People who lose a job through no fault of their own are, in general, eligible for unemployment compensation.
The amount of the benefit, and the length of time you receive it, depend on your salary and the length of time worked. There is no set formula.
A chart showing how much money you can expect, and whether you can get it for 18 weeks or 26 weeks, is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's Web site: www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/site/default.asp.
Click on "Unemployment Compensation," where a variety of information is available.
Unemployment won't fully make up for lost wages. The maximum payment is $467 a week, no matter how much the lost job paid. People with dependent children get a few extra bucks: $5 for one child, $8 additional for two or more.
The maximum was raised this year from $461 to $478, then reduced by 2.3 percent because of a low balance in the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.
Other than some religious and agricultural employers, and people who hire domestic help and pay them less than $1,000 a year, all employers must pay into the unemployment compensation pool.
But the state does not withhold benefits from workers whose employers illegally failed to contribute.
The "unemployment line" no longer exists. Instead, you telephone the Unemployment Compensation Service Center to apply for benefits.
What if 18 or 26 weeks runs out and you're still without work? In general, you're out of luck unless your job was lost as a result of imports, and you qualify for Trade Readjustment Assistance Act benefits. But check with the Service Center or CareerLink to find out exactly what options are available.
CareerLink is the state's free support system for job seekers. Through the Internet, or by visiting a CareerLink office, you can search job banks, get advice on in-demand fields, and learn about retraining opportunities and financial assistance.
CareerLink will also evaluate your skills, help you find a good career match, and help you brush up your resume or interviewing techniques. CareerLink also offers courses in areas such as computer skills, to help people become more employable.
Nearby CareerLink offices are at 2103 Ninth Ave., Beaver Falls; 1950 Park Manor Blvd., Robinson Township, and the Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Ave., downtown Pittsburgh.
Most people involved in mass layoffs will be directed to CareerLink, but you're not required to go there. You can always jump into the job-hunting game on your own, through newspaper classifieds, the Internet and networking. Or, if your savings account runs deep, you can hire an employment counselor for help.
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