PA UC determination letter says ineligible but only lists specific weeks - can I still claim current weeks?

Yes, you can still file for current weeks even if you were disqualified for backdated weeks. That determination only applies to the specific weeks mentioned in the letter. Each week is considered separately for eligibility purposes. The system sometimes uses confusing blanket statements at the top of their letters that make it sound worse than it is. If you're currently unemployed and meeting all the requirements (available for work, doing your work search activities, etc.), you should absolutely continue filing your weekly claims. The disqualification for those specific backdated weeks was likely because of the timing issue you mentioned, not because of any ongoing eligibility problem.

i got something similar last year. the big bold NOT ELIGIBLE part is super scary but yeah it's just for those back weeks. i was still able to get payments for my current weeks no problem

It's definitely confusing! The UC system separates eligibility by weeks. So what happened is they determined you weren't eligible for those specific backdated weeks (probably because they have strict rules about when backdated claims need to be filed). But that doesn't affect your ability to claim current or future weeks as long as you meet all the eligibility requirements going forward. Make sure you're completing your work search activities - you need to document at least 2 per week in PA - and certifying properly each week. If you're concerned about your claim status, you might want to try calling the UC office directly to confirm everything is still active.

THE LETTERS ARE THE WORST!!! They make it sound like you're completely denied when it's just for specific reasons or weeks. The system is DESIGNED to be confusing and discourage people from getting benefits they deserve. I got denied for one week because I accidentally reported vacation pay wrong, but all my other weeks were fine. Don't give up!

I was in almost the exact same situation last month! Had some backdated weeks denied but my current claims were processing fine. What worried me was that my biweekly payments seemed delayed compared to before getting that determination letter. Did anyone else notice a processing delay after getting a similar determination?

If you're having trouble reaching someone at PA UC to confirm your eligibility status (which I highly recommend), you might want to try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with backdated claims and kept getting busy signals for days. Claimyr got me connected to a UC rep in about 30 minutes who explained exactly what was going on with my claim and confirmed I could keep filing. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 It was definitely worth it for the peace of mind knowing my current claims would process correctly.

Make sure ur still doin all ur work search activities while this is getting sorted out! My cousin didn't do his for 2 weeks cuz he thought he was disqualified based on a letter like yours and then when he found out he could still get benefits he couldn't get those weeks cuz he didn't do the searches. PA is really strict about that now.

UPDATE: I just wanted to let everyone know that my payment for this current week DID go through! It took an extra day to process compared to my previous payments, but it's showing as paid now. So it looks like the backdated disqualification really doesn't affect current claims. Thank you all for your help and reassurance!

That's such great news! Thanks for coming back to update everyone - it's really helpful when people share how their situations turned out. I'm sure other people dealing with similar confusing determination letters will find this thread and feel much more reassured knowing it worked out for you. The PA UC system really needs to work on making their letters less panic-inducing!

This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with PA UC determination letters! I went through something similar a few months ago and those letters really are terrifying when you first get them. The key thing to remember is that PA UC evaluates each week individually for eligibility, so a disqualification for backdated weeks doesn't automatically disqualify you from future benefits. One thing I'd add is to keep detailed records of all your work search activities and weekly certifications during this time. Even though your current claim is processing normally now, having good documentation can save you headaches if any questions come up later. The PA system can be unpredictable and it's always better to have more documentation than you think you need. Great job following up with the update too - it really helps other community members who might be in similar situations!

I'm so relieved to see this thread! I just got a similar determination letter today for some backdated weeks and was absolutely panicking when I saw that huge "NOT ELIGIBLE" at the top. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like PA UC really needs to redesign these letters to be clearer about what they actually mean. I'm definitely going to keep filing my current weekly claims and make sure I stay on top of my work search requirements. It's crazy how confusing they make this process when people are already stressed about being unemployed. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially @Mateo Martinez for the update that your payment went through - that gives me hope that mine will too!