Ok so this past year I lost my job and was receiving unemployment benefits in New York State.
I ended my term of for the year and due to Federal help I would be able to claim again. When I called, the person asked if I was working. I told her no. She asked why she saw income reported from a company I worked for part time this year. I didn't know what to say and I froze up and stated it was a mistake. I don't intent to claim further now that I found this out.... but what do I do with this past year.
Fact is I didn't realize that I had to report if I was working part time 1 to 2 days. On average I only worked once a week and made no more then 60-80 dollars for that week.
I didn't realize that I had to claim that and now I feel like I am going to be in deep trouble. I'm not sure If I should contact the labor dept and tell them what happened. Maybe a Lawyer? I can't afford an attorney and I know If I directly report myself to the labor department its like giving in a guilty plea.
I have no problem paying back what they feel I was over paid. I just don't want to get arrested. If anyone has gone through this or knows someone who has I would appreciate the help.
Thank you.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
well you definitely have to pay back what you were over paid, and of course you have to report your earning's, it say's it when you call the unemployment line and ask you if you worked, you still would have gotten a check, they just deduct what you made, Unemployment agency's know when someone has worked, there is no getting by them with a lie, so i would call explain what happened, the worse that will happen is that you no longer qualify for unemployment b/c of not reporting, so give them a call asap!!
BS, dude, you were told when you applied for unemployment that you had to report EVERY penny you made. Yet you conveniently forgot to mention the part time work because you figured it was only $80, so nobody would care.
Here's the trouble, you defrauded them. They will ask for the payment dates and recalculate what your benefits would have been if you had told them. They will tally up the difference and ask you to pay them back. If you pay them back BEFORE 12/31, you won't have to deal with the excess on your income tax. If you pay them back AFTER the first of the year, you can end up paying income tax on money you won't get to keep. (If the amount is less than $3000, it usually doesn't reduce your tax when paid since it's an itemized deduction.)
You will also be barred from collecting unemployment until the money is repaid.
So straighten this out. CALL them and say you really did work there and how much do you owe. That's what adults do.
consistent with hazard you may flow back and choose what you gained. you may checklist that because it is going to decrease somewhat the quantity if the earnings grew to become into no longer lots. It should not be an exceptionally vast deal. you could could pay some back. i might only tell them that it grew to become into purely an afternoon or 2 each week and did no longer make lots. practice what it grew to become into. yet earnings is earnings and fraud is extreme. in case you admit to making a mistake and strighten it out, it is possibly to be much less extreme than persevering with to lie approximately it. for sure they are able to get the figures and that they understand the place you labored.
Yes, you will have to pay back every penny that they gave you - because you perjured yourself every two weeks when you said you didn't work, and you were still looking for work. Will they put in jail? doubtful. But your record will show, and no doubt State tax people will be checking your returns.