Repaying an Overpayment
Overpayments can be repaid in full or by setting up a monthly payment plan with DEW.
Here are the different ways you can submit repayments:
- Online via MyBenefits using a debit card, credit card or electronic check.
- Please note that an online convenience charge will be applied to your payment amount. The convenience charge is administered by a third party and is determined by the method or amount of the payment. Click here for a step-by-step guide.
- By mail with a check or money order to the address listed below – be sure to include your full name, full claimant ID or the last four digits of your social security number.
- By setting up an automatic draft from your bank account.
- By setting up a monthly payment plan via MyBenefits.
- By calling to set up a monthly payment plan. You may experience a longer hold time than normal; we appreciate your patience.
Address:
S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce
Collections Unit
P.O. Box 2644
Columbia, SC 29202
Phone: 1-866-831-1724
Payment Plans for Overpayments
If you are unable to repay your overpayment in full, you can enter into a formal agreement with DEW to pay the debt through monthly installments of acceptable repayment amounts, by logging on to your MyBenefits. You can locate your minimum monthly payment based on the following parameters:
Ready to create a payment plan? Click here for a step-by-step tutorial.
If you are currently collecting UI benefits, you cannot set up a payment plan. By law, any available UI benefits you are found entitled to must be used to repay your overpayment. Once the overpayment has been repaid, any remaining balance (Ex. penalty fees) will be your responsibility to repay. UI benefits cannot be used to pay penalty fees.
Appealing an Overpayment
If you disagree that you were overpaid or with the reason for an overpayment, you have the right to file an appeal. Complete the Notice of Appeal to the Appeal Tribunal form. Be sure to include your name and Social Security number and submit by mail or fax using the information listed below.
Address:
S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce
Appeal Tribunal
P.O. Box 995
Columbia, SC 29201
Fax: 803-737-0287
Click here for more information about the appeals process.
NOTE: Any payment you make during the appeals process will be refunded if the decision is reversed and you are found eligible to receive benefits.
Other Delayed Payment Options
Apply for a Waiver of No Fault Overpayment
If your overpayment is non-fraudulent and repayment of the debt would cause you extraordinary financial hardship, you may apply for waiver of the overpayment. An extraordinary financial hardship exists if repayment of the debt would directly result in the loss of or inability to obtain minimal necessities including food, medication, shelter and transportation for a substantial period of time.
In order to make a determination of waiver, DEW requires you to complete the Application for Waiver of No Fault Overpayment form accurately and truthfully. You will be required to submit documentation to support your request. You must complete and submit this form along with all supporting documentation by mail or fax using the information listed below within ten (10) calendar days of the mail date listed on your Notice of Overpayment of Benefits.
Address:
S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce
UI Collections Unit
P.O. Box 2644
Columbia, SC 29202
Fax: 803-737-0422
If you have questions or need additional instruction regarding this form, call 1-866-831-1724 and follow the prompt for the Overpayments department.
Failing to Repay an Overpayment
If you do not pay the debt in full once you have been notified of an overpayment, DEW can take action to recover the debt including:
- Withholding your wages if you are currently employed.
- Deducting the money owed from your federal and/or state income tax refunds.
- Deducting your debt from any other money owed to you by the state.
- Offset of Lottery Winnings.
You can avoid alternative collection methods by repaying the debt in full. After receiving the Notice of Overpayment of Benefits take immediate action, call the Overpayment Unit at 803-737-2490.
Wage Garnishment
- DEW has the right to recoup any overpayment balance through wage withholding. If DEW intercepts wages, we will request your employer to withhold twenty-five percent (25%) of the net wages for each pay period until the total liability has been paid in full.
Income Tax Interception Programs
Treasury Offset Program
- The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) is a federal program that collects delinquent debts owed to federal and state agencies by offsetting an individual’s federal income tax refund. DEW is not required by law to get your permission prior to submitting your unpaid liability to TOP.
If you owe money to DEW because of a fraudulent overpayment or if you fail to properly report your weekly earnings, DEW may use TOP to offset your federal income tax refund to satisfy the debt.
Prior to submitting overpayment debt to TOP, DEW must have determined that your debt is valid and legally enforceable, sent you notices about your debt to your address on record, and provided you with opportunities to resolve or dispute your debt with the agency.
After receiving notification, you have 60 days to pay your debt in full, establish an acceptable payment plan or provide bankruptcy information.
If you do not take one of these actions, the information regarding your debt will be sent to the TOP database. Additionally, failure to meet the terms of your payment plan will also result in your debt being referred to TOP.
Before you receive a federal tax refund, the database is searched to see if you owe a delinquent debt (is this any debt in collections – not just UI overpayments? Yes). If your debt is in the database, your federal income tax refund will be used to repay your debt owed to DEW as well as a $16.93 service charge from the IRS. When your payment is taken, a letter will be sent to you by the IRS regarding the action.
State Setoff Debt Program
- The S.C. Setoff Debt Program (SOD) was created by state law enabling South Carolina agencies to report any delinquent debts to the S.C. Department of Revenue (SCDOR). SCDOR then uses an individual’s state income tax refund to repay the debt to the state agency and collects a charge of $25 for processing.
Prior to submitting overpayment debt to SOD, DEW must have determined that your debt is valid and legally enforceable, sent you notices about your debt to your address on record, and provided you with opportunities to resolve or dispute your debt with the agency.
After receiving notification, you have 30 days to pay your debt in full, or provide bankruptcy information.
If you do not take one of these actions, the information regarding your debt will be sent to the SCDOR database.
If your delinquent debt is offset used by SOD, SCDOR will notify you of the payment.
Offset Lottery Winnings
- DEW has the right to recoup any overpayment balance by offseting any SC Education Lottery winnings. These will be applied to your debt and do not count as a scheduled payment.
Overpayments and Bankruptcy
Even when an overpayment debt has been discharged in bankruptcy, DEW has the right to recoup the overpayment through future UI benefits. Other methods of collection are not permitted for non-fraudulent overpayment, however, fraudulent overpayments may be declared non-dischargeable by the bankruptcy court and, therefore, a collectible debt following the conclusion of your bankruptcy case. In any event, administrative penalties associated with fraudulent overpayments are never discharged (can we use another word than discharged?) and can be collected following the lifting of the bankruptcy’s automatic stay.
If you have additional questions about your options, please call 1-866-831-1724 and follow the prompt for the Overpayments department.