PA UC sending duplicate overpayment notices for money already repaid in 2022 - what's my next step?

omg this happened to my brother too!! PA UC is SUCH a mess with overpayments. def dont pay it again!!! maybe try getting something in writing from them about the first payment?

This is unfortunately common with PA UC's overpayment accounting system. Since you already contacted your state rep (which was smart), your next step should be to file a formal appeal of this new overpayment notice. You only have 15 days from the date on the letter to appeal. Submit copies (not originals) of your money order receipts and delivery confirmation with your appeal. In the appeal, specifically reference the April 3rd call and the name of the UC rep who confirmed your payment was received. You might also want to request an overpayment accounting statement that shows all payments and credits to your account since 2021.

Yes, absolutely send your appeal via certified mail with return receipt. Keep a complete copy of everything you send. Also, document every conversation you have with UC staff - date, time, name of representative, and summary of what was discussed. This will be crucial if you need to escalate further.

I bet they applied ur payment to the wrong account or something stupid. The PA UC system is TERRIBLE with keeping records straight! I once had them tell me I never submitted work search records when I had confirmation emails proving I did! Had to fight for 6 weeks to get it straightened out!!

As someone who worked in the PA benefits system (not UC specifically), I can tell you exactly what happened. Non-fault overpayments are processed through a different system than the regular accounting system. What likely occurred is that your payment was properly received and credited in the collections system, but the collections accounting never synchronized with the main UC database. Here's what you should do: 1. File your appeal immediately as others suggested 2. Contact the Treasury Department's Office of Unclaimed Property at 1-800-222-2046 to verify they don't have your payment as unclaimed 3. Request a formal "Statement of Account" from UC (different from regular account info) 4. Contact your state rep again, but this time ask them to reach out to the UC Overpayment Recovery Unit directly 5. If you receive any collection notices, immediately respond with a letter stating the debt is in dispute The key is documentation and persistence. The UC system is designed to eventually work properly, but only if you keep pushing.

You can request the Statement of Account by calling the UC Overpayment Services at 814-254-4584 (this is the direct line). There's no specific form - just tell them you need a complete Statement of Account showing all payments and charges since 2021. Make sure to have your UC claim number and SSN ready. Also, be sure to mention that you've already spoken with a representative who confirmed your payment was received but misapplied.

I had something similar happen but with a smaller amount ($875). I sent in the appeal with all my evidence and STILL got denied! Then I had to request a hearing, which took another 2 months to schedule. The system is totally broken and designed to wear you down until you just pay again. DON'T GIVE UP and DON'T PAY AGAIN no matter what threatening letters they send!!

Yes, finally got it resolved at the hearing, but it was such a waste of time and stress. The hearing officer took one look at my proof of payment and immediately ruled in my favor. Asked the UC rep why this couldn't have been resolved earlier and they just mumbled something about "system limitations." Make sure you bring MULTIPLE copies of everything to your hearing if it gets to that point!

Quick question - did they add any penalties or interest to the original amount? That might be a clue if they're treating this as a completely new overpayment rather than the original one. Also check if the overpayment ID number is the same or different on the new notices compared to your original ones from 2021.

That different overpayment ID is critical information! That likely means they've created a duplicate overpayment record in their system. In your appeal, you need to specifically mention both overpayment ID numbers and state that they appear to be duplicates for the same time period. This happens when their system undergoes updates or migrations - sometimes records get duplicated instead of transferred. Make sure to highlight this prominently in your appeal.

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! After filing my appeal with all the documentation and following the advice here about mentioning the duplicate overpayment IDs, I also managed to get through to someone at the Overpayment Recovery Unit who was actually helpful. She confirmed they had created a duplicate overpayment record during a system migration in January. My payment from 2022 was properly applied to the original overpayment, but the duplicate was created without any record of that payment. She's submitted paperwork to have the duplicate removed and said I should receive confirmation within 2 weeks. She also put a hold on any collection activities. THANK YOU all for your help - especially the tip about checking the overpayment IDs and contacting that specific department!