Dale said the agency is still working hard to identify workers who qualify for the next round of waivers. Julia Dale directs the state Unemployment Insurance Agency. You can appeal online through your MiWAM account. Were not finished providing substantial relief to Michigan workers, said UIA Director Julia Dale. 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. You may get notices about your case during the collections pause. In June, claimants were asked to requalify for PUA by providing the agency with the necessary information to remain eligible for the federal program. UIA has notified claimants who received waivers by posting messages to their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) accounts. "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. 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.. 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. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced Friday that those who wrongfully received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits will be If claimants qualify for a waiver, UIA will notify them through an online message to their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) accounts and by a letter mailed to the address on file. 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. If the UIA denies your protest, you can appeal. 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. Check your MiWAM account once a week to make sure you do not miss any updates. 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." 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. 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. If you got unemployment benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, you may have received a notice for overpayment. 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. Three months after the U.S. Department of Labor guidance was issued, the first group of blanket waivers went out to If you lose your appeal in front of an ALJ, you can appeal to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission (UIAC). Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Previously, a February 7, 2022 press announcement, the Governor and Unemployment Agency Director Julia Dale announced that the States Unemployment Agency intends to act quickly to halt collections and issue overpayment waivers. Once you have logged into your account, click on the "Determination Status" tab, and then click on "file an appeal.". Each letter will have a due date printed on it for when the appeal is due. Issuing waivers is a cornerstone of Director Dales reform of the UIA. Related: Michigan erases $431M in pandemic unemployment overpayments. 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. and last updated 7:40 PM, Feb 07, 2022. If you got an overpayment notice and disagree with it, you can protest and ask the UIA to look at your claim again. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. The federal government has expanded its criteria for who can get a waiver that would let people keep that money. If you lose your appeal in front of an ALJ and you do not want to appeal your case again, you will need to repay the overpayment amount or ask for a waiver. Over the past three months, we have waived more than $484.2 million on 62,300 claims. Ask the UIA to issue a determination to tell you if the overpayment is the result of the UIAs error. If you don't have the documents available, you can make the protest without them. Michigan Legal HelpHelping Michigan residents solve their legal problems. This is a pause on collections only. Although Michigan has yet to adopt the federal waiver standard, the UIA seems poised to do so in light of the new guidance. 2023 Blanchard & Walker PLLC. The agency said it continues to work with its software vendor FAST Enterprises and the Michigan Department of Technology, Managementand Budget toidentify other groups of claimants who might also qualify for an overpayment waiver. This round of waivers accounts for 96% The Michigan Legal Help website and affiliated local self-help centers are part of the Michigan Legal Help Program. Around $11 million was refunded to Michiganders who had paid or begun paying back these benefits. It has detailed information about the refund. 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. Dale announced last week waivers on approximately 7,300 overpayment claims that waived $53.2 million in repayments. Blanchard & Walker PLLC 221 North Main St., Suite 300 Ann Arbor, MI 48104, UIA CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Discrimination, PROFESSIONAL LICENSING AND DISCIPLINARY REVIEW, BW Wins Approval for $1.95M Delivery Driver Settlement. If you disagree with the UIA and are protesting the overpayment, do not file the waiver until you have a final determination in your case. 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. 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. 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. When youre working, interest accumulates very quickly on unemployment overpayments. After the report came out, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) started sending some recipients letters telling them they had to repay thousands of dollars. On April 8, 2022 the Unemployment Insurance Agency announced a new promise to halt new collections activity and waive overpayments. 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. But the agency continued to fight back against claimants who argued they didn't misreport their income. We do not know how long this pause will last or when the UIA will start trying to collect these overpayments again. Advocates continue to have discussions with the Agency leadership, and we are closely tracking when and how waivers will be issued to benefit the broadest possible class of Michigan residents who have suffered through this pandemic. 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.". Use the Guide to Legal Help to find a legal services office near you. 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. Your Notice of Telephone Hearing will have instructions on how to do this. Hopefully, the Agency will issue guidance soon. Release date: Friday, July 30, 2021. 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. Protests can take 10 months or longer to be resolved. How Do I Join a Class Action and How Does it Work for Me? 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'. State unemployment insurance program overpayments. It is still unknown on how waivers will be applied and how many or which people it will impact. State 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.. Interest accumulates very quickly on unemployment overpayments. The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. LANSING, MI More Michiganders who asked to repay their pandemic jobless aid will soon have their overpayments erased. For those people, a waiver still is not the same as a determination that they are eligible and entitled to receive unpaid benefits. The UIA must get your appeal within 30 days from the date it is issued. The suspension stops new wage garnishments and State of Michigan tax refund intercepts and is the second time UIA Director Julia Dale has worked with U.S. DOL to grant the suspension to provide relief for Michigan workers. Implemented new policies for employees and contractors, including fingerprinting, criminal background checks, and an updated ethics policy. 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. 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. If you become unemployed and get unemployment benefits while you still owe an overpayment, 50 percent (or 100 percent if fraud was involved in the original overpayment) of your weekly unemployment benefit payment will be taken for repayment. They can also contact the UIA by phone at 866-500-0017 or schedule a telephone, virtual or in-person appointment with an agent. When you file your appeal, ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). If this happens, you can use the same Financial Hardship waiver process. The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is now reviewing the categories added Monday and determining how many other claims might qualify for waivers under All Rights Reserved. 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. The waivers apply to claimants who received federal benefits before Sept. 4, 2021, the end date for pandemic unemployment benefits through programs such asPandemic Unemployment Assistance andPandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. According to recent reporting, the waiver program was much smaller than promised. The individual submitted proof of self-employment earnings to establish eligibility for Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation Program and the state incorrectly processed the information, resulting in overpayment. 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, Eligible Unemployment Claimants Granted Overpayment Waivers, 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. Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com. 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. "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.". If you want the ALJ to see any documents, you will need to send it to the judge before the hearing. 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. This is a free legal aid hotline. To do this, go to your MiWAM account and click on the Claimant Services Tab. Claims determined to be fraudulent or being investigated for fraud. The UIA is responsible for collecting overpayments of unemployment benefits. Disclaimer & Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap. (WXMI) Relief could soon be coming for Michiganders who were told they would have to pay back unemployment money. If you get a refund, make sure you carefully read any notices or information you get explaining the refund. Overpaid claimants who provided the Michigan UIA with gross earnings instead of net earnings will be the group to get waivers. We offer a wealth of free workplace-related information in our Employee Rights and Information Center. 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. If you were overpaid benefits and you are currently employed, contact the UIA Benefit Overpayment Collection unit at 1-866-500-0017 orschedule an appointment online to arrange repayment. The claimants provided the information and documentation required by the agency but were later told they were ineligible for the benefits they received. Built a new, user-friendly website that is more responsive to those using a mobile phone or tablet to access services. 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. An overpayment happens when you receive more unemployment money than you 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. The state did not say when they will be issued. 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