How do credit weeks affect my claim in Pennsylvania?

You need to have a minimum of 18 credit weeks in your base year to be eligible for any amount of benefits.

The UCP-41 provides information about other issues that may affect eligibility for unemployment compensation (UC).

Am I eligible to receive unemployment benefits while incarcerated in Pennsylvania?

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A claimant is ineligible for UC benefits for any week of unemployment during which the claimant is incarcerated after a conviction. If the claimant is incarcerated after a conviction for any part of a week, he/she is ineligible for the entire week. For purposes of UC eligibility, a claimant is still “incarcerated” even if on work release, in a half-way house or in a rehabilitation facility as a condition of his/her sentence. Also, a “conviction” includes pleading guilty or no contest to the criminal charge(s).

If a claimant is incarcerated but not yet convicted, the claimant is ineligible for UC benefits if incarcerated for a majority of the week (i.e., the claimant is not able and available for suitable work).

What are credit weeks in Pennsylvania?

A credit week is any week within the base year that you earned at least $116.00.