Received NY unemployment overpayment notice but never collected - what are my options?

This is almost certainly an identity theft situation. Someone may have filed for benefits using your personal information. You need to immediately: 1. Contact NYSDOL's fraud department at 888-598-2077 (though good luck getting through) 2. File a police report for identity theft 3. Check your credit reports for other suspicious activity 4. Request a hearing to contest the overpayment - you only have 30 days from the notice date 5. Gather any documentation showing you were employed or otherwise not collecting benefits during the period they claim Don't ignore this - it will NOT go away on its own and can affect future benefits, tax refunds, and even your credit.

I had this EXACT same problem last month!! It was a complete nightmare. Turns out someone had used my info to claim benefits while I was actually working part-time. The DOL phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE - I spent 4 days trying before I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video too: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The agent was able to flag my case as potential identity theft and pause any collection actions while they investigated. Seriously saved me so much stress because they were about to start garnishing my tax refund!

this happened to my cousin. dol sent him a bill for $2000!!! he never even filed for unemployment. the whole system is broken and they dont care about regular people

The notice should have a section that specifies exactly which weeks they believe you collected benefits. Check those dates carefully. Also look for a 'Reason for Determination' code - that can tell you if this is due to: - Alleged unreported wages - Multiple claims filed under your SSN - System error/duplicate payment - Benefits paid to incorrect account You MUST request a hearing within 30 days by using the online portal or sending a written request to the address on the notice. Include your full name, last 4 of SSN, and clearly state you never received these benefits and suspect identity theft.

cant they just check there own records and see u never got the money? seems like they should prove u got it not u prove u didnt lol

I'm going through this right now too. Just to add to what others have said - make sure you check if money was actually deposited somewhere. In my case, some fraudster had set up direct deposit to their account. The DOL actually helped me track that the money went to a bank account I've never had. Made the identity theft case pretty clear. Also DO NOT WAIT to address this. If you don't contest within 30 days, they automatically assume you agree with the assessment. Then they can start garnishing any future wages, tax refunds, and even other government benefits.

When you finally reach the DOL, ask them to pull up the IP addresses used to file and certify for those benefits. If they were filed from another state or from IPs you've never used, that strengthens your identity theft case significantly. Also request information about the bank account where funds were deposited. In the meantime, place a fraud alert on your credit reports with all three bureaus and consider freezing your credit. If someone has your personal information enough to file for unemployment, they may try to open other accounts in your name as well.

anyone else notice how this stuff always happens when ur already down? like kick people when they cant fight back smh

UPDATE FOR EVERYONE: The NYSDOL has a specific identity theft unit that handles these cases. Their direct number is 888-783-1370. You'll still have trouble getting through, but if you call right when they open at 8:00 AM, you might have better luck. Ask them specifically for an "Identity Theft Affidavit Form" (Form TC-403ID). This expedites the process of clearing fraudulent claims from your record. Also, once you've submitted your hearing request, you can apply for financial hardship status if you're unable to pay while the case is being reviewed. This prevents them from starting collection activities.

Update: I've been trying all the numbers everyone suggested for TWO DAYS and still can't get through to anyone. This is so frustrating! I sent in a hearing request form through certified mail so at least I have proof I responded within the 30 days. I also filed a police report for identity theft. Still no luck actually talking to a human being at NYSDOL though. I'm going to try the 8am trick tomorrow.

Just wanted to add - make sure you document EVERYTHING. Every call attempt, every letter you send, every person you speak to. If this does end up going to a hearing, having a paper trail of your efforts to resolve it will help your case tremendously. Also check if any of your personal information was involved in data breaches - you can use the Have I Been Pwned website to check if your email was in any known breaches.

Final advice: When you do get through to someone, request that they place a "fraud alert" flag on your file in their system. This will prevent any future claims from being automatically processed under your SSN without additional verification steps. Also, for future reference, you can set up an account on the NYSDOL website even if you're not currently claiming benefits - this allows you to monitor if anyone tries to file using your information again.