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Repay unemployment benefit debt

If you have been overpaid unemployment benefits, you will receive a Notice of Determination from the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). You will be required to repay the amount of benefits that you were overpaid.
The full balance owed is due immediately. You will continue to receive a Monthly Statement of Account until your balance is paid in full.
Repay unemployment benefit debt online  Request a waiver of overpayment application 

Contacts

Department of Unemployment Assistance

Phone

TeleClaim Center Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, TeleClaim Center at (617) 626-6800

Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Voice Relay Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, Voice Relay at 711

Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

TeleCert Line Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, TeleCert Line at (617) 626-6338

To request weekly benefits, daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.

Payment Status Line Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, Payment Status Line at (617) 626-6563

To check your claim or benefit payment status

The Boston Re-Employment Center Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, The Boston Re-Employment Center at

By appointment only. To make an appointment visit: mass.gov/RECappointment

Online

To access UI Online from a computer: Log in as a claimant 
Reset your password 
Visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment to visit the Boston Re-Employment Center. 
UI Online computer requirements 
Learn more about this organization 

The Details   of Repay unemployment benefit debt

What you need   for Repay unemployment benefit debt

To repay your overpayment electronically, you will need:

  • The login information for your UI Online account
  • Credit card details, or the routing and transit number of your checking/savings account
  • Your claimant ID – if paying through your bank’s Bill Pay

To repay your overpayment by mail, you will need:

  • A check or money order, made payable to the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
  • Your claimant ID
  • The repayment voucher included with your Monthly Statement of Account

Fees   for Repay unemployment benefit debt

Interest

Overpayments for which you were determined to be at fault accrue interest. The annual interest rate is 12% of the unpaid principal per year and begins accruing 30 days after the Notice of Determination is issued.

Penalties

Overpayments that were determined to be at fault may be assessed a one-time 15% penalty. In some cases, you may also be required to serve penalty weeks for each week you were at fault for being overpaid benefits.

  • Your penalty weeks will begin the next time you file a claim or request weekly benefits and are determined eligible
  • Regardless of the penalty, you should continue to request weekly benefits for each week that you are unemployed in order to successfully serve the penalty weeks
  • During the penalty week period, you will be disqualified from receiving benefit payments
  • You will not receive any future benefits until all penalty weeks are served

How to pay   Repay unemployment benefit debt

Credit card payments and electronic payments from your checking or savings account can be made using your UI Online account.

  1. Log in to your UI Online account.
  2. From your UI Online homepage, click Manage debt.
  3. Click Make a payment.
  4. Proceed with making an electronic payment using either your credit card or your checking/savings account.

If paying through your bank’s Bill Pay, you must include your claimant ID to ensure the payment is processed to your account.

Payments by mail can be made by check or money order only. Do not send cash.

  1. Write a check or money order (payable to DUA) for the exact amount owed. Do not pay more.
  2. Write your Claimant ID on the check or money order.
  3. Include the repayment voucher on your Monthly Statement of Account with your payment.
  4. Send your payment to the following address:
    Department of Unemployment Assistance
    P.O. Box 9699
    Boston, MA 02114

More info   for Repay unemployment benefit debt

Appealing an overpayment

If you believe that you were not overpaid, or that the amount of the overpayment is incorrect, you can file an appeal within 10 days of the Notice of Determination being issued. To file an appeal, you must follow the instructions included with the determination notice.

Repayment plan

If you cannot repay the overpayment in full, you may request a repayment plan or complete a “Request for Waiver of Overpayment” by logging in to your UI Online account or by calling the DUA Benefits Collection Department at (617) 626-6300.

A Request for Waiver of Overpayment does not replace the appeals process. You must still file an appeal if you disagree with the Notice of Determination before submitting a request for waiver.

Contact   for Repay unemployment benefit debt

Address
Boston Re-Employment Center (by appointment only, to make an appointment, visit mass.gov/RECappointment)
2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111
Directions 
Phone
TeleClaim Center Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, TeleClaim Center at (617) 626-6800

Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Voice Relay Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, Voice Relay at 711

Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

TeleCert Line Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, TeleCert Line at (617) 626-6338

To request weekly benefits, daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.

Payment Status Line Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, Payment Status Line at (617) 626-6563

To check your claim or benefit payment status

The Boston Re-Employment Center Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, The Boston Re-Employment Center at

By appointment only. To make an appointment visit: mass.gov/RECappointment

Online
To access UI Online from a computer: Log in as a claimant 
Reset your password 
Visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment to visit the Boston Re-Employment Center. 
UI Online computer requirements 
Learn more about this organization 

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