Unemployment overpayments
What is an "overpayment?"
Overpayments of unemployment benefits occur when someone is paid benefits that are later denied.
This can happen if you received more benefits than you are entitled to. For example: You were being paid on a conditional basis while we reviewed your claim and then found you to be ineligible for that amount. If this happens, we will send you a decision with an Overpayment Assessment, which will say how much you owe.
You may appeal an overpayment decision by following the instructions on the letter we send to you. You can also learn more about appeals on the Benefits Denials and Appeals page of our website.
Please do not ignore overpayment notices
Unless you were a recent victim of imposter fraud, outlined below, it is important you read the overpayment notice thoroughly and follow the instructions.
Overpayments sent in error – fraud update
If you received a notice or letter from us saying you owe us money, we sent this notice of overpayment in error if you:
- Recently reported fraud using our online reporting tool or to Office of Special Investigations, or
- Have not applied for or received unemployment benefits recently.
We're so sorry for the anxiety this must have caused and we want to reassure you that you do not owe any money as a result of a fraudulent claim. You can ignore the overpayment notice. You also have access to all benefits for which you are entitled, should you need them.
Our unemployment benefits computer system sends overpayment letters automatically when people really do need to repay benefits. Due to the massive number of fraudulent claims filed recently, the computer system sent many of these letters in error before we could stop them. We’re very sorry you accidentally received one.
Still have questions?
If you have questions about why you were overpaid, please contact the Claims Center.
Important overpayment information
Check your overpayment balance | Calculating payments, interest, and deductions | Paying back your benefit overpayment
