Unemployment Compensation for App-Based Drivers

Do you drive for an App-Based company?

If you are a driver for Doordash, Lyft, Uber, Grubhub, and others, you should now be eligible for regular unemployment compensation benefits.

Have Questions or Need Help Applying for Unemployment Compensation?

Philadelphia Legal Assistance will help you fill out your unemployment compensation application and answer questions about the process. Sign Up Here.

Didn’t think you were eligible for regular UC, you now are!

A recent Supreme Court case decided that app-based drivers were not self-employed, meaning that you should now qualify for regular unemployment compensation.

Should I file for unemployment compensation benefits?

Apply for regular unemployment compensation benefits if you have:

• Been fired (deactivated from the app)
• Lost work (have less work due to COVID-19)
• Had to voluntarily stop driving because:
• You have a health condition that prevents you from driving
• You are high risk for COVID-19 or share a household with someone who is high risk
• You have lost childcare or must supervise young children during virtual learning
• You no longer have access to a vehicle

You should get more money on regular unemployment compensation because your weekly benefit rate is based on your gross income rather than your net income.  

What do I need to do to get UC Benefits?

Apply online on the Department of Unemployment Compensation's website. After you apply, check your mail regularly for letters or notices from the Department of Labor and Industry. You will receive a Notice of Financial Determination that finds you ineligible for benefits. This is because the government does not have a record of your earnings from app-based work.

You will need to appeal and provide proof of your earnings within 15 days. 

You appeal a Notice of Financial Determination by sending an email to ucappeals@pa.gov

Include in your email:

• Your full name and mailing address
• The mailing date of the determination that you are appealing
• Last four digits of your social security number (XXX-XX-1234)
• Evidence of your earnings from each driving company you work for

You have to report your earnings to the government because the app companies you work for refuse to give your wages to the government.

After you send this email, look out for an email confirmation and letters in the mail about your benefits. If you need help with this process, sign up for help from Philadelphia Legal Assistance.

To get the most current and accurate information about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and regular Unemployment Compensation please visit UCHelp.org. UCHelp.org, is a new online resource for Pennsylvania workers created by Philadelphia Legal Assistance.