If you lost your job or your hours were cut because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you
should apply for unemployment compensation at: https://www.uc.pa.gov,
or call the statewide toll-free number: 888-313-7284.
Si has perdido su trabajo o sus horas fueron cortadas debido a coronavirus
(COVID-19), se debe aplicar por la compensación de desempleo a:
https://www.uc.pa.gov, O llamar al número de teléfono: 888-313-7284.
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;
• You left work because you were being asked to do unsafe things or lacked
childcare, as long as you told the employer first; or
• You were an independent contractor or self employed.
File a claim: https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/
• File your first claim;
• Reopen a claim (if you filed for unemployment compensation benefits within the
past year, you can reopen your claim);
• File a bi-weekly claim (once every two weeks, you must report any hours you
worked, any paid time off, and pay you received. Also available through 888-255-
4728.) File a bi-weekly claim even if you haven’t received benefits yet.
(NOTE: As of March 16, 2020, the PA government recommends that you file claims online
(https://www.uc.pa.gov) for faster processing. To ask a question about your claim,
email uchelp@pa.gov (suggested due to high call volume and UC Live Chat requests).
If you need help applying, or if your claim is denied:
Contact Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) at 877-429-5994,
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Interested in exploring Pennsylvania’s history through digitized historical newspapers, postcards, photographs, yearbooks, and more?
Explore thousands of digitized documents and photographs from unique collections in libraries across Pennsylvania through Power Library’s PA Photos and Documents. Visit https://powerlibrary.org/ and select “PA Photos and Documents” in the upper right-hand corner to get started.
You’ll be amazed by what you find!
In the Gale General OneFile database, you can easily stay up-to-date with magazines, news, and other key publications on topics like careers, personal finances, current events, technology, education, health, and history. This information is great for research, homework, and making sure you’re kept informed. Access is provided for free by PowerLibrary with your CCL card number or eCard.
If you’re craving music performance during the shutdown, or just need a creative distraction to offset worries, check out this list of live virtual concerts assembled by NPR. There’s an impressive selection of artists and genres that you can tune into for some musical self-care and enjoyment.
As we’ve discovered, life during a pandemic doesn’t resemble what we’re used to, especially for children of all ages. The Internet, however, is playing a large role in everyone’s experiences – whether it be working from home or doing school work from home. Common Sense Media assembled a useful list of resources for families currently navigating how to explain the world and region’s news to children, how to help children determine fact-based news vs. fake news, how to handle stress and anxiety, and how children can continue education using a variety of hand selected online resources and apps. The information is presented in a user-friendly and easy to digest format.
The Kutztown SBDC recognizes that their clients’ small businesses may be negatively affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 global outbreak. To that end, they stand ready to work with clients to navigate potential financial hardships. If you currently have any specific concerns or questions, reach out to your current consultant or complete their online consulting request form to schedule a time to meet.
The Internet Archive has suspended waitlists for the 1.4 million books in their lending library by creating a National Emergency Library to serve the nation’s displaced learners. This suspension will run through June 30, 2020, or the end of the US national emergency, whichever is later.
During the waitlist suspension, users will be able to borrow books from the National Emergency Library without joining a waitlist, ensuring that students will have access to assigned readings and library materials that the Internet Archive has digitized for the remainder of the US academic calendar, and that people who cannot physically access their local libraries because of closure or self-quarantine can continue to read and thrive during this time of crisis, keeping themselves and others safe.
For more information, go to their announcement page and their FAQs.
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