Can I Collect Unemployment in Pennsylvania if My Company Moved?

If you live in Pennsylvania and find yourself out of a job because your company moved, you may be able to collect unemployment benefits. But you may have difficulty gaining compensation if your employer offered you a position at a new location, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

Eligibility

You must have earned at least 16 credits within the first four quarters of the previous five quarters before the date you apply for benefits. To do this, you needed to make $50 or more in at least 16 different calendar weeks, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. If you suffer a work-related injury in the previous 65 weeks before termination, you can receive credits even if you did not work.

Quitting

If you quit your job because your employer moved and he offered you a position at a new location, you will not receive benefits unless the move would have created a severe disruption under one of the exceptions under Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law. Common exceptions include an inability to find transportation to the new location, an inferior position at the company's new location or serious health problems.

Termination

If you have the minimum amount of credits, you can collect full unemployment compensation if your employer moves its business or closes down a branch of the business, resulting in your termination. If you move to a new business location within Pennsylvania and experience reduced hours, you can receive unemployment benefits for a portion of your lost wages, according to Pearce Law Firm.

Warning

While you should file an application for Pennsylvania unemployment compensation regardless of your circumstances, your claim may be rejected if you quit your job due to the relocation of your company . If a claim is rejected, you must file an appeal with the Department of Labor and Industry within 15 days after you received the rejection notice. You will then have to prove to the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Board of Review that you had a legitimate reason for quitting your job, according to the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

References

• Pennsylvania Bar Association: Unemployment Compensation
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry: Financial Eligibility Notice of UC Benefits
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry: Benefit Eligibility
• Pearce Law Firm: Questions About Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation
• PA.gov: Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation