – 11112	446	17760	11596	7136
11113 – 11137	447	17800	11622	7152
11138 – 11162	448	17840	11648	7168
11163 – 11187	449	17880	11674	7184
11188 – 11212	450	17920	11700	7200
11213 – 11237	451	17960	11726	7216
11238 – 11262	452	18000	11752	7232
11263 – 11287	453	18040	11778	7248
11288 – 11312	454	18080	11804	7264
11313 – 11337	455	18120	11830	7280
11338 – 11362	456	18160	11856	7296
11363 – 11387	457	18200	11882	7312
11388 – 11412	458	18240	11908	7328
11413 – 11437	459	18280	11934	7344
11438 – 11462	460	18320	11960	7360
11463 – 11487	461* (2004)	18360	11986	7376
11488 – 11512	462	18400	12012	7392
11513 – 11537	463	18440	12038	7408
11538 – 11562	464	18480	12064	7424
11563 – 11587	465	18520	12090	7440
11588 – 11612	466	18560	12116	7456
11613 – 11637	467	18600	12142	7472
11638 – 11662	468	18640	12168	7488
11663 – 11687	469	18680	12194	7504
11688 – 11712	470	18720	12220	7520
11713 – 11737	471	18760	12246	7536
11738 – 11762	472	18800	12272	7552
11763 – 11787	473	18840	12298	7568
11788 – 11812	474	18880	12324	7584
11813 – 11837	475	18920	12350	7600
11838 – 11862	476	18960	12376	7616
11863 – 11887	477	19000	12402	7632

11888 – 11912	478* (2005)	19040	12428	7648
11913 – 11937	479	19080	12454	7664
11938 – 11962	480	19120	12480	7680
11963 – 11987	481	19160	12506	7696
11988 – 12012	482	19200	12532	7712
12013 – 12037	483	19240	12558	7728
12038 – 12062	484	19280	12584	7744
12063 – 12087	485	19320	12610	7760
12088 – 12112	486	19360	12636	7776
12113 – 12137	487	19400	12662	7792
12138 – 12162	488	19440	12688	7808
12163 – 12187	489	19480	12714	7824
12188 – 12212	490	19520	12740	7840
12213 – 12237	491	19560	12766	7856
12238 – 12262	492	19600	12792	7872
12263 – 12287	493	19640	12818	7888
12288 – 12312	494	19680	12844	7904
12313 – 12337	495	19720	12870	7920
12338 – 12362	496	19760	12896	7936
12363 – 12387	497* (2006)	19800	12922	7952
12388 – 12412	498	19840	12948	7968
12413 – 12437	499	19880	12974	7984
12438 – 12462	500	19920	13000	8000
12463 – 12487	501	19960	13026	8016
12488 – 12512	502	20000	13052	8032
12513 – 12537	503	20040	13078	8048
12538 – 12562	504	20080	13104	8064
12563 – 12587	505	20120	13130	8080
12588 – 12612	506	20160	13156	8096
12613 – 12637	507	20200	13182	8112
12638 – 12662	508	20240	13208	8128
12663 – 12687	509	20280	13234	8144
12688 – 12712	510	20320	13260	8160
12713 – 12737	511	20360	13286	8176
12738 – 12762	512	20400	13312	8192
12763 – 12787	513	20440	13338	8208
12788 – 12812	514	20480	13364	8224
12813 – 12837	515	20520	13390	8240
12838 – 12862	516	20560	13416	8256
12863 – 12887	517	20600	13442	8272
12888 – 12912	518	20640	13468	8288
12913 – 12937	519	20680	13494	8304
12938 – 12962	520* (2007)	20720	13520	8320
12963 – 12987	521	20760	13546	8336
12988 – 13012	522	20800	13572	8352
13013 – 13037	523	20840	13598	8368
13038 – 13062	524	20880	13624	8384
13063 – 13087	525	20920	13650	8400
13088 – 13112	526	20960	13676	8416
13113 – 13137	527	21000	13702	8432
13138 – 13162	528	21040	13728	8448
13163 – 13187	529	21080	13754	8464
13188 – 13212	530	21120	13780	8480
13213 – 13237	531	21160	13806	8496
13238 – 13262	532	21200	13832	8512
13263 – 13287	533	21240	13858	8528
13288 – 13312	534	21280	13884	8544
13313 – 13337	535	21320	13910	8560
13338 – 13362	536	21360	13936	8576
13363 – 13387	537	21400	13962	8592
13388 – 13412	538	21440	13988	8608
13413 – 13437	539* (2008)	21480	14014	8624
13438 – 13462	540	21520	14040	8640
13463 – 13487	541	21560	14066	8656
13488 – 13512	542	21600	14092	8672
13513 – 13537	543	21640	14118	8688
13538 – 13562	544	21680	14144	8704
13563 – 13587	545	21720	14170	8720
13588 – 13612	546	21760	14196	8736
13613 – 13637	547	21800	14222	8752
13638 – 13662	548	21840	14248	8768
13663 – 13687	549	21880	14274	8784
13688 – 13712	550	21920	14300	8800
13713 – 13737	551	21960	14326	8816

13738 – 13762	552	22000	14352	8832
13763 – 13787	553	22040	14378	8848
13788 – 13812	554	22080	14404	8864
13813 – 13837	555	22120	14430	8880
13838 – 13862	556	22160	14456	8896
13863 – 13887	557	22200	14482	8912
13888 – 13912	558* (2009)	22240	14508	8928
13913 – 13937	559	22280	14534	8944
13938 – 13962	560	22320	14560	8960
13963 – 13987	561	22360	14586	8976
13988 – 14012	562	22400	14612	8992
14013 – 14037	563	22440	14638	9008
14038 or more	564* (2010)	22480	14664	9024

The key columns you need to look at are A, C and D (or E if you only qualify for 15 weeks unemployment benefits). To be eligible for unemployment at the level set by your highest earning quarter you must have at least earned the income specified in column 3 during your entire base period.

To qualify for the maximum $564 you must have earned at least 20 percent of your qualifying income for that tier ($4,500) in other another quarter (or quarters) besides your high earning quarter. For instance, even if you earned $15,000 in your high-earning quarter, you must still have earned $4,500 during the rest of the year.

Filing for unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania is divided into two stages: the initial claim, and your ongoing weekly claims.

The Initial Claim

The initial claim starts when you first lose your job. You need to apply through one of Pennsylvania’s eight Unemployment Compensation Service Centers or Call Centers. If it has been a while since you claimed unemployment benefits you might be surprised to find out you no longer need to apply in person. In fact, rather than reporting to any physical office, you apply online or by phone. No more standing in line to file your claim. That is a thing of the past, it is cheaper, more convenient and faster to do it online or over the phone.

Applying for Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation is easy, but if you make a mistake you could delay your compensation payments or get disqualified altogether.

Step 1.

Go to www.uc.pa.gov or click here If you do not have regular access to the internet you can go to any of the Pennsylvania Career Link offices for free internet and phone access. Click here to search for an office near you.

You can claim online at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also claim by phone by calling any of the UC Service Centers from Sunday 9.am to 4:30 pm and Monday to Friday 7:00 am to 8:30 pm. (See contact details below).

Step 2

File your application. You will need to provide the Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Department with personal information to process your application. This includes:

If you worked in another state in the last 18 months you will need to provide a list of all your previous employers and their mailing addresses. If you worked for the Federal Government in the last 18 months you will the information contained in your Standard From 8, 50 and you W-2s. On the other hand if you were in the military in the last 18 months, make sure you have your DD214 Member Copy 4.

Step 3

Wait for your financial determination form in the mail, your PIN number and the date you must file your first bi-weekly claim.

Weekly Claims.

Step 4

File your first unemployment benefit week (which you will not be paid) to start receiving subsequent payments. You will then have to continue filing your bi-weekly claims to continue receiving payments. You can file your bi-weekly claims online or by calling 888.255.4728. If you fail to make a weekly claim your unemployment benefits claim will become inactive and you will no longer receive payments.

Click here for UC Call Centers contact details.

The requirements to qualify for unemployment insurance compensation in Pennsylvania are set by Federal and State rules. Because Unemployment Insurance is regulated by federal – state policy the specific requirements and benefits vary widely by state. For instance, the percentage of unemployed workers who receive benefits range from 17 to 57 percent depending on where you live. The amount of standard unemployment benefits you receive also vary widely from state to state. For example the national average number of unemployment benefits people receive is 15 weeks, while in Pennsylvania the average is nearly 26 weeks (25.9), the maximum available.

There are three main requirements you must meet to qualify for unemployment in Pennsylvania: 1) Past Earnings Requirements, 2) Nonmonetary Eligibility Criteria and Legal Residence Criteria.

Past Earnings Requirements.

The general federal guideline is very vague: You “must have previous strong attachment to the labor force”. In practice, each state must determine what level of attachment you must have to qualify. In Pennsylvania you must have received a minimum income in your previous 1-year base period of $1,320, and at least $800 must have been earned in one quarter (three month periods starting from January to March) to receive the minimum weekly benefits package. To receive the maximum $565 weekly benefits you must have earned at least $20,700 in your base period and $12,940 in your highest earning quarter.

Nonmonetary Criteria

The federal guideline on this requirement is also vague. To qualify you must be unemployed involuntarily through no fault of your own, and must be able, available for, and actively seeking full-time work.

Again, each state sets the specific rules. In Pennsylvania the burden of proof is on you if you voluntarily leave your job. This means that if your employer does not sack you for lack of work and you leave of your own initiative you must have a good excuse. If you are sacked for not fulfilling your job description, arriving late, stealing or some other misdemeanor, you may not qualify unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State guideline on this matter is you must have “good cause” for quitting work. What amounts to good cause? This is determined on a case by case basis. For instance, if your spouse is in the military and is transferred you can claim good cause for quitting your job and moving. If you were being harassed at work and your employer was not willing to solve the situation (and you have evidence of this), you could prove “good cause” for leaving.

Legal Residence Criteria.

The only legal residence requirement to receive unemployment insurance compensation is to be a legal residence with a right to work.

Now you know the general requirements for receiving UI benefits you are ready for your next step: filing your claim. Learn the best way to do this in our next article of our Guide To Filing An Unemployment Compensation Claim series.

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