A benefit overpayment is when you collect unemployment, disability, or Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits you are not eligible to receive. It is important to repay overpayments to avoid collection and legal action.
We may mail you a Notice of Potential Overpayment if we need more information to determine if you were overpaid or the amount you were overpaid.
For a potential unemployment overpayment, you must respond to the notice within 15 days so we can make the correct determination. For disability or PFL, you must respond within 14 days.
If we determine the potential overpayment was not your fault or was not due to fraud, you may qualify for an overpayment waiver. We will send you a Personal Financial Statement (DE 1446) with the Notice of Potential Overpayment.
To be considered for a waiver, you must complete and return the Personal Financial Statement (DE 1446). We will review your information to determine if repaying the overpayment would cause you extraordinary hardship. To learn how we determine if you qualify for a waiver, visit Benefit Overpayment FAQs.
Note: You cannot request a waiver if we did not mail you a Personal Financial Statement (DE 1446).
If you qualify for an unemployment overpayment waiver, we will send you a Notice of Overpayment Waiver with the amount that was waived. If you do not qualify for a waiver, we will send you a Notice of Overpayment with the reason why the waiver was denied. If you disagree with the Notice of Overpayment, submit an appeal in writing within 30 days.
If you qualify for a disability or PFL overpayment waiver, we will send you a Notice of Overpayment with the amount that was waived. If you do not qualify for a waiver, we will send you a Denial of Overpayment Waiver with a Notice of Overpayment and an Appeal Form.
If we determine you collected benefits you were not eligible to receive, we will mail you a Notice of Overpayment or a Notice of Denial of Benefits and Overpayment. The notice will include:
If you did not qualify for a waiver, your notice will also include the reason why the waiver was denied.
You have the right to appeal an overpayment determination. You must submit your appeal within 30 days of the mailed date on the Notice of Overpayment or the Notice of Denial of Benefits and Overpayment. You can download the Appeal Form (DE 1000M) (PDF) or use the copy included with the overpayment notice.
If you don’t have the Appeal Form, you can write us a letter stating that you want to appeal the overpayment determination. Your letter must include your name, address, Social Security number, and why you disagree with the determination.
Important: Mail your appeal or letter to the return address on the overpayment notice.
If your appeal is approved, you will receive a notice from the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB). If your appeal is denied, you will receive a notice from the CUIAB and will continue to receive notices for the collection of the overpayment.
You cannot repay your overpayment online until you receive a Benefit Overpayment Collection Notice (DE 8344JUDR) with your Claimant ID and Letter ID. We will mail you the Benefit Overpayment Collection Notice 30 days after we mail the Notice of Overpayment or the Notice of Denial of Benefits and Overpayment, or when an appeal is denied.
Note: You can repay your overpayment by check before receiving the Benefit Overpayment Collection Notice. Review your Notice of Overpayment for instructions.