Rebuilt the Trust Fund to $1.5 billion (and growing). What type of federal programs are affected? 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. Lynda Robinson, a spokesperson for the agency, said she didn't have any estimates on how many claimants may also qualify for a waiver and when they might receive one. 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. When the hearing is scheduled, the judges office will send a Notice of Telephone Hearing to you in the mail. It specifically said states could apply blanket waivers for overpayments for claimants who were approvedfor a higher weekly benefit amount than what they should have received. 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. Since July 2021, the UIA has waived more than $4.35 billion in overpayment debt related to federal pandemic jobless benefits programs on more than 407,300 claims. Unemployment waivers bring relief to thousands. "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.". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Unfortunately, even if the Agency acts quickly to waive overpayments, this does nothing for the thousands of Michiganders who are owed benefits and have had them cut off. The agency, in its news releaseFriday, said the issue was due to "unclear instructions regarding gross earnings versus net earnings.". The UIA waived the repayment of more than $53.2 million in benefits that were received by claimants, providing much needed relief for Michiganders. If the UIA denies your Financial Hardship Waiver, you can appeal to an ALJ. If you lose your appeal in front of an ALJ, you can appeal to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission (UIAC). If you got unemployment benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, you may have received a notice for overpayment. Were not finished providing substantial relief to Michigan workers, said UIA Director Julia Dale. Implemented new policies for employees and contractors, including fingerprinting, criminal background checks, and an updated ethics policy. But the agency continued to fight back against claimants who argued they didn't misreport their income. UIA 1901 (Spanish) - Unemployment Benefits in Michigan. That's an average of about $7,800 per claimant that was waived. We offer a wealth of free workplace-related information in our Employee Rights and Information Center. Will the pause on collections continue? After the UIA responds and issues a determination, you can protest or appeal a denial of the agency error waiver. 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. Dale announced last week waivers on approximately 7,300 overpayment claims that waived $53.2 million in repayments. The agencypaused "new" wage garnishments and interceptions of State of Michigan tax refunds for 398,000 claimants starting in early April, but that pause expires Saturday. The agency expects more rounds in the future. Claimants who receive waivers were sent a message in their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) online accounts. Interest accumulates very quickly on unemployment overpayments. Those 350,000 people wont be able to keep collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in the future, however. A total of $484.2 million in overpayments have been waived on 62,300 claims this year. The name of the labor department varies for each state, but it provides a full listing of the state employment offices (see Resources). 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. 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. If this happens, you will get a Notice of Adjustment to Income Tax Refund. Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced that it has issued waivers to approximately 7,300 state and federal COVID-19 jobless claims from In some cases, the UIA might send a refund of payments you have already made. A legislative fix would be required to provide equal waiver rights for claimants who received regular UI benefits. 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). An independent report published late last year found Michigan paid $8.5 billion in fraudulent or intentional misrepresentation unemployment payments. There is no application process. It further states that a "state may authorize a waiver when or if the overpayment was not the fault of the claimant and 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. More rounds of waivers expected, offering relief to workers. The suspension is key to UIAs continued progress in granting overpayment waivers to claimants who were asked to repay some or all of the federal benefits they received. Working off the Clock Alro Steel FLSA Overtime Pay Lawsuit, The End of Forced Arbitration for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment, Repayment would cause financial hardship; or, The claimant relied on the payment or notice of payment and gave up a valuable right or changed positions for the worse; or. Built a new, user-friendly website that is more responsive to those using a mobile phone or tablet to access services. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We do not know how long this pause will last or when the UIA will start trying to collect these overpayments again. News Update: Promised Waivers fall short. Under federal law, UIA had to re-evaluate PUA eligibility for individuals who selected one of the non-qualifying reasons. The Michigan UIA is facing a class-action lawsuit that claims the state unlawfully demanded pandemic aid back. For more information on the Financial Hardship Waiver and how to find it on your MiWAM account, visit page 89 of the MiWAM Toolkit for Claimants. Related: Unemployment waivers bring relief to thousands. We will update this page if we get more information. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. 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.. 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. 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. The new press release is lacking in details and reports that during a pause until May 7, 2022 UIA will not issue new wage garnishments or intercept State of Michigan tax refunds. Michigan Legal HelpHelping Michigan residents solve their legal problems. To do this, go to your MiWAM account and click on the Claimant Services Tab. On April 8, 2022 the Unemployment Insurance Agency announced a new promise to halt new collections activity and waive overpayments. The claimants provided the information and documentation required by the agency but were later told they were ineligible for the benefits they received. The federal waiver standard allows a state to waive benefit overpayments if: The May 2021 guidance from the Department of Labor also created two specific circumstances when states may use the standard to issue blanket waivers and waive overpayments automatically, when: In a letter sent to the Michigan Governor in December 2021, advocates for UI claimants urged the administration to adopt this standard, as many other states such as Illinois and Wisconsin already have. 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. If the UIA believes you were overpaid, they will send you a letter. Over the past three months, we have waived more than $484.2 million on 62,300 claims. 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. 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. Collaborated with the Attorney Generals office to combat fraud at the agency. The agency also said about $11 million will be refunded to claimants who had been paying back their federal benefits overpaymentor it will be applied to any outstanding debt a claimant may have. Good cause can be very hard to prove. Waivers issued earlier this month erased overpayments for 55,000 people caught in an agency mistake. Affected claimants will receive notification in their MiWAM account, or by U.S. mail. State officials worked with the U.S. Department of Labor to issue the first round of waivers last August followed by the second chunk in early May. UIA: Misrepresentation must be investigated when a claimant provides information that conflicts with information the agency possesses. Collections of overpayments made before the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 will not be suspended. Once you have logged into your account, click on the "Determination Status" tab, and then click on "file an appeal.". Ask the UIA to issue a determination to tell you if the overpayment is the result of the UIAs error. Support for Michigan Legal Help is provided by: Copyright 2023 Michigan Legal Help. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Hopefully, the Agency will issue guidance soon. 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. Claimants can visitMichigan.gov/UIAto access their MiWAM account to chat with an agent. 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. Convenient times and dates are available. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. If you run into problems, you may want to try to contact a lawyer. They weren't told by Michigan's UIA until Friday that they would receive a waiver. Waivers will not be applied to claims where UIA has determined fraud is involved and the agency will continue to vigorously pursue restitution of any stolen benefits. Michigan can waive more unemployment bills under new federal guidance, Michigan unemployment agency unlawfully demanded money back, class-action lawsuit says, Whitmer signs bill to pour $140M into Michigan unemployment fund. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Some claimants have received a waiver. Contact us to request a meeting with one of our attorneys. currently being considered by Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Brock Swartzle. Michigan erases $431M in pandemic unemployment overpayments. If there is any money left in your refund after that debt is paid, you will get it. At every turn, I will stand up and fight on behalf of Michiganders to make sure they get what they were promised. Dale said the agency is still working hard to identify workers who qualify for the next round of waivers. Because those programs were federally funded, the UIA is required to actively collect overpayments, unless specific suspensions are obtained from the federal government. 2 regarding overpayments. We continue to monitor and advocate as the situation unfolds. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced today that it has issued another round of waivers to approximately 7,300 state and federal COVID-19 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. Already, weve issued 55,000 waivers for people who needed help and did nothing wrong, but thats not good enough, Dale said. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced Friday that those who wrongfully received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits will be granted an overpayment waiver allowing them to keep the money, although many may no longer receive aid going forward. PUA benefits are $300 a week on top of maximum state benefits of $362. 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. After the notifications were issued, Gov. The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is now reviewing the categories added Monday and determining how many other claims might qualify for waivers under Select a county above for resources near you, Helping Michigan residents solve their legal problems, Are You Being Evicted? TheU.S. Department of Labor issued guidance to states in February on how to address overpayments when the claimant is not at fault. 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. 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