Trying to get financial assistance from the welfare office (PA) can't figure this out

I got a check last 2 weeks for (get this) $450!
(they paid miles on a 118 mile trip that should have been hourly, and I missed a day being sick)

So according to what I can find on the PA Unemployment website, there is a thing called "partial unemployment".
(example: you work 40 hours a week, and then somebody breaks the assembly line and you only work 15 hours that week, you can apply for comp.)

But I can't for the life of me figure out if there's any way these rules apply to truck drivers.

We're already exempt from minimum wage requirements, but now, unless I get another 8 bum paystubs, I don't even qualify for food stamps?!?

So if I work at McDonald's or Walmart (greeter) or whatever, and the evil corporation doesn't pay me I've got all sorts of public programs to help.

If my trucking company bounces a payroll check? I've got no protection at all it seems (unless I'm unemployed for 4 weeks)