PA UC asking me to withdraw appeal to get partial payment - will I lose remaining unclaimed weeks?

Don't withdraw ur appeal!!!! The UC office tries this trick all the time to save money. Once u withdraw, u lose ALL rights to those other weeks forever. They tried this with me last year and I almost fell for it.

This is a complex situation that requires careful consideration. When you have an active appeal, PA UC sometimes can't release ANY payments until the appeal is resolved. The representative is likely trying to help you get at least some money by processing the non-disputed weeks. However, withdrawing an appeal does have consequences. You need to understand exactly what your appeal covers before making this decision. Is your appeal about eligibility for your entire benefit year, or is it about specific weeks? If your appeal is about your overall eligibility and you withdraw it, you might indeed lose rights to all weeks. If it's about specific issues or disqualifications, withdrawing might only affect those specific elements.

i had something kinda similar happen with my claim but it was about my job search activities not my wages. the lady told me i could either wait 6-8 weeks for the hearing OR take what they already approved. i took the money cause rent was due lol. no regrets

Based on what you're describing, withdrawing your appeal would be extremely risky. If your appeal is challenging your base year wage calculation (which determines your overall eligibility), and you withdraw it, you would likely forfeit rights to ALL potential benefits under that claim. What's confusing me is how they can offer to pay some weeks while your eligibility is under appeal. Typically, if your base wage calculation is being disputed, they can't pay any benefits until that's resolved. I'd recommend asking for this offer in writing with clear explanation of what weeks would be paid now and what the impact would be on your remaining weeks. Also, ask if partial payment is possible without withdrawing the appeal altogether - sometimes they can segregate issues.

Have you tried getting through to a different UC representative? I found that sometimes different reps give completely different answers. When I was having trouble getting anyone on the phone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me skip the phone queue and actually connect with someone at PA UC. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 I was able to get a much more experienced rep who explained all my options clearly. Might be worth trying before making any big decisions about your appeal.

wait why are u just now dealing with a 2020 claim?? isnt there like a time limit on this stuff?

OK so I was an unemployment counselor (not in PA but similar system) and here's what you need to know: 1) NEVER withdraw an appeal about wage-based eligibility if you think you're right 2) If they're offering to pay certain weeks despite the appeal, GET THIS IN WRITING with official letterhead 3) Ask specifically which regulation allows them to pay some weeks while keeping an appeal for others 4) The key phrase to use is "partial payment without prejudice to the ongoing appeal" This sounds like they might be trying to resolve part of your claim while the appeal continues, which CAN be legitimate, but you need documentation. Also, there's a difference between weeks you claimed vs. weeks you were eligible but didn't claim. Generally, you can't go back and claim weeks retroactively after too much time has passed unless there was an agency error.

UGH the PA UC system is SUCH A DISASTER!!! They constantly try tricks like this to avoid paying people what they're owed. I had a similar situation and it took me SIX MONTHS and THREE APPEALS to finally get my money. The system is designed to make you give up. DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Just to clarify a point that might be causing confusion: If your appeal is specifically about wage calculation/base year eligibility, and you withdraw it, then yes - you would likely forfeit rights to your entire claim period. However, if you can get proper documentation that they'll process certain weeks while keeping your appeal active for the remainder, that could be a reasonable compromise. The key is ensuring that the agreement explicitly states your appeal remains active for the disputed portions. Keep in mind that PA UC has time limits for claiming weeks. For weeks you never claimed at all during your benefit year (as opposed to weeks you claimed but were denied), they typically can't be retroactively claimed unless there was an agency error that prevented you from filing. Given the complexity of your situation, I recommend consulting with a legal aid attorney who specializes in unemployment before making any decisions. Many offer free consultations for unemployment issues.

whatever u do just make sure u get paid something! waiting around for appeals can take forever

UPDATE: I just spoke with a UC supervisor about a similar issue (though mine was about job separations, not wage calculations). They confirmed that under certain circumstances, they can process payment for "undisputed weeks" while an appeal continues for other aspects of a claim. The key is that they must document this as a "split determination" where they're only processing certain weeks without requiring you to withdraw your appeal for the remaining disputed issues. I suggest specifically asking for a "split determination" and getting confirmation in writing about exactly which weeks they'll pay now and which remain subject to the appeal process. This would allow you to get some money now without giving up your rights to the remaining benefits.