Pennsylvania to distribute $300 lost wages assistance funds

An extra $300 a week will soon be going out to Pennsylvania residents who are out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These “lost wages assistance” funds are in addition to a state’s standard payouts for those unemployed, and are designed to be a temporary supplement after the expiration of the $600 weekly federal benefit that was issued under the CARES Act.

The state Department of Labor announced Friday that individuals can begin applying for the funds now and those who qualify will begin receiving the payments as early as Sept. 14.

Only those who are fully or partially unemployed because of COVID-19 are eligible for the $300. Individuals must also have a benefit and dependence allowance of $100 or more per week in benefits.

People receiving benefits from the following programs are eligible:

• Regular Unemployment Compensation (UC);
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC);
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA);
• Pennsylvania Extended Benefits (EB);
• Shared Work or Short-Time Compensation (STC); and
• Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA).

To receive the money the individuals must apply for lost wages assistance by certifying that their unemployment is COVID-19 related.

Those receiving pandemic unemployment assistance do not have to reapply for the certification. Employers must provide the required certification on behalf of any workers receiving shared work program assistance.

The temporary LWA program runs through December or until the federal funding is depleted. Pennsylvania will make public announcements when the final payment date is known.

For more information visit  www.uc.pa.gov.