- What is an unemployment insurance overpayment?
- Why am I overpaid?
- Can I appeal an overpayment?
- What is a repayment agreement?
- Can I make a repayment agreement for monthly payments if I am currently
eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits?
- What is an unemployment insurance overpayment Waiver?
- What if I am overpaid unemployment insurance benefits in another
state and file a Maryland unemployment insurance claim?
- What is unemployment insurance fraud?
- What is a fraud overpayment?
- What is a fraud penalty?
- If I am unable to repay an overpayment, can the agency stop sending me
monthly bills?
- If my overpayment account has been transferred to the Maryland Central
Collections Unit (CCU), do I contact DLLR or CCU for a repayment plan?
- How do I contact the Maryland Central Collection Unit (CCU)?
- What other resources are available if I am not eligible / disqualified
for unemployment insurance benefits?
What is an unemployment insurance overpayment?
An overpayment occurs when a recipient (claimant) of unemployment insurance benefits receives a benefit
payment for which he/she is not entitled. The claimant is notified via the mailed 'Notice of Benefit
Overpayment' of all benefits that have been erroneously paid and for which repayment is requested. The causes
of overpayments can be due to penalties regarding employment separation, changes in claimant's availability
for work, audit results, wages reported by employers, appeal decisions reversing eligibility.
Why am I overpaid?
See preceding question and answer. A claimant is notified via a Notice of Benefit Determination and/or the
Notice of Benefit Overpayment and explains the section of law, affected weeks of claimed benefits and amount
of overpayment.
Can I appeal an overpayment?
One cannot appeal an overpayment; one can only appeal the issue causing the overpayment.
What is a repayment agreement?
When a claimant is determined to be overpaid, they are notified by mail via the Notice of Benefit Overpayment.
Included with this notice is a Repayment Agreement indicating the total amount due and the proposed monthly
repayment amount acceptable by the agency. If the proposed minimum amount due is not agreeable with the
claimant, they may indicate their proposed monthly payment, sign the form and send to this agency. They will
be notified if their proposal is accepted and the information will be reflected on subsequent monthly
overpayment billing statements.
Can I make a repayment agreement for monthly payments if I am currently eligible
to receive unemployment insurance benefits?
If an overpaid claimant is currently eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, the automated
payment system will apply any UI payments to the current debt as those payments release. The only weekly /
bi-weekly benefits that will be applied to the debt are those determined to be payable once the telecert is
filed by the claimant. This program does not routinely allow a claimant to receive UI benefits if an prior
overpayment exists. One should still file the telecerts so that their debt can be decreased by these current
benefits.
What is an unemployment insurance overpayment Waiver?
An unemployment insurance 'waiver' is the process of application that can be submitted to this agency when
repayment of the debt will cause severe financial hardship to the claimant and his/her family. This
application must be filed within 30 days of the establishment of an overpayment. See
the 'Overpayment Waiver Criteria'
page for qualifications and application download.
What if I am overpaid unemployment insurance benefits in another state and
file a Maryland unemployment insurance claim?
Maryland is part of the Interstate Reciprocal Overpayment Recovery Arrangement (IRORA) under which
participating states recover overpayments for each other. If you have filed for Maryland Unemployment
Insurance and Maryland is requested by another state to assist them with recovery of your debt to them,
Maryland will intercept any Maryland UI entitlement for which you file telecerts and send those benefit
amounts to that requesting state. Any questions, appeals or other repayment arrangements, regarding that
state's debt, must be addressed by you with the other state.
What is unemployment insurance fraud?
If you knowingly make false statements, misrepresent or fail to give important facts in order to obtain or
increase UI benefits, you may be determined to have committed UI fraud. If you make an honest mistake in
giving information when you file your claim, notify the Claimant Information Service as soon as you discover
the mistake in order to avoid penalties. Telephone # (Balto area & Out of State) 410-949-0022; (Toll free
outside Baltimore, w/in Maryland) 1-800-827-4839
Fraud Hotline# to report UI fraud: 1-800-492-6804
What is a fraud overpayment?
A fraud overpayment is the amount of UI benefits paid for any affected week in which it is determined that you
were fraudulently filing for UI.
What is a fraud penalty?
If determined to have committed UI fraud, you may be subjected to a $1,000 fine, or imprisoned or both. In
addition you will be disqualified from the receipt of future UI benefits for one calendar year. Any
overpayment(s) resulting from fraud will be assessed a monthly 'interest' penalty at the rate of 1.5% monthly
(18% per year) on the unpaid overpayment balance.
If I am overpaid unemployment insurance benefits because I worked part-time, had
unreported earnings less than my weekly UI benefit amount and was determined to have committed fraud, why do I
have to repay the entire weekly amount and not just the partial amount?
If it is determined that you committed UI fraud then you
are penalized for the full week of UI benefit entitlement.
A non-fraud overpayment may be for a partial week of benefit
entitlement.
If I am unable to repay an overpayment, can the agency stop sending me monthly
bills?
You will not receive a monthly billing statement if your account is currently under appeal (either agency or
Circuit Court), pending a decision from a 'waiver' application, pending a bankruptcy proceeding or if the
account has been transferred to the Maryland Central Collection Unit.
If my overpayment account has been transferred to the Maryland Central Collections
Unit (CCU), do I contact DLLR or CCU for a repayment plan?
You should contact the Central Collections Unit to discuss a repayment plan.
How do I contact the Maryland Central Collection Unit (CCU)?
300 West Preston Street
Room 500
Baltimore, MD 21201-2365
(410) 767-1220
(800) 705-3493
What other resources are available if I am not eligible / disqualified for
unemployment insurance benefits?
All UI applicants must register for employment with the Maryland One-Stop
Career Centers. Trained counselors can assist you with your work search and training needs.
Maryland
Social Services - Department of Human Resources Economic Assistance
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