Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians will reach the end of their state unemployment benefits this month and next as they approach the one-year anniversary of the date they first lost work during the pandemic. 

In mid-March, the state said many Pennsylvanians would need to file new claims to continue receiving benefits. Now, it says only people who worked and earned over a certain amount last year have to reapply.

While it's unclear exactly how large the resulting wave of new claims will be, Spotlight PA reports the most critical question may be whether an already strained state system can keep up. 

THE CONTEXT: Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry has been beset by problems managing the state’s unemployment system since the onset of the pandemic and this month is poised to see those issues continue. 

Not only is the department still below the number of qualified claims examiners it needs, the job itself is getting more complicated with the state preparing to administer new federal benefits made available via President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package. 

Advocates fear what delayed or curtailed unemployment checks might mean for the individuals and families who rely on them to make ends meet.

“Hundreds of thousands of people who haven't gotten their benefits? That is an economic problem for the state, but it is a disaster for the families,” said Barney Oursler, director of the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee.

On a related note: If you helped process Pennsylvania unemployment claims in the past year, in any capacity, Spotlight PA wants to hear from you. A short survey can be found here. Your response won't be shared or published without your consent.