Rendell Administration Announces Increases In Unemployment and Workers' Compensation Weekly Benefit Limits

HARRISBURG: (December 22)  Labor and Industry Secretary Stephen M. Schmerin today announced increases in the maximum weekly benefits for new unemployment compensation (UC) beneficiaries and new workers’ compensation (WC) claimants, effective the first full week of January 2004. “Pennsylvania’s workforce has been hit hard by the economic downturn, and these weekly increases will provide needed assistance to those who deserve it,” Schmerin said.   Unemployment compensation payments, for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, are generally one half of a worker’s former weekly salary, up to a weekly maximum.   The weekly maximum UC benefit will increase $10 for new claimants on or after Jan. 4, 2004, to $461 a week, from $451 a week.   Workers’ compensation benefits, for workers injured on the job, are generally two-thirds of a worker’s pre-injury wages up to a weekly maximum, which will increase $15, to $690 a week, from $675 a week for workers injured on or after Jan. 1, 2004.