PA UC benefits expired after 26 weeks - can I get 13 week extension in 2025?

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania doesn't currently offer any automatic benefit extensions beyond the regular 26 weeks. The 13-week extension program (Extended Benefits or EB) only triggers when state unemployment is extremely high, and PA isn't in that status right now in 2025. You might want to check if you qualify for a new benefit year if you've worked at all during your claim period. Otherwise, I'd recommend contacting PA CareerLink for job search assistance and checking if you qualify for other support programs like SNAP.

Call them!!! you need to talk to a rep directly about ur options. Thye never tell u the whole story on the website! My cousin got denied online but then got aproved when she talked to someone.

I was in a similar situation last year. The 3 weeks of work you mentioned probably isn't enough to qualify for a new claim - you generally need at least 18 credit weeks in your base year, and the pay has to meet certain minimums. Here's what you can do: 1. Double-check if you might qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job was affected by foreign trade 2. Apply for SNAP benefits at compass.state.pa.us 3. Contact your county assistance office for emergency rental assistance 4. Keep filing your biweekly claims even after you hit zero (sometimes they retroactively approve extensions) For medical coding specifically, have you tried remote positions with companies outside PA? The market's better in some other states.

this exact thing happened to me las month!!! so frustrating!!! the system is totally rigged against us. I worked for NINE YEARS at the same company and they gave me the boot with 2 weeks notice. then the state gives me just 26 weeks and says good luck??? how is that fair???

I tried calling PA UC for weeks about my benefits ending and never got through. Then I found this service called Claimyr that connected me to an agent within 20 minutes. You might want to check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent told me that while there aren't any automatic extensions right now, there are sometimes special programs they don't advertise widely. It was worth the call just to know my options for sure instead of guessing.

To answer your question about Allegheny County - yes, they do have emergency rental assistance programs. Contact the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. They can sometimes provide one-time emergency assistance even if you don't qualify for ongoing aid. Regarding your work history - the 3 weeks might still help slightly. PA UC calculates your benefit eligibility based on a "base year" (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). If you file a new claim now, your base year would include different quarters than your original claim, potentially including those 3 weeks of work.

@OP - After you exhaust your benefits, you should file for a new claim immediately. Even if you don't qualify for a full new benefit year, sometimes they can determine if you're eligible for partial benefits based on your limited work. The key is to continue your weekly job search activities and document everything. Medical coding is actually still in demand, but many employers are being extremely picky right now. One thing that helped me - join the AAPC forums (American Academy of Professional Coders) if you haven't already. They sometimes have job leads that never make it to the public job boards.

did u try amazon? there hiring like crazy in PA right now. not ideal but its somthing until u find coding work again

I just want to correct something - make sure you file your biweekly claims even if your balance is zero. This maintains your claim as active in the system, which is important if: 1) any extension programs are suddenly authorized, or 2) there's an adjustment to your claim for any reason. I've seen people lose out on retroactive benefits because they stopped filing when their balance hit zero. Also, maintaining your active claim status can sometimes make it easier if you need to file a new claim later. As for the Claimyr service mentioned above - I've personally used it when I couldn't get through during my appeal process. It's definitely worth it when you absolutely need to speak with someone.