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Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. UIA will continue to look at COVID-19 pandemic claims to identify others that may qualify for waivers. Dale said the agency is still working hard to identify workers who qualify for the next round of waivers. If the UIA denies your Financial Hardship Waiver, you can appeal to an ALJ. Video of the Day 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. WebEligible Unemployment Claimants Granted Overpayment Waivers. How Do I Join a Class Action and How Does it Work for Me? If you cant pay the overpayment amount that you owe, you can ask for a Financial Hardship Waiver by clicking on the Claimant Services Tab in your MiWAM account and filling out the application. We offer a wealth of free workplace-related information in our Employee Rights and Information Center. It further states that a "state may authorize a waiver when or if the overpayment was not the fault of the claimant and The UIA is responsible for collecting overpayments of unemployment benefits. schedule an in-person, phone or online appointment. If you got an overpayment notice and disagree with it, you can protest and ask the UIA to look at your claim again. More: Michigan Unemployment agency says claimants made big mistake. My top priority is to help Michigan families. If you don't have the documents available, you can make the protest without them. 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. Those 350,000 people wont be able to keep collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in the future, however. The agency said it doesn't know exactly how many claimants received benefits in the pandemic but were later told they were overpaid benefits through no fault of their own. All rights reserved (About Us). Julia Dale directs the state Unemployment Insurance Agency. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The number of claimants receiving waivers this weekend is lower than the conditional number UIA Director Dale provided in recent testimony. WebUIA 1795 - Request to Waive Repayment of Benefit Overpayment Balance UIA 1925 - Request for Name and/or Address Change UIA 6102 Authorization for UIA to Release Confidential The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Unemployment waivers bring relief to thousands. 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. If you believe you are eligible for benefits and the UIA made a mistake, you can ask for a waiver due to agency error. Many more have never been told why they werent paid the benefits owed, and they still just wait nearly two years later. Gretchen Whitmer supported Michigan's use of waivers from the Department of Labor, stressing that, "No one who followed the rules and received benefits through no fault of their own should have to pay back money to the federal government.". Rebuilt the Trust Fund to $1.5 billion (and growing). Of the roughly 690,000 claimants that were asked to requalify, about 241,000 responded to the UIA's request. 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.. An earlier suspension expired in May. According to recent reporting, the waiver program was much smaller than promised. The DOLsEmployment and Training Administrationupdated its waiver guidance to approve five new scenarios under which states who have adopted the federal provisions for consideration of a waiver may use blanket waivers to wipe out overpayments: The Department of Labor has also created a process for states to propose additional categories for blanket waiver treatment. Although waivers for 55,000 more claimants is a good step forward, it fell short Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com. We are aware that there are issues related to gross versus net income calculations on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance weekly benefit amounts, Dale said. There are other penalties for fraud, too. A pause on collections that was granted by the U.S. Department of Labor expired on May 7. Collaborated with the Attorney Generals office to combat fraud at the agency. 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. All rights reserved. Dale announced last week waivers on approximately 7,300 overpayment claims that waived $53.2 million in repayments. 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. Select Request Restitution Waiver for Financial Hardship and fill out the application. 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. In June, claimants were asked to requalify for PUA by providing the agency with the necessary information to remain eligible for the federal program. The UIA waived the repayment of more than $53.2 million in benefits that were received by claimants, providing much needed relief for Michiganders. They weren't told by Michigan's UIA until Friday that they would receive a waiver. Convenient times and dates are available. The agency said it has requestedan extension from the U.S. Department of Labor of apause oncollection activities such aswage garnishments and interceptions by theState of Michigan. Overpaid claimants who provided the Michigan UIA with gross earnings instead of net earnings will be the group to get waivers. And in February, the U.S. Department of Labor allowed Michigan to issue more blanket waivers for the remaining overpayments. State The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has begun to notify claimants 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. 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. In some cases, the UIA might send a refund of payments you have already made. 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. The claimants provided the information and documentation required by the agency but were later told they were ineligible for the benefits they received. To get benefits under the PUA program, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) must have determined that your unemployment was directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. If you want the ALJ to see any documents, you will need to send it to the judge before the hearing. Some claimants have received a waiver. Hopefully, the Agency will issue guidance soon. Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a legal services office near you. Implemented new policies for employees and contractors, including fingerprinting, criminal background checks, and an updated ethics policy. 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'. To date, more than $4.3 billion in overpayments have been waived for 400,000 Michigan unemployment recipients with likely thousands more still waiting. Claimants who received waivers had messages posted to their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) accounts, the agency said, and letters started going out on Monday. UIA 1901 (Spanish) - Unemployment Benefits in Michigan. 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. To date the UIA has waived over $4.3 billion in overpayment debt for more than 400,000 claimants with more to come. The agency, in its news releaseFriday, said the issue was due to "unclear instructions regarding gross earnings versus net earnings.". After the report came out, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) started sending some recipients letters telling them they had to repay thousands of dollars. To date, the agency said ithas waived more than$4.3 billion in overpayment debt for more than 400,000claimants. 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. In February, the request for expanded waivers was granted. It is still unknown on how waivers will be applied and how many or which people it will impact. Make sure to keep your contact information updated in your Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account so you get any notices from the UIA. Delinquent debts owed to other states or federal agencies. In May, UIA applied waivers to 55,000 claims Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. 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. Please note that contacting us does not create any attorney-client relationship between you and our firm. Disclaimer & Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap. Convenient times and dates are available. There are other actions that can be taken if fraud is suspected. The agency has paid a total of $39 billion in unemployment aid to 3.5 million Michigan residents since March 2020. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has secured a second approval from the U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) to suspend certain collection activities for 391,769 workers who applied for federal jobless benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 UIA waived the repayment of more than $53.2 million in benefits that were received by claimants, providing much needed relief for Michiganders. Related: Michigan erases $431M in pandemic unemployment overpayments. At every turn, I will stand up and fight on behalf of Michiganders to make sure they get what they were promised. If the UIA tries to collect from you during the pause, you can try contacting the UIA's Benefit Overpayment Collection unit at 1-866-500-0017. 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. You can appeal online through your MiWAM account. If you lose your appeal in front of an ALJ, you can appeal to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission (UIAC). Were not finished providing substantial relief to Michigan workers, said UIA Director Julia Dale. Please see q. According to recent reporting, the waiver program was much smaller than promised. Claimants who received waivers had messages Waivers will be granted to the initial group of approximately 350,000 non-responses, many of whom may no longer be collecting benefits. When you file your appeal, ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). 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. 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. After the notifications were issued, Gov. If you run into problems, you may want to try to contact a lawyer. and last updated 7:40 PM, Feb 07, 2022. New wage garnishments, state tax return intercepts halted while Agency prepares to apply more waivers beyond 62,000 already granted. This federal action will allow us the time we need to evaluate claims for overpayment waivers, which we will be announcing soon.. 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, 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, UIA 1554 DUA - Application for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, UIA 1785-DUA - Bi-Weekly Paper Certification for DUA, UIA 6439 - Public Official, Educational Institution or Michigan Works Agency Request for Information, UIA 1299, Waiver for Accommodation Assistance, UIA 1680, Certification of Completion of Approved Training, UIA 1718, Unemployed Worker's Statement of Wages (Fillable), UIA 1729, Notice of Inquiry for Benefits of a Deceased or Mentally Incompetent Claimant, UIA 1733 - Protest of a Determination/Appeal of a Redetermination, UIA 1735 - Certification for Benefits Due Deceased Claimant, UIA 1795 (Spanish) - Request to Waive Repayment of Benefit Overpayment Balance, UIA 1848 - Certification of Agency and Appearance, UIA 1901-S, Beneficios Del Desempleo En Michigan, UIA 1901 - Unemployment Benefits in Michigan, UIA 1920 - Request for Form 1099-G (Fillable PDF), UIA 6349 (Fillable) - Statement of Identity Theft, UIA 1795 - Request to Waive Repayment of Benefit Overpayment Balance, UIA 1925 - Request for Name and/or Address Change, UIA 6102 Authorization for UIA to Release Confidential Information. 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