Dynamic Directions

11/07/2020

It's getting cold! LIHEAP helps those who are having trouble paying to heat their home → bit.ly/LIHEAPPA

04/04/2020

This can be an opportunity for many people. A stimulus check, unemployment that at minimum will replace your net pay, many workers will get a temporary increase.Remember to have the taxes taken from that unemployment check or you may have a bad surprise when you do your taxes next year. Use this stay at home time to make a budget and get on sound financial footing. Late fees and penalties are being waived by most companies; utilities are keeping gas, water and electric supplied and have suspended shutoffs. Internet providers are providing free service for at least 90 days. Don't kick the can down the road. Material things are no good if you eventually have no home to put them in.

03/18/2020

Stay calm, stay safe. We love you.

03/17/2020

03/17/2020

⚠️FYI: Please note that the UC waiting week has been suspended. Eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed.

👩‍💻 The fast way to apply is online: https://www.paclaims.pa.gov/UCEN/

Please be patient -- due to high demand, our UC system may experience intermittent slowness. Our UC team is working hard to process your claims.

For more information, visit ➡️ http://uc.pa.gov

⚠️FYI: Please note that the UC waiting week has been suspended. Eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed.

👩‍💻 The fast way to apply is online: https://www.paclaims.pa.gov/UCEN/

Please be patient -- due to high demand, our UC system may experience intermittent slowness. Our UC team is working hard to process your claims.

For more information, visit ➡️ http://uc.pa.gov

03/16/2020

03/16/2020

Pennsylvania Workers Affected by COVID-19 May be Eligible for Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Harrisburg, PA – Workers in Pennsylvania who are impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for Unemployment and Workers' Compensation benefits, Secretary of Labor & Industry (L&I) Jerry Oleksiak announced today.

Unemployment compensation claims should be submitted online for faster processing.

"As Pennsylvania and the nation implement mitigation efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is important to relieve some of the financial pressures our workers are facing so they can focus on remaining healthy and safe," said Secretary Oleksiak. "The best option is for employers to offer their employees paid time off. If leave is not available and your job has been impacted by this new virus, you may be eligible for benefits either through unemployment or workers' compensation. If you work in a job or industry that likely will be affected, prepare now by knowing what you need and how to file so your application can be processed quickly."

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION (UC) BENEFITS

You may be eligible if:

Your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19;
Your employer reduces your hours because of COVID-19;
You have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread COVID-19; or
You have been told to quarantine or self-isolate, or live/work in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts.
Applying online is the fastest and easiest way to get started. You can find call center hours and other vital info at www.uc.pa.gov; learn all UC benefit requirements by visiting the self-service guide; or use UC LiveChat.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION (WC) BENEFITS

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 in your workplace, you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation (WC) by either:

Notifying your employer to file a typical "disease-as-injury" WC claim, which requires you to provide medical evidence that you were exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace.
Notifying your employer to file an "occupational disease" WC claim, which requires you to show that COVID-19 is occurring more in your occupation/industry than in the general population.
Claims:

All WC claims (including COVID-19) are thoroughly reviewed, and decisions are made based on the facts and merits of each claim and the law.
If your COVID-19 claim is denied, you may file a petition with the WC Office of Adjudication.
Learn more about Workers' Compensation and the Injured Worker.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health's dedicated coronavirus webpage that is updated daily.

MEDIA CONTACT: Penny Ickes, 717-787-7530 or [email protected]

Harrisburg, PA – Workers in Pennsylvania who are impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for Unemployment and Workers' Compensation benefits, Secretary of Labor & Industry (L&I) Jerry Oleksiak announced today.  

03/16/2020

WILKES-BARRE — Secretary of Labor & Industry Jerry Oleksiak Monday announced that workers in Pennsylvania who are impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for unemployment and workers’ compensation benefits.

Oleksiak said unemployment compensation claims should be submitted online for faster processing.

“As Pennsylvania and the nation implement mitigation efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is important to relieve some of the financial pressures our workers are facing so they can focus on remaining healthy and safe,” Oleksiak said. “The best option is for employers to offer their employees paid time off. If leave is not available and your job has been impacted by this new virus, you may be eligible for benefits either through unemployment or workers’ compensation. If you work in a job or industry that likely will be affected, prepare now by knowing what you need and how to file so your application can be processed quickly.”

Unemployment compensation benefits

You may be eligible if:

• Your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19.

• Your employer reduces your hours because of COVID-19.

• You have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread COVID-19.

• You have been told to quarantine or self-isolate, or live/work in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts.

Applying online is the fastest and easiest way to get started. You can find call center hours and other vital info at www.uc.pa.gov; learn all UC benefit requirements by visiting the self-service guide; or use UC LiveChat.

Workers’ compensation benefits

If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 in your workplace, you may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation (WC) by either:

• Notifying your employer to file a typical “disease-as-injury” WC claim, which requires you to provide medical evidence that you were exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace.

• Notifying your employer to file an “occupational disease” WC claim, which requires you to show that COVID-19 is occurring more in your occupation/industry than in the general population.

Claims

All WC claims (including COVID-19) are thoroughly reviewed, and decisions are made based on the facts and merits of each claim and the law.

If your COVID-19 claim is denied, you may file a petition with the WC Office of Adjudication.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s dedicated coronavirus web page that is updated daily.

Confirmed cases

Last updated 7:30 a.m.

To date, there are 63 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.

Counties impacted to date include:

Allegheny (3)

Bucks (4)

Chester (2)

Cumberland (5)

Delaware (7)

Lehigh (1)

Luzerne (1)

Monroe (6)

Montgomery (24)

Northampton (1)

Philadelphia (6)

Pike (1)

Washington (1)

Wayne (1)

WILKES-BARRE — Secretary of Labor & Industry Jerry Oleksiak Monday announced that workers in Pennsylvania who are impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for unemployment and workers’ compensation…

03/16/2020

WILKES-BARRE — Amid the closure of all schools across Pennsylvania, one of the biggest challenges facing local parents and students is where youths will eat.

Many students in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District depend on school meals, and without a school to go to, a lot of kids could be at risk of going hungry.

But not if 570 on the Go can help it.

The local organization spent hours on Sunday preparing thousands of bagged lunches, which they will distribute across six sites throughout Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Township and Plains Township today and Tuesday for students in K-12 grades.

“Without the school lunches, these kids won’t eat,” said Denise Thomas, the events coordinator for 570 on the Go and a school board member at Wilkes-Barre Area.

570 on the Go was founded by Wilkes-Barre resident Shakir Soto. That name may sound familiar; Soto was a standout football player at GAR High School, and played college ball at the University of Pittsburgh before stints with the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders of the National Football League, and the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football.

Soto currently suits up for the Seattle Seahawks, but still holds a love for the area he grew up in.

“He never forgot his roots,” Thomas said.

Now, as coronavirus fears have forced schools to close down, 570 on the Go is stepping up in a big way.

Any child from grades K-12, is invited to stop by one of the six designated locations to “Grab ’n Go” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and Tuesday. Students in K-6 need to have an adult present, though.

The six sites are: Coal Street Park, Mayflower Park, Miner Park, the Wilkes-Barre Township firehouse, the Second Street firehouse in Plains Township, and the Washington Street Playground.

Thomas was incredibly gracious with her praise, citing the community as well as the townships and cities of the area as crucial to the cause. Plenty of local businesses have also chipped in, including Pizza Bella, where Thomas and the rest of the organization purchased dozens of pies for cheap to distribute on Tuesday.

“The whole community really came together, there’s just too many people to thank,” Thomas said.

Thomas also made it a point to note that, in addition to the incredible efforts of 570 on the Go, Wilkes-Barre Area is still planning on serving their own “Grab ‘n Go” style lunches starting on Monday, also from 11 a.m to 1 p.m., and extending for the foreseeable future.

“Make sure you take advantage of both programs,” Thomas said.

WILKES-BARRE — Amid the closure of all schools across Pennsylvania, one of the biggest challenges facing local parents and students is where youths will eat.

03/15/2020

LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) – Luzerne County has received its first presumed positive case of COVID-19.

In a statement released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Sunday, they detailed 16 new cases in the state. One of those cases was located in Luzerne County.

All patients are currently either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.

The release states that Monroe County also has three new cases, bringing the total to six in that area.

For more information on COVID-19 and what you can do to decrease your risk of exposure, please check the following stories:

Coronavirus by the Numbers

School Closings

Pennsylvania Specific COVID-19 Coverage

LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) – Luzerne County has received its first presumed positive case of COVID-19. In a statement released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Sunday, they detaile…