PA UC benefits after 26 weeks - can I claim remaining balance for one more week?

Unfortunately, PA UC benefits are limited to 26 weeks maximum in a benefit year, regardless of any remaining balance in your account. The system sometimes allows filing that extra week, but you'll likely get a denial. That remaining balance typically can't be accessed unless you qualify for an extension program (which aren't currently available in 2025). The leftover money essentially disappears when your benefit year ends.

I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE last month!!! The stupid system let me file for week 27 and I actually got PAID for it, then two weeks later they hit me with an OVERPAYMENT NOTICE for the full amount plus interest!!! Now I'm stuck in appeal hell trying to explain that THEIR system shouldn't have let me file if I wasn't eligible! The whole PA UC system is designed to trip people up I swear.

When I finished my 26 weeks back in February, I had about $780 left. I was told by the lady at CareerLink that the money stays in the system until your benefit year officially ends, but you can't touch it unless the state activates some kind of extension program due to high unemployment rates. Right now PA's unemployment rate isn't high enough to trigger those extensions. Have you started looking at PA RESEA or similar reemployment programs?

Just want to share what worked for me when I needed to contact someone at PA UC about a similar situation. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a UC representative in about 20 minutes after spending days getting busy signals on my own. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The agent I spoke with confirmed that the remaining balance essentially expires when you hit your maximum weeks, but at least I got a definitive answer instead of guessing.

this happened to my cousin last month his account showed like $400 left but he couldnt get it. he applied for snap benefits to help make up the difference until he found new work

To clarify for everyone - there's a difference between your weekly benefit amount, maximum benefit entitlement, and financial determination. PA UC has a maximum of 26 weeks, period. The financial determination might show a total benefit amount that doesn't divide evenly by your weekly amount, which creates that leftover balance. It's unfortunately just how the math works out sometimes, and you can't claim that remainder.

i had a diffrent problem but kinda similar where my benfit amount was calculated wrong and i had to wait 6 weeks to get the right amount. dont forget to check out pa career link they helped me find a new job when my uc was running out