Unemployment Compensation
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How To Successfully Navigate Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation System

Losing your employment can be one of the toughest times in your life. You have prided yourself in making your own living by working hard. Now, all of a sudden, you have no job and are forced by your situation to apply for unemployment compensation benefits. This can be a humbling and stressful experience in itself. It can be made even more stressful if your former employer tries to challenge your right to receive unemployment compensation benefits.

Financial And Benefit Eligibility For Unemployment

When you apply for unemployment compensation, two determinations are made – first, a determination is made on your financial eligibility, which will tell you the amount (if any) of unemployment compensation per week you are entitled to, depending on whether you are partially or fully unemployed. Second, a determination is made as to your benefit eligibility – basically, this is a determination of whether or not you should receive unemployment compensation benefits given the factual circumstances that led to your unemployment.

Fight For Compensation At De Novo Hearings

Some people may find that they are, at least initially, denied financial eligibility and/or benefit eligibility when they apply for unemployment compensation benefits. Others may find that they are granted financial and benefit eligibility, but their employer disagrees with the initial determination and appeals it.

Either situation will most likely lead you to a de novo hearing in front of a referee (hearing officer). A de novo unemployment compensation hearing is essentially a hearing where both the employer and claimant have an opportunity to present their side of the story to a referee.

Boost Your Case With An Attorney’s Guidance

Attending one of these hearings can make you feel like a “fish out of water,” as most people have no lawyering experience and may not be able to correctly identify relevant issues to discuss, as well as having no knowledge of the Pennsylvania rules of evidence or case law which apply to these hearings.

Attorneys from Laura Robbins Law, L.L.C., can assist you in preparing for a de novo hearing, and can guide you in effectively presenting your unemployment compensation case to a hearing referee so he/she understands your side of the story.

Get The Legal Support You Need To Gain Unemployment Compensation

For more information about unemployment compensation in Pennsylvania, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s website at: http://www.uc.pa.gov. For legal representation and advice regarding your unemployment compensation matter, please call the offices of Laura Robbins Law, L.L.C., in State College at 814-753-4625.