With Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund plummeting by almost $400 million in six weeks, the Rendell administration said yesterday that it would seek federal help before the fund becomes insolvent, as early as next month.

The fund's balance, just under $1 billion at the end of December, slid to $602 million in early February as unemployment claims rose and contributions through payroll taxes decreased.

The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania has climbed to 6.7 percent from 4.9 percent a year ago. The state Department of Labor and Industry has processed an average of 46,000 initial claims a week since Jan. 1, a 52 percent increase over last year.

Sandi Vito, acting secretary of labor and industry, told the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday that the state might request about $250 million from the federal government, but that the amount was not firm.