Need to repay NY unemployment overpayment of $1200 but no instructions - how to pay it back?

I had this exact same issue last year! The NYSDOL system is so frustrating. After weeks of trying to get through on the phone, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. The agent explained that overpayment notices often arrive before the payment instructions, which is terrible communication on their part. They helped me set up a payment plan since my overpayment was pretty significant. Definitely worth checking out if you're struggling to get answers.

You should have received Form IA797 (Overpayment Recovery Notice) which explains your repayment options. Since you didn't get it, you need to: 1. Log into your NY.gov account 2. Go to 'Messages' in your unemployment dashboard 3. Look for overpayment documentation there If nothing appears there, call the Overpayment Recovery Unit at 1-800-533-6600. They can send you the payment instructions and even set up a payment plan if needed. Don't ignore this - unpaid overpayments can be sent to collections, result in tax refund interception, or affect future benefits.

one thing they NEVER tell you is that there are different numbers for different problems!! u keping calling the main number for HOURS. worst system ever. lol

OMG the SAME THING happened to me in January!!! They said I owed $2700 and I FREAKED OUT because that's like almost all my savings!!! I kept checking my mail everyday and my email and nothing came for instructions. I was so scared they would garnish my wages and I really need every penny right now. I finally got someone on the phone after literally 9 times trying and they told me there was a GLITCH in their system for sending out the instruction letters. Can you believe that? A GLITCH?! After all the stress they put me through!!! Did you try calling the 533-6600 number yet? I'm still paying mine off...

Here's what you need to know about NY unemployment overpayments in 2025: 1. You have three payment options: - Pay in full online through your NY.gov account - Set up a monthly payment plan (minimum $100/month) - Send a check/money order to: NYSDOL Overpayment Recovery, PO Box 1195, Albany, NY 12201 2. Important: Include your Overpayment ID number on all payments (should be on your initial notice) 3. If you can't find your Overpayment ID, call 1-800-533-6600 4. There's no interest on standard overpayments if you set up a payment plan within 30 days 5. The department is legally required to provide payment instructions - if they didn't, document all your attempts to resolve this I recommend checking your NY.gov account first - they've recently updated the system to include a dedicated "Overpayment Management" section.

just wait theyll take it from ur tax refund next year prob. thats what happend to my brother lol

My gf works at the unemployment office actually...she says tons of people never get the instructions packet. It's a known issue they just won't fix. So annoying.

Quick update on overpayment procedures for 2025 - NYSDOL recently launched an online repayment portal that might not be visible in all accounts yet. Go to https://labor.ny.gov/signin and after logging in, check under "My Online Forms" for "Overpayment Resolution." This new system was rolled out in March but is still being implemented across all accounts. If you don't see it, use the methods I described in my earlier comment.

UPDATE: I finally got through to the Overpayment Unit using the number you all suggested! Turns out they DID send instructions, but to my old address from 2 years ago (even though my current address is in the system). The rep was actually really helpful and set me up with online payment access. For anyone else dealing with this - definitely call the specific overpayment number (1-800-533-6600) rather than the main unemployment line. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend updating your address in multiple places within the NY.gov system - sometimes they pull from old records even when you think everything is current. For anyone else reading this thread, it's also worth noting that you can request email delivery for future correspondence to avoid mail delivery issues. The overpayment reps can usually set this up for you when you call. Thanks for posting the update - it'll definitely help other people in similar situations!

This is such a relief to read! I'm dealing with something similar right now - got an overpayment notice for $800 about 3 weeks ago and have been stressing about it constantly. Like you, I haven't received any payment instructions despite checking my mail and email religiously. Your update gives me hope that it's just a system issue and not something more serious. I'm definitely going to call that overpayment number (1-800-533-6600) tomorrow morning first thing. It's so frustrating that they can notify you about owing money but then make it nearly impossible to actually pay it back! Thanks for sharing your experience and the specific steps that worked for you.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - got an overpayment notice for $1,450 about 6 weeks ago and have been going crazy trying to figure out how to pay it. Like many of you, I received zero payment instructions despite multiple attempts to find them online and in my mail. The stress has been keeping me up at night because I keep imagining worst-case scenarios about my credit getting destroyed or wage garnishment. Reading @Zara Ahmed's update about the address issue makes so much sense - I moved last year and even though I updated my address for benefits, they probably have it stored in multiple places in their system. I'm calling 1-800-533-6600 first thing Monday morning. It's absolutely insane that a government agency can demand payment but then make it nearly impossible to actually make that payment. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got an overpayment notice for $975 three weeks ago and have been checking my mail and email daily for payment instructions that never came. It's such a relief to see I'm not alone in this - I was starting to wonder if I missed something obvious. The anxiety has been terrible because you know you owe money but have absolutely no way to pay it back! I tried calling the main unemployment number twice but gave up after being on hold for over an hour each time. Definitely going to try the dedicated overpayment number (1-800-533-6600) that everyone mentioned. Thanks @Zara Ahmed for the update about the address issue - that actually makes a lot of sense because I also moved in the past year. It's absolutely mind-boggling that a government agency can create this much confusion around something as basic as collecting money they say you owe them!

This is such a common issue unfortunately! I went through the exact same thing about 6 months ago - got an overpayment notice for $1,350 and then absolutely nothing about how to actually pay it back. The stress was unreal because you feel like you're in limbo, knowing you owe money but having no way to resolve it. What worked for me was calling that overpayment number (1-800-533-6600) early in the morning - like right at 8:30am when they open. I had to call three different days before getting through, but once I did, the rep was actually really helpful. Turns out they had been sending payment instructions to an address I lived at 4 years ago, even though my current address was updated everywhere else in their system. The rep set me up with a payment plan of $150/month and sent me the payment portal link via email right while we were on the phone. Make sure to ask for email confirmation of whatever arrangement you make - their mail system is clearly unreliable! Also keep detailed notes of your call (date, time, rep's name if they give it, confirmation numbers, etc.) because you might need to reference it later. Don't let this stress you out too much - once you actually connect with the right department, they're pretty reasonable about working with you. The system is just incredibly poorly designed for communication. Good luck!

I'm currently dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! Got an overpayment notice for $1,150 about 5 weeks ago and have been going absolutely insane waiting for payment instructions that never came. Like so many others here, I've checked my mail obsessively, refreshed my email constantly, and logged into my unemployment account multiple times daily looking for ANYTHING that would tell me how to actually pay this back. The anxiety has been crushing - I keep imagining them reporting me to credit bureaus or garnishing my wages while I'm sitting here desperately wanting to pay but having no way to do it. It's like being punished for their own system failures! Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring though. It's clear this is a widespread problem with their system, not something we did wrong. I'm definitely calling 1-800-533-6600 first thing Monday morning armed with all the great advice from this thread. @Zara Ahmed - thank you SO much for posting this and especially for following up with your resolution! Your update about the address issue makes perfect sense - I also moved about a year and a half ago and probably have the same problem. It's ridiculous that they can't sync their own address databases, but at least now I know what to expect when I call. Will definitely update once I get through to them. This community has been a lifesaver for my sanity!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same nightmare right now! Got an overpayment notice for $895 about 4 weeks ago and have been checking my mail and email religiously every single day for payment instructions that never came. The stress has been eating me alive because I just want to pay it and move on with my life, but they make it impossible! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I was starting to think I was losing my mind or had somehow missed something obvious. It's absolutely insane that a government agency can demand money but then provide zero information on how to actually pay it back. Like, how is that even legal? I tried calling the main unemployment number twice but gave up after being on hold for literally 2+ hours each time. Definitely going to try that dedicated overpayment number (1-800-533-6600) tomorrow morning right at 8:30am like everyone suggested. I also moved about 8 months ago so the address issue makes total sense - they probably have my payment instructions sitting in some mailbox at my old apartment complex. @Zara Ahmed thank you SO much for posting this question and especially for the follow-up! Your experience gives me hope that this is actually solvable once you get the right person on the phone. Will definitely update once I hopefully get through to them tomorrow!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently in week 3 of waiting for payment instructions after receiving an overpayment notice for $650. Like everyone else here, I've been checking mail and email obsessively with no luck. The worst part is feeling like you're being irresponsible by not paying when you literally have no way to pay! I've been documenting all my attempts to find the instructions (screenshots of my online account, notes about checking mail, etc.) in case I need to prove I've been trying to resolve this. Going to call 1-800-533-6600 tomorrow morning with all the great tips from this thread. It's such a relief to know this is a known system issue and not something I did wrong. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing!

This entire thread has been a godsend! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - received an overpayment notice for $1,025 about 6 weeks ago and have been in complete limbo ever since. No payment instructions in mail, email, or my online account despite checking constantly. The stress has been unreal because you want to be responsible and pay what you owe, but they literally don't give you the tools to do it! What's really frustrating is that I called the main unemployment line three separate times and spent a combined 5+ hours on hold, only to be told each time that they "can't help with overpayment issues" and to "wait for instructions in the mail." Meanwhile, no instructions ever come! It's like being stuck in an endless loop of bureaucratic nonsense. I also moved about 10 months ago, so reading about the address issues explains EVERYTHING. Even though I updated my address for benefits, they're probably still sending payment instructions to my old place. It's honestly baffling that a government agency can't sync their own databases properly. I'm calling 1-800-533-6600 tomorrow morning at exactly 8:30am with all the prep tips from this thread. Thank you @Zara Ahmed for starting this discussion and everyone else for sharing their experiences - knowing I'm not alone in this mess has really helped my anxiety. Will definitely post an update once I (hopefully) get through!

I'm going through this exact same frustrating situation right now! Got an overpayment notice for $850 about 3 weeks ago and have been losing my mind waiting for payment instructions that never arrived. Like so many others here, I've been checking my mail daily, refreshing my email constantly, and logging into my NY.gov account multiple times hoping to find ANYTHING that tells me how to actually pay this back. The anxiety has been terrible because I just want to resolve this and move on, but their system makes it literally impossible! I tried calling the main unemployment number twice but gave up after 90+ minutes on hold each time. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I was starting to think I was going crazy or had missed something obvious. I also moved about 7 months ago so the address issue makes perfect sense. It's absolutely ridiculous that they can send out these scary overpayment notices but then can't figure out how to sync their own address databases to send payment instructions to the right place! Definitely calling 1-800-533-6600 tomorrow morning right at 8:30am with all the great tips from this thread. @Zara Ahmed thank you SO much for posting this and following up with your resolution - it gives me hope that this nightmare will actually end once I get the right person on the phone. Will update once I hopefully get through to them!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! Got an overpayment notice for $1,350 about 5 weeks ago and have been checking my mail and email obsessively every single day for payment instructions that never came. The stress has been absolutely crushing because I genuinely want to pay this back immediately but they've given me zero way to actually do it! Like so many others here, I tried calling the main unemployment line multiple times and wasted hours on hold just to be told they "can't help with overpayment issues." It's like being trapped in bureaucratic hell where you want to do the right thing but the system actively prevents you from doing it. I also moved about a year ago, so reading about the address database sync issues explains everything. It's mind-boggling that a government agency can demand payment but can't figure out basic mail delivery in 2025! I'm definitely calling 1-800-533-6600 tomorrow morning at 8:30am sharp with all the fantastic advice from this thread. @Zara Ahmed thank you so much for posting this question and especially for the follow-up update - knowing that others have successfully resolved this gives me actual hope after weeks of anxiety. Will absolutely post an update once I (hopefully) get through to them. This community is incredible for helping people navigate these bureaucratic nightmares!