How Much Unemployment Pays in Pennsylvania
How Pennsylvania calculates weekly unemployment benefits, the current minimum and maximum, and how many weeks you can collect.
Short answer: Your weekly benefit rate comes from the benefit table in the UC Law and is based on your highest-quarter wages. The lowest rate on the table is $68, for highest-quarter wages of $1,688 to $1,712. PA L&I Benefit Guide, Eligibility Information (financial chart); PA CWIA, Three-Year Average Weekly Wage for UC Purposes (rev. Nov. 18, 2025)
| Weekly benefit amount | Your weekly benefit rate comes from the benefit table in the UC Law and is based on your highest-quarter wages. The lowest rate on the table is $68, for highest-quarter wages of $1,688 to $1,712. You may also get a dependent allowance. The maximum weekly benefit cannot rise by more than 4% a year, and it can be frozen if the UC trust fund misses solvency targets. L&I's 2025 Actuarial Evaluation lists $605 as the maximum for 2025. |
|---|---|
| How many weeks | With at least 18 credit weeks, your maximum benefit amount depends on how many credit weeks you have, multiplied by your weekly rate. It is capped at 26 times your weekly benefit rate. |
| Waiting week | Yes. The first week of your claim is an unpaid waiting week, but you must still file a payment request for it. |
Where to get help in Pennsylvania
More Pennsylvania unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Pennsylvania Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Pennsylvania
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Pennsylvania
- Unemployment After Quitting in Pennsylvania
- How to File for Unemployment in Pennsylvania
- All Pennsylvania unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How much is unemployment in Pennsylvania?
Your weekly benefit rate comes from the benefit table in the UC Law and is based on your highest-quarter wages. The lowest rate on the table is $68, for highest-quarter wages of $1,688 to $1,712. You may also get a dependent allowance. The maximum weekly benefit cannot rise by more than 4% a year, and it can be frozen if the UC trust fund misses solvency targets.
How long can you get unemployment in Pennsylvania?
With at least 18 credit weeks, your maximum benefit amount depends on how many credit weeks you have, multiplied by your weekly rate. It is capped at 26 times your weekly benefit rate.
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Pennsylvania?
Yes. The first week of your claim is an unpaid waiting week, but you must still file a payment request for it.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.