Some Texas residents are receiving bills from the state saying they have been overpaid unemployment benefits from the Texas Workforce Commission.
“It’s a debt to the state of Texas so by state law it has to be collected,” James Bernsen of the TWC told News 4.
Even though some overpayments have been issued at no fault of the receiver, the state is prevented from forgiving overpayments because of federal law. Federal law says overpayment happens because either the receiver or former employer gave incorrect information at the time of applying for unemployment.
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, an overpayment is caused when TWC pays unemployment benefits the receiver was ineligible to receive, and state law requires TWC to recover all unemployment benefits overpayments.
In a list of causes of overpayment, the TWC states ways individuals would be overpaid unemployment benefits – all the way through accusing the receiver of committing fraud. However, it does not list overpayment caused by system errors.
For more information, visit the Texas Workforce Commission website by clicking here.