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OPTIONS FOR RECEIVING PAYMENT If you are eligible for UC benefits, you may receive your payment: • Through direct deposit – This option puts money directly into your checking account. o If you received UC benefits by direct deposit within 12 months of filing your current claim/application, and your bank account is still active, direct deposit will carry over to your current UC claim. o If the bank account you previously used was closed or you need to make changes, you should request to stop direct deposit. If you stop direct deposit, you will be switched to a debit card, unless you provide new bank information. • On a debit card – This option provides you with a debit card from the commonwealth’s chosen debit card provider. You can make purchases, get cash, and pay bills everywhere debit is accepted. o If you do not have a direct deposit account on file, you will automatically be issued a debit card. You may switch to direct deposit if that is your preferred payment method. Debit cards are initially mailed to you so that you are ready when benefits are paid. There will be no money on the debit card until you have been determined eligible for benefits, file your weekly claims, and the benefits are paid to you. Please visit Direct Deposit of UC Benefits at www.uc.pa.gov/DirectDeposit or Payment Options at www.uc.pa.gov/DebitCard to access online forms, find instructions and learn more. If you have any questions about your payment method, please call the Pennsylvania Treasury, at 877-869-1956. AMOUNT OF UC BENEFITS After you file a claim for UC benefits, you will receive a Monetary Determination, or Notice of Financial Determination (Form UC-44F), in the mail. The Notice of Financial Determination explains: • The amount of benefits you are eligible to receive, if you become approved, and how that amount was calculated • The number of full weeks you will be eligible for benefits. If you report earnings and collect partial benefits, the number of weeks will be extended -- not to exceed 52 weeks. • Information about how to file an appeal or request a monetary reconsideration if you disagree with the determination Please review the UC Benefits Financial Charts (www.uc.pa.gov/FinancialCharts) for the maximum amount of benefits you can receive per week in Pennsylvania. WAITING WEEK The first week of your claim is considered a waiting week. You must file a payment request, or weekly certification and meet all eligibility requirements during this week, but you will not be paid. Your payments will start the following week, assuming you are still eligible for benefits and fulfill all requirements. For example, consider a situation where John lost his job on the first Monday of the month and filed an initial claim for UC benefits on the same day. Even though John submits a certification for the first week of benefits, he will not be paid for this waiting week. The next week, if John fulfills all eligibility requirements, he will be eligible to receive payment. See the Maintaining Your UC Eligibility section for more details on the continuing eligibility requirements. Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Handbook 5