Unemployment Overpayment Issue - Applied in January, Now What?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I applied for unemployment at the end of January, and now I'm dealing with an overpayment issue. Has anyone else gone through this? What should I expect? Any advice on how to handle it?
25 comments


Paolo Rizzo
Ugh, overpayments are the worst! I've been there. First thing you should do is check if you've received any notices about it. They usually send something in the mail explaining why they think you were overpaid.
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Keisha Williams
•Thanks for the tip! I haven't gotten anything in the mail yet, but I'll keep an eye out. How long did it take for you to get a notice?
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Paolo Rizzo
•It took about 2-3 weeks after they flagged the overpayment for me. But that was last year, so idk if its changed. Keep checking your online account too, sometimes they post stuff there before mailing it.
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Amina Sy
•Yeah, def check online! I never got a letter but found out about my overpayment when I logged into my account. The system is so messed up smh 🤦♂️
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Oliver Fischer
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone about this! I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's the link: https://claimyr.com
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Natasha Ivanova
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit? Has anyone else tried it?
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Oliver Fischer
•I was skeptical at first too, but it really worked for me. Saved me hours of hold time. Worth every penny imo.
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NebulaNomad
•$20 just to talk to someone? That's ridiculous. The system is so broken 😡
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Oliver Fischer
•I get it, but when you've been trying to reach someone for weeks and your benefits are on the line, $20 doesn't seem so bad. It's frustrating, but it got results for me.
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Javier Garcia
Overpayments can happen for a bunch of reasons. Did you work at all while receiving benefits? Or maybe there was a mistake in your initial application? Figuring out why it happened can help you decide what to do next.
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Emma Taylor
Whatever you do, don't ignore it! I made that mistake and ended up owing wayyy more because of penalties. Deal with it asap, even if it's stressful.
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Keisha Williams
•Oh no, that sounds awful! I definitely don't want to make it worse. How much did the penalties increase what you owed?
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Emma Taylor
•It was bad. The original overpayment was like $1200, but after penalties and interest it ballooned to over $2000. Don't be like me, tackle this head-on! 😅
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Malik Robinson
Here's what you need to know about unemployment overpayments: 1. Causes: Can be due to reporting errors, agency mistakes, or changes in eligibility. 2. Notice: You should receive an official notice explaining the overpayment and your options. 3. Appeal: You usually have the right to appeal if you disagree with the decision. 4. Repayment options: Often include lump sum, installment plans, or sometimes waivers for hardship. 5. Consequences: Ignoring it can lead to tax refund interception, wage garnishment, or legal action. Steps to take: - Review all your unemployment documents and income reports - Gather evidence if you believe the overpayment is an error - Contact the unemployment office (use the phone service mentioned above if needed) - Consider seeking legal aid if it's a large amount Remember, many people go through this. Stay calm and address it promptly. Good luck!
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Keisha Williams
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! This really helps me understand what I'm dealing with. I'll definitely start gathering my documents.
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Isabella Silva
•This is super helpful! Wish I had this info when I dealt with my overpayment last year. Saving this for future reference 💯
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Ravi Choudhury
am i the only 1 who thinks its crazy we gotta pay for a service just to talk to the unemployment office?? like, we're already struggling and now we gotta shell out more cash just to fix their mistakes? smh
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CosmosCaptain
•Preach! 🙌 The whole system needs an overhaul. It's like they're trying to make it as difficult as possible.
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Freya Johansen
•I hear ya, but sometimes you gotta spend money to make (or save) money. If $20 saves you from a $2000 overpayment, seems worth it to me.
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Omar Fawzi
Has anyone successfully gotten an overpayment waived? I've heard it's possible if paying it back would cause significant hardship.
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Chloe Wilson
•I did! But it was a whole process. Had to provide tons of financial docs to prove hardship. Took a few months but they eventually waived about 75% of what I owed.
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Diego Mendoza
•I tried and got denied 😞 Guess I didn't meet their definition of 'hardship'. Now I'm on a repayment plan.
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Anastasia Romanov
Quick tip: start setting aside some money now if you can. Even if it turns out to be a mistake, having a little cushion will help if you do end up having to repay something.
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StellarSurfer
lol remember when unemployment was supposed to HELP us? 🤡 now we're all stressing about overpayments and repayments. what a world
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Sean Kelly
•ikr? 😂 It's like playing financial Russian roulette every time you apply for benefits
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