MUST RETURN THE UNEMPLOYMENT MONEY?

 

This January many people will receive a notification, that money from unemployment received during the Covid-19 Pandemic, will have to be return. This is due to many people took the wrong path, either because they lie to get it, or they just simply report it and took it while they were working.

First we must understand that in order for you to have to return the unemployment money, you must have to be accuse of fraud. which is a Federal crime and if this happens you may not only have to return the money but also face penalties consequences and even jail time.

Some Examples of this type of fraud are:

• Give false information when you apply the first time to get the unemployment benefit. This could be like you say it the wrong reason why you were fired from your last job.
• Work meanwhile you receive unemployment benefit, this part have some limitations because you can actually have 2 jobs and collect unemployment but are some rules that have to be follow in order not to not to be in trouble, you must follow the guidelines. You must said that you still are working and report the amount received and the days worked at the remaining job. the system will calculate for you, how much are you entitle.
• Work any amount of time and deny that you worked, so you can get the whole benefit amount, while certifying.
• Earn more than $504.00 in any giving week and states that you did not earn it.
• NOT to be WILLING, READY and ABLE, to work, but state that you are.
• Been out of the country and certify while you are not in the USA.
• Work out the books and collect the unemployment while stating that you are not working.
• Steal another person Identity and collect unemployment for that person
• Help another person to commit fraud to steal money from the unemployment insurance.
• Help an employer to illegally commit fraud and both collect the unemployment insurance.

Any person that is discovered committing fraud with the unemployment money will have to return the money received, you will face penalties consequences and depending on the case you will face jail time. This a federal crime. Take into consideration the examples above, but not all is limited to those only, because scams can come in all form and shape.

Now that we know what NOT to do, now we must know what TO DO. If you are planning to travel and you will not be ready willing and able in that week, well just certify that, stating that you were not ready for work those days you were out the country. You can choose not to certify in that week which is easier, the Department of labor will not ask, about your private life. 

Another way of fraud is to ask an employee to collect unemployment together with the employer while working on the same place out of the books and split the money with the employer. this type of practice is very common in small business. Because corporations do not pay their employees out of the books.

At the end if you work just say it and stop trying to be smarter than the government for a couple dollars is not worthy, if you will not get any unemployment in that week, cause you worked so be it.

If you need help or have questions with this topic or want us to talk about any other in our area, please let us know.

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