Hey guys, it's Ginny Silver with
a California Edd Unemployment update.
For those of you who are following Pua work
history verification documentation, the California Edd new director who
just was appointed this last week, has issued a
Press release which stated that California Edd, among other
States, is calling upon Congress which would allow non
fraudulent, pandemic unemployment benefits that have been overpaid to
receive a waiver first.
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California EDD's new director States that California is
asking the federal government to waive over payments
for those who received federal benefits through no
fault of their own.
The press release goes on to state that
federal law requires those who are paid benefits
when ineligible must return those funds.
States can waive these overpayments and if
a claimant was not at fault.
However, determining fault remains challenging given the
complexity of the emergency federal programs.
Additionally, the Edd reported to CalMatters that in the
case of an overpayment waiver, there must be extreme
hardship and this is defined currently as a single
person household making under $1,351 a month, which equates
to just above $16,000 per year.
California has joined the National Association
of State Workforce Agencies and is
now urging Congress to waive non
fraudulent pandemic unemployment compensation over payments.
In a joint letter from the state
sent to Congress, they outline various issues
and ask for the following to waive
non fraudulent, pandemic related unemployment compensation overpayments.
It includes overpayments associated with Pua, FPUC, otherwise
known as the Unemployment Boost, PEUC and MEUC.
The letter States that individuals receiving Pua, PEUC, MEC,
along with the FPUC, spent these funds months ago
to help preserve their own economic stability.
The likelihood of recovering these funds is low
and the cost of the state's efforts to
secure repayment far outweighs any monetary return.
They asked Congress to allow States to
waive all non fraudulent Pua, PEUC and
Meuc over payments, including FPUC, to prevent
further economic hardship to these individuals.
Next, they asked for greater clarity from
FEMA to protect States that quickly assisted
citizens through the Lost Wages Assistance Program.
They request that States be held harmless for
uncoverable LWA overpayments as long as good faith
efforts are being made to recoup improper payments.
Next, they ask for an
extension of state staffing flexibility.
Lastly, they ask for a waiver of interest payments
and the accrual of interest on federal advances to
UI trust funds to be extended through 2022.
So what does this mean for your unique claim?
California Edd has stated that they are not collecting
federal pandemic program over payments at this time.
This does not mean that you have received
a waiver, but instead this means that they
are undergoing the first phase of a multistep
process of notifying and reminding claimants to submit
their documentation before collection efforts would begin.
They state that in cases where a claimant
was overpaid through no fault of their own
and without fraud, Edd will offer opportunities to
have the overpayment waived by showing financial hardship.
This is in reference to the
overpayment waiver which Edd already employs.
Calm Matters recently reported that Edd has stated that
in order to obtain a financial hardship waiver, a
single person household must make under $1,351 a month
or just over $16,000 per year for those who
do not have a successful appeals process.
For those who do not qualify to receive an
overpayment waiver, we will need to conduct continue to
follow Congress's actions in response to this letter.
I'll continue to keep you updated
as new developments come from Congress.