Extra federal unemployment aid will soon end for 500,000 Pennsylvanians

PITTSBURGH — More than a half-million jobless Pennsylvanians receiving temporary aid from three federal unemployment programs will see those checks end as of Sept. 4, the state said.

>>> RELATED STORY: Temporary federal unemployment benefits to end in Pennsylvania in September

The state Department of Labor and Industry said it is working with organizations and agencies to identify programs and support services for those who will lose benefits from the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

For the two week-period from July 25 to Aug. 7, there were 77,743 claimants receiving the regular state unemployment compensation, while there were 174,572 receiving the Pandemic Emergency UC and 387,932 people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for freelance and gig workers, the state Labor & Industry department said.

In the seven-county Pittsburgh region, which includes Westmoreland County, there were 72,600 jobless in June. The number of those unemployed who would lose that extra aid was not available.

The Pandemic Emergency UC provided additional weeks to individuals enrolled in the state’s unemployment compensation program.

When PEUC ends Sept. 4, the state said its unemployment compensation program will revert to providing up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits to eligible individuals. But, those who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular unemployment compensation benefits will stop getting payments for weeks of unemployment under that claim, after Sept. 4.

Concert venues in Pittsburgh area requiring masks