New Pennsylvania regulations, Calculating Benefit's ? 2012 and beyond (qualify, work, state)

[Phil Ivey]

Is pa now averaging the past 36 months to calculate benefits? Before you just needed a high quarter with X amount needed total for the year. Is this rule being used yet?

I was just laid off the 2 days before Christmas so I had a high quarter used to calculate my benefits. My buddies at work at getting laid off this week and wanted to know, as this would drastically reduce benefits calculated because we usually only work 8-10 months a year, and being laid off the rest of the year. Usually Dec-March .

Example on how this would affect benefits. using 20$ an hr. 2011 calculations would be $10k a quarter = 40k a year avg.

2012 Calculations, Working only 9 months would be only $32k a year, this would make your avg high quarter only 8K.

Any input would be appreciated. thanks

[Ariadne22]

PA uses only one method of calculation. Anyone filing in January would have a base year of October 2010-September 2011, as per this:

Base Year (scroll down): http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...9973&mode=2#by

Benefit Calculation: UC Eligibility

Benefit chart: UC Eligibility

[Phil Ivey]

They way benefits are calculated have been changed by senate bill 1030 earlier in 2011. It might not of been updated on there website yet. This is why I'm asking.

I found this link.

http://www.paaflcio.org/?zone=/union...202620Politics

Scroll down to house bill 916 that says..... Changes the way benefits are calculated which lowers benefit amounts – adversely impacting construction workers

[Phil Ivey]

another statement on that site..

HB 916 will make it more difficult for unemployed workers to qualify for unemployment benefits, while it disproportionately impacts women, construction workers, seasonal and low wage workers.

[Ariadne22]

Write your legislators. All I find on the internet is a markup. The Pennsylvania General Assembly Got a lot of PA people on this board. None have been talking about a change in the way benefits are calculated.

[Phil Ivey]

Originally Posted by Ariadne22

Write your legislators. All I find on the internet is a markup. The Pennsylvania General Assembly Got a lot of PA people on this board. None have been talking about a change in the way benefits are calculated.

As per your link SB 1030 states.

(2) (i) The Table Specified for the Determination of Rate
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and Amount of Benefits shall be extended or contracted annually,
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automatically by regulations promulgated by the secretary in
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accordance with the following procedure: for calendar year one
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thousand nine hundred seventy-two and for all subsequent
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calendar years, to a point where the maximum weekly benefit rate
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[equals] shall equal sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of the
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average weekly wage for the [twelve-month] thirty-six-month
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period ending June 30 preceding each calendar year.

[Ariadne22]

Still a markup. PA is three days late and a dollar short about everything these days, but a bill passed months ago with such a significant impact should have been reflected in the info on their website by now. "What will my benefit be" or "How are benefits calculcated" is a FAQ. Can't imagine they wouldn't change this. Call or write someone and find out.

[Phil Ivey]

They already changed the law on "searching for work while laid off" which was in SB 1030 that's all.

[Phil Ivey]

I read the whole thing again, it say's the 36 month weekly calculation won't be in affect til Jan 2013. Thanks for the help

[Ariadne22]

Thanks for the update. Good to know.