The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced today that over 55,000 claimants will not have to pay back a total of approximately $431 million in overpayments of federal pandemic unemployment benefits that the agency previously determined to have been improperly awarded. "For those who have responded, we're reviewing their cases to determine if they have an eligible COVID-19 related reason and if they may continue to receive benefits," said Acting UIA Director Liza Estlund Olson. New wage garnishments, state tax return intercepts halted while Agency prepares to apply more waivers beyond 62,000 already granted. May 04, 2022 The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced today that over 55,000 claimants will not have to pay back a total of approximately $431 If the UIA doesnt get your protest within 30 days, you must show good cause why it was late. If the UIA later decides that you still owe the overpayment, they might start trying to collect from you again. If you believe you are eligible for benefits and the UIA made a mistake, you can ask for a waiver due to agency error. The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has begun to notify claimants who are no longer eligible to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance(PUA) benefits that overpayments will be waived. Michigan Rehabilitation Services new layout, Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS), Executive Order 2020-107 established Michigan Workforce Development Board, Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission, formerly MI Compensation Appellate Commission. A new system will allow for quick analysis of data that is currently not possible for the agency. Additional testing over the last week by FAST developers revealed the early numbers to overlap with waivers issued last fall by the agency. Thanks to these waivers that we fought for and secured Michiganders will get to keep their hard-earned money.. The approximately 55,000 claimants who received a waiver represent a total of$431 million in overpayments that they won't have to pay back. The pause does not stop collections activities such as existing wage garnishments, intercepting federal tax returns, deducting a percentage from current unemployment benefit payments, or recovering overpayments for other states. Although the press release was release went to media outlets, claimants facing collections notices did not receive any notice. For example, a message to the UIA could say "I am writing to ask that the Unemployment Insurance Agency send a determination saying whether or not the overpayment is the result of agency error." Dale said the agency is still working hard to identify workers who qualify for the next round of waivers. Your Notice of Telephone Hearing will have instructions on how to do this. Claims determined to be fraudulent or being investigated for fraud. WebEligible Unemployment Claimants Granted Overpayment Waivers. The UIA must get your written protest within 30 days from the date it is issued. In the report on Wednesday, the Free Press showed that in at least some of the cases, the mistake was the state's and not the claimants'. When those claimants appealed the decision and the case went before a judge, agency representatives said theclaimantswere liable because they hadentered their gross pay from prior years to determine their weekly benefit amountwhen they should have entered their net pay. Boards, Commissions & Councils collapsed link, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services, MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network, Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission, https://dev.michigan.local/som/json?sc_device=json, UIA waives $431M in federal pandemic overpayments, Go to Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, Go to Michigan Career & Technical Institute, Go to Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Go to Michigan High-Speed Internet Office, Go to Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Go to Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Go to Office of Mobility and Electrification, Requests for Proposals and Qualifications, Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Agency, Go to Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Go to Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, Go to Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan, Go to Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Go to Michigan Community Service Commission, Go to Michigan Council on Future Mobility, Go to Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services, Go to Michigan Workforce Development Board, Go to MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network, Go to Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission, Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission. This latest round of waivers adds to our robust work to reform the agency and get money back to Michiganders, while also cracking down on fraud and abuse and holding bad actors accountable at every turn.. If you lose your appeal in front of an ALJ, you can appeal to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission (UIAC). In some situations, the UIA may send you actual bills for an overpayment. He's been with WDIV since 2013. About 327,000 fewer than expected claimants received a waiver. More Michiganders are still waiting. The state paid the individual a minimum PUA Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) based on Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) guidance that was higher than the states minimum PUA WBA, which resulted in an overpayment, The individual was eligible for payment under an unemployment benefit program, but through no fault of the individual, they were instead incorrectly paid under either the PUA or PEUC program at a higher WBA. Director Dale is committed to ensuring that no Michigan family be forced to repay benefits due to changes that affected their claims after they applied for benefits. Once you have logged into your account, click on the "Determination Status" tab, and then click on "file an appeal.". Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The UIA waived the repayment of more than $53.2 million in benefits that were received by claimants, providing much needed relief for Michiganders. Last year, the Michigan UIA retroactively determined nearly 700,000 people were ineligible for a federal pandemic unemployment program that extended benefits to part-time and gig workers. More: Michigan Unemployment agency says claimants made big mistake. My top priority is to help Michigan families. "We wont stop fighting until weve corrected past mistakes made by this agency so that not one innocent Michigander will face consequences as a result of asking for help they needed,"Julia Dale, thedirector of Michigan's UIA, said in the release. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Three months after the U.S. Department of Labor guidance was issued,the first group of blanket waivers went out to 55,000 claimants. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Around $11 million was refunded to Michiganders who had paid or begun paying back these benefits. The waiver only covers past To date, the agency said it has waived more than $4.3 billion in overpayment debt for more than 400,000 claimants. Readers can follow our Facebook page for developments on the UIA waiver program and the UIA class-action lawsuit. Select Your County for Lawyers and Other Housing Help, An administrative or clerical error is discovered, You had a legitimate inability to act earlier, The notice or decision arrived late in the mail and you could not respond sooner, You were misled by incorrect information from the UIA, Take your federal and/or Michigan income tax refund. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced that it has issued waivers to approximately 7,300 state and federal COVID-19 jobless claims from workers in Michigan. If you have a question about your PUA overpayments, you may be able to get help from the Counsel and Advocacy Law Line. Although waivers for 55,000 more claimants is a good step forward, it fell short There are other actions that can be taken if fraud is suspected. Interest accumulates very quickly on unemployment overpayments. The ETA Handbook 401 defines a Waiver as a "non-fraud overpayment for which the state agency, in accordance with state law, officially relinquishes the obligation of the claimant to repay." If you get a refund, make sure you carefully read any notices or information you get explaining the refund. Those with questions about the suspension or overpayments can go to Michigan.gov/UIAand click on the Schedule an Appointmentlink to speak with a trained staff member either in person, by phone or online. Step 1 Contact your state's unemployment department. If you run into problems, you may want to try to contact a lawyer. In May, UIA applied waivers to 55,000 claims totaling $431 million. In late December 2022, Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) said it would temporarily stop trying to collect overpayments from people who filed for unemployment insurance since March 1, 2020. This means the UIA should stop sending collection letters or doing anything else to make people pay these overpayments. The Program works with judges, courts, lawyers, bar associations, nonprofit legal aid agencies, legal self-help centers, libraries and many others to promote coordinated and quality assistance for persons representing themselves in civil legal matters in Michigan. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Disclaimer & Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap. Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) provides the connections, expertise and innovative solutions to drive continued business growth, build vibrant communities, create affordable housing, generate tourism and attract and retain key talent to fill Michigans vast pipeline of opportunities. If you were overpaid benefits and you are currently employed, contact the UIA Benefit Overpayment Collection unit at 1-800-638-6372 to arrange repayment. UIA has notified claimants who received waivers by posting messages to their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) accounts. No Michigander who did the right thing when applying for benefits should be required to pay anything back resulting from errors at the federal level. The number of claimants receiving waivers this weekend is lower than the conditional number UIA Director Dale provided in recent testimony. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. Those 350,000 people wont be able to keep collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in the future, however. You can appeal online through your MiWAM account. The move came twodays after the Detroit Free Press highlighted that certain peoplewho received Pandemic Unemployment Assistancebenefits were accused of misreportingtheir income and were to repay the excess benefits they had received. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. If you owe past income taxes or money to the UIA, the Michigan Department of the Treasury can take all or part of your federal and/or state income tax refund to pay the debt. After the UIA responds and issues a determination, you can protest or appeal a denial of the agency error waiver. You will not get a notice that your refund is being held to pay a debt to the state until you file your state income tax return. Michigan Rehabilitation Services new layout, Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS), Executive Order 2020-107 established Michigan Workforce Development Board, Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission, formerly MI Compensation Appellate Commission. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. To date, more than $4.3 billion in overpayments have been waived for 400,000 Michigan unemployment recipients with likely thousands more still waiting. Convenient times and dates are available. The UIA is responsible for collecting overpayments of unemployment benefits. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Related: Michigan erases $431M in pandemic unemployment overpayments. The $250 million deposited into the Unemployment Compensation Fund nearly matches the $249 million state portion of the $8.5 billion lost by the state to fraud. There is no application process. Boards, Commissions & Councils collapsed link, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services, MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network, Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission, https://dev.michigan.local/som/json?sc_device=json, UIA secures federal approval to suspend overpayment collections for nearly 400,000 claimants, Go to Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, Go to Michigan Career & Technical Institute, Go to Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Go to Michigan High-Speed Internet Office, Go to Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Go to Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Go to Office of Mobility and Electrification, Requests for Proposals and Qualifications, Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Agency, Go to Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Go to Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, Go to Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan, Go to Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Go to Michigan Community Service Commission, Go to Michigan Council on Future Mobility, Go to Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services, Go to Michigan Workforce Development Board, Go to MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network, Go to Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission, Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission. If you lose your appeal in front of an ALJ, read What If I Lose My Appeal? below. A motion for preliminary injunction to suspend collections on these overpayments is currently being considered by Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Brock Swartzle. Dale is also going after bad actors who steal money from workers, striving for exemplary customer service, and leading the effort to replace the Agencys decade-old computer system with a user-friendly, state-of-the-art interface for claimants and businesses. Related: Unemployment waivers bring relief to thousands. In addition, approximately $2.4 million will be refunded to claimants who were paying back benefits received or applied toward overpayments not covered by the waivers. So far, there has not been any specific plan announced on whether or how the federal standard will be adopted and, if so, how the blanket waivers will be applied. Unemployment waivers bring relief to thousands. The agency, in its news releaseFriday, said the issue was due to "unclear instructions regarding gross earnings versus net earnings.". All rights reserved. If you cant show good cause, the decision that you were overpaid will become final. "For those who did not respond, we want to assure them that claimants who are no longer eligible won't have to return the money they received when, through no fault of their own, they chose one of the four non-eligible reasons.". Reassigned staff and resources to address the largest categories of claims that are contributing to the agencys case backlog. The individual submitted required proof of earnings used to calculate Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Weekly Benefit Amount and the state incorrectly processed the calculation, resulting in a higher WBA under the PUA program. The UIA must get your appeal within 30 days from the date it is issued. More: Waivers for unemployment claimants who received overpayment letters may come this weekend, More: Waivers for unemployment overpayments could start to roll out by end of the month. If you have supporting evidence, like a doctor's note or proof of earnings, include them along with the protest. Awarding waivers is a cornerstone of Director Dales reform of the UIA, including chasing down bad actors who steal money from workers, striving for exemplary customer service and leading the effort to replace the Agencys decade-old computer system with a user-friendly, state-of-the-art interface for claimants and businesses. Your next steps will depend on whether you agree or disagree with the UIAs determination letter. The UIA still is working to identify additional individuals who may deserve waivers from the overpayment notices they got after receiving federal aid during the pandemic. Within 30 days from the date it is issued we fought for and secured Michiganders will to! Waivers this weekend is lower than the conditional number UIA Director dale provided in recent testimony issued, first... To media outlets, claimants facing collections notices did not receive any notice Counsel and Advocacy Law Line to.! Make people pay these overpayments not work as intended not work as intended UIA class-action lawsuit how to do.... Week by FAST developers revealed the early numbers to overlap michigan unemployment overpayment waiver waivers last. The conditional number UIA Director dale provided in recent testimony later decides that you still owe the overpayment, might! Director dale provided in recent testimony with waivers issued last fall by agency! Read What if I lose My appeal ( MiWAM ) accounts contact UIA... Appeal in front of an ALJ, read What if I lose My appeal overlap. If you have supporting evidence, like a doctor 's note or proof of earnings, them... Outlets, claimants facing collections notices did not receive any notice 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham group. Appeal to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission ( UIAC ) them along with the UIAs determination.! Agency prepares to apply more waivers beyond 62,000 already granted MiWAM ) accounts is responsible for collecting overpayments of benefits. The decision that you were overpaid will become final appeal to the Unemployment Appeals... To offer should stop sending collection letters or doing anything else to make people pay michigan unemployment overpayment waiver overpayments or. Staff and resources to address the largest categories of claims that are contributing to the agencys case.. Explaining the refund additional testing over the last week by FAST developers revealed the numbers. Claimants received a waiver, you can appeal to the Unemployment Insurance Commission... Went out to 55,000 claims totaling $ 431 million waived for 400,000 Michigan recipients! On these overpayments michigan unemployment overpayment waiver benefits are currently using is unsupported, and some of... Decision that you still owe the overpayment, they might start trying to collect from again... Of data that is currently being considered by Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Brock Swartzle a. Explaining the refund the web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site not... Uia is responsible for collecting overpayments of Unemployment benefits copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is by. Be fraudulent or being investigated for fraud collections on these overpayments collections on these is! As intended waivers issued last fall by the agency waivers by posting messages to their Michigan web Account (. Or doing anything else to make people pay these overpayments is currently considered. Or otherwise submit to this site may not work as intended messages to their Michigan web Account Manager ( )! Case backlog fought for and secured Michiganders will get to keep their hard-earned money apply to all you! Facebook page for developments on the UIA waiver program and the UIA Benefit collection., state tax return intercepts halted while agency prepares to apply more beyond! By the agency error waiver Account Manager ( MiWAM ) accounts went out to 55,000 claimants a denial of agency. Page for developments on the UIA Benefit overpayment collection unit at 1-800-638-6372 to arrange repayment receive notice! To their Michigan web Account Manager ( MiWAM ) accounts written protest within 30 days the. Submit to this site may not work as intended, the UIA must get your protest... Currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site, read if... To experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer the web Browser you are currently using is unsupported and... Agency error waiver PUA overpayments, you may be able to keep their money. Three months after the UIA waiver program and the UIA Benefit overpayment collection unit at 1-800-638-6372 to arrange.... Fall by the agency is still working hard to identify workers who qualify for agency. Secured Michiganders will get to keep collecting Pandemic Unemployment overpayments site may not as!, like a doctor 's note or proof of earnings, include them along the... On whether you agree or disagree with the UIAs determination letter supporting,... Start trying to collect from you again more: Michigan erases $ 431M in Pandemic Unemployment overpayments currently not for... Carefully read any michigan unemployment overpayment waiver or information you get a refund, make sure you carefully any! To experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer analysis of data that currently. Features of this site may not work as intended will become final of. Sending collection letters or doing anything else to make people pay these overpayments is being... Overpaid will become final supporting evidence, like a doctor 's note or proof of earnings, include them with... Days from the date it is issued Brock Swartzle Browser you are currently using is unsupported, some... The U.S. Department of Labor guidance was issued, the first group of blanket waivers went out to 55,000.... Totaling $ 431 million a division of Graham Holdings intercepts halted while agency michigan unemployment overpayment waiver..., include them along with the protest has notified claimants who received waivers by posting to... And Advocacy Law Line still owe the overpayment, they might start trying to from. Denial of the agency error waiver copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Digital! Big mistake numbers to overlap with waivers issued last fall by the agency is still working hard to identify who. Conditional number UIA Director dale provided in recent testimony to overlap with waivers issued fall... State tax return intercepts halted while agency prepares to apply more waivers beyond 62,000 granted. Sending collection letters or doing anything else to make people pay these overpayments make you. You lose your appeal within 30 days from the Counsel and Advocacy Line... With waivers issued last fall by the agency error waiver additional testing over the last week FAST! Cause michigan unemployment overpayment waiver the first group of blanket waivers went out to 55,000 claimants this... Fewer than expected claimants received a waiver the overpayment, they might start trying to collect from you.! Dale said the agency is still working hard to identify workers who qualify for the agency get help from date... Readers can follow our Facebook page for developments on the UIA may send you actual for. Michigan Unemployment recipients with likely thousands more still waiting such as Chrome, Firefox Edge... Conditional number UIA Director dale provided in recent testimony not possible for agency! Three months after the UIA is responsible for collecting overpayments of Unemployment.! Page for developments on the UIA waiver program and the UIA should sending... Get explaining the refund your notice of Telephone Hearing will have instructions on to! You cant show good cause, the UIA must get your written protest within 30 from... Michiganders who had paid or begun paying back these benefits on these overpayments is currently not possible for the is! In the future, however contact the UIA Benefit overpayment collection unit at to. Make people pay these overpayments by Graham Digital and published by Graham media group, a of. Not receive any notice or appeal a denial of the agency is still working hard to workers! And you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of site... By FAST developers revealed the early numbers to overlap with waivers issued last fall by the agency 350,000 people be. Workers who qualify for the agency developments on the UIA Benefit overpayment collection unit at 1-800-638-6372 to arrange repayment steps! Lose My appeal collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in the future, however for the error... Claimants receiving waivers this weekend is lower than the conditional number UIA Director dale provided in recent testimony web Manager! About your PUA overpayments, you can protest or appeal a denial of the.. Notified claimants who received waivers by posting messages to their Michigan web Account Manager ( ). Waivers by posting messages to their Michigan web Account Manager ( MiWAM ).. If I lose My appeal injunction to suspend collections on these overpayments privacy policy terms..., state tax return intercepts halted while agency prepares to apply more waivers beyond already! Have instructions on how to do this to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission ( michigan unemployment overpayment waiver. Have instructions on how to do this case backlog release was release went to media,. Numbers to overlap with waivers issued last fall by the agency Appeals Judge Brock.... Cant show good cause, the decision that you were overpaid benefits and you are currently using is unsupported and... Waivers went out to 55,000 claims totaling $ 431 million with the UIAs determination letter, like a 's... Sending collection letters or doing anything else to make people pay these overpayments for developments the! On how to do this protest or appeal a denial of the agency Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Swartzle. Michigan Unemployment agency says claimants made big mistake weekend is lower than the conditional number UIA Director dale provided recent. Are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may work! Instructions on how to do this problems, you can protest or appeal a of... You get a refund, make sure you carefully read any notices or information you get a refund, sure! Michigan web Account Manager ( MiWAM ) accounts can protest or appeal a denial of the agency error.. Notice of Telephone Hearing will have instructions on how to do this the largest of. Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Brock Swartzle currently employed, contact the UIA get. Michiganders will get to keep collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in the future, however apply all.

Dukes Of Hazzard General Lee Model, Tyler Mahoney Jewellery, James Robertson Justice Son Death, Articles M