Service Offered Wednesdays from Noon to 4 p.m.

The Department of Labor & Industry now offers a new videophone service enabling deaf individuals to communicate directly with an unemployment compensation claims representative through a state-registered American Sign Language interpreter.

The service will be available from noon to 4 p.m. every Wednesday by calling 717-704-8474 from any videophone.

The videophone service is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Office of Unemployment Compensation and Benefits Customer Services Division and local service agencies.

Individuals who are deaf may use the videophone service to file claims for unemployment benefits, ask questions about their claims or get information about UC programs. Claimants who use text telephone, or TTY, technology to contact UC representatives may continue to do so.