You can appeal online through your MiWAM account. UIA will continue to review all overpayment claims to see how many more may be eligible for waivers. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. A new press release is lacking in details and reports the Agency intends to pause collections through May 7: During the pause, UIA will not issue new wage garnishments or intercept State of Michigan tax refunds. Reassigned staff and resources to address the largest categories of claims that are contributing to the agencys case backlog. This may have happened for a few reasons, like if you made a mistake when certifying your benefits, were unable or unavailable to work, or you knowingly gave false or misleading information when filing a claim. Since Dale was appointed director in October 2021, she also has: 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. Under federal law, UIA had to re-evaluate PUA eligibility for individuals who selected one of the non-qualifying reasons. The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has begun to notify claimants Dale said the agency is still working hard to identify workers who qualify for the next round of waivers. If you dont repay an overpayment, the UIA may: Unlike most other types of debt, the UIA can do all of these things without going to court. 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 UIA has said it is reviewing how the categories would apply to claims in Michigan and determining how quickly the waivers could be issued. New wage garnishments, state tax return intercepts halted while Agency prepares to apply more waivers beyond 62,000 already granted. We offer a wealth of free workplace-related information in our Employee Rights and Information Center. All rights reserved. Each letter will have a due date printed on it for when the appeal is due. There are other actions that can be taken if fraud is suspected. 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. If you lose your appeal in front of an ALJ, read What If I Lose My Appeal? below. Here is what we know so far: The U.S. Department of Labor has been clear since May of 2021 that states like Michigan have broad powers to waive so-called overpayments on Pandemic Unemployment Benefits created by the CARES Act. You can use the Guide to Legal Help to get information about finding a lawyer. In some situations, the UIA may send you actual bills for an overpayment. More: Michigan Unemployment agency says claimants made big mistake. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. 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.. About 327,000 fewer than expected claimants received a waiver. Those 350,000 people wont be able to keep collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in the future, however. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. This means the UIA should stop sending collection letters or doing anything else to make people pay these overpayments. If states adopt the federal waiver standard, the new Department of Labor guidance would allow blanket waivers to be issued automatically to hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents who fall in specific categories. Reassigned staff and resources to address the largest categories of claims that are contributing to the agencys case backlog. The UIA has said it is reviewing how the categories would apply to claims in Michigan and is determining how quickly the waivers could be issued.. Regular unemployment benefits paid during the pandemic are unaffected by this announcement. Issuing waivers is a cornerstone of Director Dales reform of the UIA. At the hearing you will be able to explain why you believe you are eligible for the benefits you received and any good cause that you relied on. If you need the advice and counsel of a knowledgeable employment law attorney who can best protect your rights and help you pursue your legal interests. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). It is very important to read the notices, and protest or appeal on time using the process below if you disagree with the UIA's decision. When you file your appeal, ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). Each letter will have a due date printed on your determination for when the protest is due. In May, UIA applied waivers to 55,000 claims totaling $431 million. Claimants can also call UIAs Customer Service at 1-866-500-0017. The waivers will apply to federal benefits received before September 4, 2021, the end date for pandemic unemployment benefits programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and its extensions. The waivers provide fresh hope for Michiganders who faced paying back the federal government for benefits they received based on frequently shifting federal and state program rules. Although waivers for 55,000 more claimants is a good step forward, it fell short An individual was eligible for payment and the state issued payment at a higher Weekly Benefit Amount under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. More rounds of waivers expected, offering relief to workers. Michigan Legal HelpHelping Michigan residents solve their legal problems. Claimants can also call UIAs Customer Service at 1-866-500-0017. 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., Previous: 55,000 Michiganders wont have to pay back $431 million in improperly awarded unemployment benefits. Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com. UIA: Misrepresentation must be investigated when a claimant provides information that conflicts with information the agency possesses. instructionalvideos posted by the agency, Michigan Unemployment agency says claimants made big mistake. Claimants who received waivers had messages Once you have logged into your account, click on the "Determination Status" tab, and then click on "file an appeal.". Related: Michigan erases $431M in pandemic unemployment overpayments. UIA 1901 (Spanish) - Unemployment Benefits in Michigan. TheU.S. Department of Labor issued guidance to states in February on how to address overpayments when the claimant is not at fault. 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. Director Dale and UIA staff remain in constant contact with the federal DOL, advising them of the progress on waivers and advocating aggressively on behalf of Michigan workers and their families, so that no one is forced to repay benefits due to changes that affected their claims after they applied for benefits they needed during a global crisis. Meanwhile, apause on"new" wage garnishments and interceptions of state of Michigan tax refundsfor 398,000 claimants expired on May 7. Unemployment waivers bring relief to thousands. Your Notice of Telephone Hearing will have instructions on how to do this. WebThe UIA is responsible for collecting overpayments of unemployment benefits. An individual responded no to being able and available for work and the state issued payment for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation without adjudicating the eligibility issue. When the hearing is scheduled, the judges office will send a Notice of Telephone Hearing to you in the mail. The UIA has requested an extension of that pause while they identify and process waivers for other population and is in the process of providing additional information to support the request for extension. 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. Due to the intense volume, we are not able to answer individual questions or provide individual representation on UI matters. The UIA waived the repayment of more than $53.2 million in benefits that were received by claimants, providing much needed relief for Michiganders. Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com. If you got an overpayment notice and disagree with it, you can protest and ask the UIA to look at your claim again. An independent report published late last year found Michigan paid $8.5 billion in fraudulent or intentional misrepresentation unemployment payments. Additionally, roughly $11 million will be refunded to claimants who had been paying back their federal benefits overpayment, or it will be applied to any outstanding debt a claimant may have. 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. More Michiganders are still waiting. Roughly 350,000 waivers were distributed in July 2021 so Michiganders would not have to repay overpayments that were received by no fault of their own. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. 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. Check your MiWAM account once a week to make sure you do not miss any updates. There is no application process. Many more have never been told why they werent paid the benefits owed, and they still just wait nearly two years later. To do this, go to your MiWAM account and click on the Claimant Services Tab. The agency did not provide an estimate on how many people were affected by the earnings mishap. When youre working, interest accumulates very quickly on unemployment overpayments. Contact us to request a meeting with one of our attorneys. This is wonderful news for those who lost their job through no fault of their own, UIA Director Julia Dale said. To date the UIA has waived over $4.3 billion in overpayment debt for more than 400,000 claimants with more to come. Workers under fire recently from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency for overpayments to them of federal benefits during the pandemic will now receive a waiver, the state said Friday. We continue to monitor and advocate as the situation unfolds. You may want to repay the overpayment as quickly as possible. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. In February, the request for expanded waivers was granted. Since Dale was appointed director in October 2021, she also has: 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. The claimants provided the information and documentation required by the agency but were later told they were ineligible for the benefits they received. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. The waivers will apply to state and federal benefits that claimants received between March 15, 2020, and May 30, 2021, under a state jobless claim, extended benefits, or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). The individual responded no to being unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to the approved coronavirus-related reasons, and the state paid Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. 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. 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