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When I was on unemployment in 2022 they took money from my PA benefits to repay an old overpayment from like 5 years ago. I just ignored it on my taxes and nothing happened. The IRS has bigger fish to fry than chasing down unemployment repayments lol. But that's just me, maybe do it right if you're worried.
This is not good advice. The IRS increasingly uses automated systems to cross-check tax returns against information returns like 1099-Gs. Ignoring reported income or deductions you're entitled to is asking for trouble, especially when the correct handling actually benefits you financially through either deductions or credits.
Update: I ended up calling Virginia's unemployment office (took forever to get through) and they explained that the 1099-G they sent actually confirms the repayment amount. The agent walked me through which boxes on the form indicate repayment vs. new benefits. I was able to use this info with the "claim of right" provision in TurboTax like several of you suggested. Thanks everyone for the help! For anyone else facing this situation, definitely get documentation from both states involved before filing your taxes.
Thank you for updating us! I'm going to try calling NJ tomorrow. Did Virginia send you any additional documentation or just explain how to read the 1099-G they already sent?
This is really helpful! I'm dealing with a similar cross-state situation (Maryland took from my benefits to repay Delaware). Quick question - when you called Virginia, did you have to provide any specific reference numbers or documentation to get them to explain the 1099-G? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I spend hours on hold with Maryland UC!
One final piece of advice: Be concise and stick to relevant facts during the hearing. Appeals referees handle many cases daily and appreciate when claimants stay focused. Don't badmouth your former employer or make emotional arguments - stick to the facts about your separation. Regarding overpayments - if you do receive one after losing the appeal, remember you can request a waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship. Don't ignore the notices if that happens, as that can lead to additional penalties. Wishing you the best of luck with your hearing!
I'm going through something similar right now - just got my appeal notice yesterday after waiting 11 weeks for approval. It's terrifying thinking about potentially having to pay back thousands. One thing I learned from calling the UC office is that you can actually request to see your employer's written statement that prompted the appeal. They have to provide their reasoning and any evidence within a certain timeframe. Also, if you do end up losing (which hopefully you won't!), the overpayment notice usually comes with options for payment plans that can be as low as $25/month depending on your financial situation. Hang in there - the fact that you won initially is a good sign that your case has merit.
This is really good information about being able to see the employer's written statement! I didn't know that was possible. How did you request to see their statement when you called? Did you have to ask for a specific department or reference a particular form? I'm worried about calling the UC office because I've heard the wait times are horrible, but if I can get access to what my employer is claiming, that would help me prepare so much better for the hearing.
This exact same thing happened to me when I was on UC last year! I was so confused at first because the math didn't add up at all. Like others have said, it's totally normal - the benefit calculation formula just creates these mismatches between your total benefit amount and the maximum weeks you're allowed to claim. I had about $3,200 left when I hit my 26-week limit, which was frustrating but that's just how the system works. Don't stress about it, just enjoy knowing exactly how many weeks you have left to plan around!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. $3,200 left over seems like a lot, but I guess that's just how their system calculates it. At least now I can plan my job search timeline knowing I have exactly 6 weeks left instead of being confused about whether I have more time or not.
This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to the UC system and was wondering about this exact issue. My benefit year started 3 months ago and I've been worrying that something was wrong with my account because my remaining balance seemed way too high compared to my weeks left. It's really reassuring to know this is completely normal and that the system will automatically stop me from claiming once I hit my maximum weeks. Thanks everyone for explaining how the calculation works - the PA UC website really doesn't make this clear at all!
I'm glad this thread was helpful to you too! I was in the same boat when I first started - the PA UC system is really confusing and their explanations are terrible. It's such a relief to know that having a high balance with fewer weeks remaining is totally normal. At least now we both know what to expect instead of constantly worrying something is wrong with our claims!
I just went through this whole process and got my decision yesterday (I won!). One thing nobody mentioned - at the start of the hearing, the referee will ask if you received the hearing packet and if you have any additional evidence to submit. If you have those emails about restructuring and budget cuts, tell the referee you want to submit them at this time. Also, when I used Claimyr to reach someone at UC before my hearing, they were actually able to explain exactly what to expect and gave me some tips specific to my case. Definitely worth calling to ask questions beforehand if you're nervous. Good luck! The waiting for the decision was the hardest part for me.
I'm going through something similar right now - my employer is also claiming misconduct when I know I was laid off due to budget cuts. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! A few things I've learned from my research that might help you: 1. Pennsylvania considers it misconduct only if it was "willful" - meaning you deliberately violated company policy knowing it could lead to termination. Being laid off for lack of work doesn't meet this standard. 2. Keep your answers short and factual during the hearing. The referee will ask specific questions, so don't feel like you need to tell your whole story at once. 3. If your employer mentions any attendance issues like in your packet, be ready to explain which absences were approved/excused vs. unexcused. Documentation helps a lot here. 4. I've heard that having a coworker who was also laid off testify can be really powerful evidence that it was truly a reduction in force. The fact that you have emails about restructuring and budget cuts sounds like strong evidence in your favor. Make sure to mention these right at the beginning when the referee asks about additional evidence. You've got this! The preparation you're doing now will make all the difference.
Thank you so much for this additional insight! It's really helpful to hear from someone going through the same situation. The point about "willful" misconduct is especially important - I definitely didn't deliberately violate any policies, I was just told there wasn't enough work for my position anymore. Your advice about keeping answers short and factual is something I need to remember because I tend to ramble when I'm nervous. I'm definitely going to have my coworker who was laid off the same day ready to testify if needed. Good luck with your own case! It sounds like you're really well prepared too. Hopefully we'll both have good news to share soon.
Tasia Synder
update?? did u ever get this fixed? im having the same issue now and worried
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Nolan Carter
•Yes! I finally got it resolved. The browser trick didn't work for me, so I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to an agent. Got connected in about 30 minutes, and the UC rep fixed it right away. She said it's a known system issue they're still working on. My claim is reopened now and I was able to file for my missed weeks too.
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Sean O'Connor
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been stuck in that work history loop for 4 days and it's driving me crazy. The system just won't save anything I enter. I saw you mentioned Claimyr - is that a legitimate service? I'm hesitant to use third-party services for unemployment stuff but I'm getting desperate. Also wondering if anyone knows roughly how much they charge? At this point I'd rather pay something than waste more days trying to get through on my own.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•I can understand your frustration! I used Claimyr when I was stuck in the same loop and it was legitimate - they basically just keep calling the UC line until they get through, then connect you to an agent. I think it cost me around $20 but honestly it was worth it after wasting so much time trying myself. Just make sure you're ready to talk to the UC rep immediately when they connect you since you're paying for that connection time. The whole call took maybe 10 minutes once I got through and the agent fixed the work history issue right away.
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