Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Bill to help domestic violence victims receive unemployment heads to Gov’s desk

Bill to help domestic violence victims receive unemployment heads to Gov’s desk

Benefits would be available for victims who leave work because of safety concerns

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    December 17, 2025 | 2:44 PM

HARRISBURG, Dec. 17 – A bill that will allow victims of domestic violence to qualify for unemployment benefits if they leave their jobs due to safety concerns is headed to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro following a bipartisan vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today.

The bill, House Bill 274, which is championed by state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., and chairman of the PA House Labor Committee, also expedites the processing of claims made under the new eligibility requirements.

Under current case law and unemployment compensation practice, people who leave work due to domestic violence may be eligible for benefits but must wait for their separation from employment to be adjudicated. This adjudication process can take weeks or even months -- delaying critical support during an especially sensitive and vulnerable time in a person’s life.

Dawkins’ bill explicitly grants eligibility to domestic violence victims and establishes guidelines for how victims can verify their eligibility.

“By creating this fast track, we are helping victims find the safety and security they need without having to worry about how they’re going to pay the bills,” Dawkins said. “This law will ensure that people who need benefits can qualify for them when they need them most. It’s the right thing to do, and I thank my colleagues for their support.”

Dawkins’ bill, which passed the House in a bipartisan vote in March, was amended in the state Senate and returned to the House last week. Today’s House vote sends the bill to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

In addition to helping victims of domestic violence, the bill extends a key solvency trigger date for the state’s unemployment compensation program by three years, ensuring there will be no reduction in unemployment benefits in 2026.