Should I pay contractor for all partial work completed?

[Ki Fifield]

Hi, Our house was partially destroyed in Hurricane Michael. We went with the insurance contractor for extensive repairs. It was ++ months before they started work. They were steady working for a couple weeks when COVID hit and 1.5 years later we were finally making progress. So far we have have given them partial payment - we've paid approximately 1/3 of total estimate/cost of project so far. I suspect they are about half way done but it's hard to tell because a lot has been started but no one job is complete. For example, they fixed the roof but the gutters are still missing. They have rebuilt a room but only the rough work is done. Our last payment to them (and we gave them all that they requested), was the week COVID hit and they had not been back since. Last week they started work again. After 2 months away they came back and started painting the exterior. I was thrilled! Then they literally stopped painting halfway across the front of the house and told us they wanted full payment for everything they have done up to now. Not the full cost of the project, just the work they have completed. For example, they want us to pay in full for the half of the exterior that they did so far. I understand the project has gone on for a long time and with the shutdown they are probably short on cash but if we give them full payment for all work done so far, ie if they were to walk away after that we would not owe anything, how do we know they will come back and finish? Also, as an insurance preferred contractor they know that insurance holds depreciated cost and the bank holds some as well to be paid upon completion of he project; They suggested we get a loan to pay for depreciated cost upfront - we will be reimbursed from insurance/bank upon completion but something doesn't feel right. Is their request normal? I feel if we were to pay in full any work already done we would have zero leverage for them to come back and finish.