State Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry administers unemployment compensation (UC) through its Office of Unemployment Compensation. When a claimant dies, benefits already due may be paid without letters of administration under 34 Pa. Code § 65.72, in a set order beginning with the surviving spouse.
Administering agency
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry — Office of Unemployment Compensation
Authority
Pa. UC Law § 403 (43 P.S. § 803); 34 Pa. Code § 65.72 (payments for deceased or incompetent claimants)
State Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania: key facts
- Administering agency
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Unemployment Compensation.
- UC system
- benefits.uc.pa.gov
- Service center
- 888-313-7284, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; UCHelp@pa.gov.
- Reporting a death
- Report the death and request the deceased-claimant application form through the UC Service Center at 888-313-7284 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.) or by secure message to UCHelp@pa.gov.
- Documentation for final payment
- Application for benefits due a deceased claimant is made on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Department. Letters of administration are not required — 34 Pa. Code § 65.72(a) allows payment without them.
- Who may claim
- Under 34 Pa. Code § 65.72(a), benefits due a deceased claimant are paid in this order: the surviving spouse; the surviving child or children; the surviving parents; the eldest surviving brother or sister; a person who is not a relative, having an interest in the estate.
Governing law: Pa. UC Law § 403 (43 P.S. § 803); 34 Pa. Code § 65.72 (payments for deceased or incompetent claimants)
Steps to take when someone dies
- Contact the Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation at 888-313-7284 or UCHelp@pa.gov to report the claimant's death.
- Ask the Office for the form it prescribes for payment of benefits due a deceased claimant (34 Pa. Code § 65.72(c)).
- Establish that you are the person entitled to payment under the order in 34 Pa. Code § 65.72(a) — surviving spouse, then children, parents, eldest sibling, or another person with an interest in the estate. Letters of administration are not required.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry — Office of Unemployment Compensation
Phone: 888-313-7284
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
Report the death to the Office of Unemployment Compensation so payments stop. Benefits already due the claimant are governed by 34 Pa. Code § 65.72, which allows payment without letters of administration to the surviving spouse, then children, parents, eldest sibling, or another person with an interest in the estate, on a form prescribed by the Department.
Under 34 Pa. Code § 65.72(a), a final UC payment may be made without letters of administration. The payment goes in this order to: the surviving spouse, the surviving child or children, the surviving parents, the eldest surviving brother or sister, or a person who is not a relative but has an interest in the estate. The claimant must apply on a form prescribed by the Department — contact the UC Service Center at 888-313-7284 or UCHelp@pa.gov to obtain it.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry administers unemployment compensation through its Office of Unemployment Compensation, the UC system at benefits.uc.pa.gov, and the service center at 888-313-7284.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unemployment Benefits in Pennsylvania primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry — Office of Unemployment Compensation
Authority
Pa. UC Law § 403 (43 P.S. § 803); 34 Pa. Code § 65.72 (payments for deceased or incompetent claimants)