What To Do If You Receive An Overpayment Notice
If you receive an overpayment notice for an unemployment claim that you did not file, you should report the ID theft claim on TWCs online fraud portal.
Once TWC confirms that a claim was filed using a stolen ID, the person named on the claim is not responsible for any overpayment and the employers tax rate or reimbursement is not affected. Once ID theft is confirmed, any future overpayment statements will be suspended. You may continue to receive overpayment notices while the investigation is ongoing.
What To Do If You Receive A Debit Card Or Check
If you received a debit card or check payment for an unemployment benefits claim that you did not file, you should report the ID theft claim on TWCs online portal.
If you received a debit card from US Bank for an unemployment claim you did not file, you should destroy the card. Do not activate the debit card account.
If you received a check for a claim you did not file, you should return the check to TWC, along with an explanation as to why the check is being returned. See example explanation below:
I am returning this check to TWC because I did not file the claim for unemployment benefits. Full name on the claim: < insert full name shown on the claim>
Social Security number on the claim: < insert full SSN or the last 4 digits of the SSN>
Return checks to:
Can I Receive Both Unemployment And Social Security
The answer is yes. Generally, unemployment insurance doesn’t count Social Security retirement benefits in its income calculations, said Demetra Nightingale, institute fellow at the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. Other sources of income, such as annuities or investment income, also typically don’t count.
But whether you qualify for unemployment depends on the rules of your state.
“As long as they’re eligible under the state rules … then they would qualify,” Nightingale said.
Some states previously had Social Security offsets, which meant they would reduce unemployment benefits when someone is also receiving Social Security. But those rules have largely been repealed, according to the National Employment Law Project.
Of note, if you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, it means you are too disabled to work and therefore ineligible for unemployment benefits, said Gary Burtless, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, a think tank.
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Where Can I Go For Help
Admittedly, the stakes are now higher when it comes to knowing what decision you want to make.
That is because the Social Security Administration, like many businesses, is running on a reduced capacity in the wake of COVID-19.
The agency’s offices are currently closed to the public. And while there is help available by phone, individuals with critical issues are taking a priority.
“You can apply online for benefits, and you don’t have to go to any office, which is good news,” Freitag said. “You just have to have the right information about your filing strategy.”
The Social Security Administration’s website has an abundance of tips on the ins and outs of retirement benefits.
It may also help to use a Social Security calculator to understand how your decision will impact your finances.
How To Report Unemployment Benefits Fraud
The Department of Unemployment Assistance’s top priority is to protect unemployment claimants and make sure money disbursed through the system is going to valid unemployment claims.
Upon review of your Fraud Reporting Form submission, DUAs Program Integrity team will make note of the submission on the claim filed in your name and lock the claim, which will cease activity on that claim. In addition, this information will be provided to law enforcement as part of their investigation of the national unemployment fraud scheme.
The DUA Program Integrity team will process the reported fraud to ensure that if any payments were made, they are not recognized as income to you and are not reported to the IRS on Form 1099-G at the end of the calendar year for tax purposes. If you have already received a 1099-G related to this fraudulent claim, we will review your request and send you a corrected Form 1099-G. In addition, the fraudulent claim will not impact your ability to collect unemployment should you need to in the future and no charges will be assessed to your employer .
If you are an employer who wishes to report fraud, please email .
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Someone May Be Using Your Ssn
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People can use your Social Security Number to access bank accounts, open new accounts, and more. If this is happening it may go undetected.
A lot of times there are indications that something is amiss. These are the top five signs your information has been compromised.
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Telltale Signs That Your Social Security Number Has Been Hacked
Theres no easy one-click way to check if your SSN is being abused by hackers. Youll need to do a little sleuthing and stay aware of your financial health. Here are some indicators that someone is using your social security number:
#1: Unexplainable changes in your credit score
Your credit score is what helps banks and lenders to determine what risks theyll be facing if they decide to lend you money. That is, based on your track record, it shows them how likely you are to pay back the loan. Different financial factors influence your credit score. Thankfully, you can check it to see how youre doing financially so you can make corrections where necessary.
If you check your credit information and notice accounts that you didnt initiate, youre probably a victim of SSN theft. Another sign is if you are turned down for a new credit application even though youve had great credit before.
#2: Inaccurate banking information
Considering that almost any Social Security number identity theft aims to steal your money, this is another excellent way to check if youve been hacked. Therefore, when your bank statements come in, be sure to look through them carefully. If you see payments for any subscriptions you didnt make, its possible your ID isnt just yours anymore.
If you notice small test charges on your credit or debit accounts, that may be a sign that someone is attempting to open a new account or membership in your name.
#3: Changes in your email/snail mail
What Should I Do If I Think Someone Is Using My Social Security Number
If you think someone is using your number, there are several actions you can take. Note that we can only resolve Social Security number reporting problems on our own records.
Review your Social Security earnings record Review the earnings posted to your record on your Social Security Statement. To get your online Statement, log into your personal mySocial Security account and check your account. If you see any inconsistencies, contact the Social Security Administration. We consider identity theft one of our major challenges so we have joined in government-wide efforts to prevent Social Security number misuse.If you want to report identity theft, where someone used your personal information, including your Social Security number, to get a loan or job, file a tax return, or conduct other business, please visit the Federal Trade Commissions Identity Theft page. This guides you through each step of the recovery process. Its a one-stop resource managed by the Federal Trade Commission, the nations consumer protection agency.Contact the Internal Revenue Service for issues involving taxesIf you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. Order a free credit reportYou can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus .Make a single request for all three credit bureau reports:
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How To Check If Someone Filed A Fakeunemployment Under My Name
The U.S. Department of Labor is increasing its own efforts to discover cases of unemployment fraud, but you dont need to rely on them or wait until tax time to discover if youve been a victim of identity theft and unemployment fraud. If youve already been a victim of a data breach or had your SSN exposed, or if youve paid a fee to someone to file unemployment claims on your behalf, you may already be at risk. There is never a fee to file for unemployment, so any individual claiming to provide the service for a fee is likely a fraudster.
You may have also already received some notice that has aroused your suspicions, such as:
- A notification that your unemployment application has failed the security verification.
- A letter with a determination of your unemployment claim, when you actually didnt file one.
- A letter stating that you may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , but did not apply for it.
If none of the above has occurred but you still want to find out if someone filed unemployment under your name, you can:
Where Can I Find Out If Someone Used My Ssn
In order to find out if someone used your social security number, you need to request a copy of your credit report. You can also order a credit report from one of the credit bureaus directly. The sooner you find out that someone has been using your social security number, the easier it will be for you to correct the records.
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Justice Department Warns On Fake Unemployment Benefit Websites
The Department of Justice recently warned that fraudsters are creating websites mimicking unemployment benefit websites, including state workforce agency websites, for the purpose of unlawfully capturing consumers personal information.To lure consumers to these fake websites, fraudsters send spam text messages and emails purporting to be from an SWA and containing a link. The fake websites are designed to trick consumers into thinking they are applying for unemployment benefits and disclosing personally identifiable information and other sensitive data. That information can then be used by fraudsters to commit identity theft.
Help stop these scams by reporting them and using the list of state contacts at DOL.gov/fraud.
If You Believe You Are A Victim Of Fraud
If you believe your identity has been stolen and a fraudulent unemployment claim has been filed on your behalf, here’s some steps you can take to protect yourself:
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What Do I Need To Know Before I Find Out If My Social Security Number Was Stolen
If you have a suspicion that someone has used your social security number, it is a good idea to prepare for what you will do if you find out that it is true. You need to prepare to file a police report and correct your credit report. You also need to follow the steps outlined in this article to find out if someone used your social security number.
What If I Change My Mind Or My Circumstances Shift
If you decide to claim benefits now, there are a couple of ways you may be able to adjust your strategy later if your circumstances change.
If you start receiving checks now and later change your mind, you have up to one year to withdraw your application.
There are restrictions, however. For example, you cannot do this 12 months after you made your decision. And you can only do this once.
Another catch: you must repay all of the benefits that you and your family received.
Still, this could be an option if your finances improve and you can afford to stop getting those checks and let your benefits grow.
It does not always pay to take benefits early if you still have income coming in and you are younger than your full retirement age. According to Social Security rules, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over $18,240.
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Another strategy is to claim your retirement benefits early and then suspend those checks when you reach your full retirement age.
That way, you can let your benefits grow up until age 70, when the Social Security Administration would automatically begin sending you checks again. You can request to start payments again at any time.
Understand that any family members who receive benefits based on your record will not be able to do so while your own benefits are suspended.
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Can You Put A Freeze On Your Social Security Number
Yes and no. You cannot freeze your Social Security number with the Social Security Administration and stop it from being used. However, you can place a credit freeze on your Social Security number with the credit reporting agencies. While this cannot wholly prevent your SSN from being used, it blocks access to your credit report. Since most lenders require a copy of your credit report before issuing new credit, the freeze effectively blocks anyone from opening new accounts using your information.
Sowhat Do You Do If Someone Is Using Your Social Security Number
A stolen SSN causes endless headaches. So its important to act as soon as you notice that someone is using your Social Security number. Any delay could mean loans taken out in your name or a stolen tax refund in other words, hours of your time to unravel the mess!
The Social Security Administration recommends the following:
Even if your Social Security number isnt being used improperly, there are still a litany of other threats to your privacy. But there are ways to counter those threats! Heres what to do if your identity is stolen.
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Office Of Special Investigations
Employment Security Departments Office of Special Investigations is committed to preserving the integrity of the Unemployment Insurance program. Our office conducts many types of audits throughout the year on unemployment claims to ensure the accuracy of benefit payments made. Individuals found to have committed fraud are assessed penalties , are required to repay the amount identified as overpaid , and are subject to possible state or federal criminal prosecution.
We are very interested in the information you provide to us about fraud. However, we cannot provide information to you about the action we take on any allegation reported to our office unless you are an individual defined in RCW 50.13 and WAC 192-15.
State regulations prohibit the disclosure of information contained in the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Program. There will be no further communication from our office unless one of our investigators contacts you.
How To Find Out If An Employer Has Misused Your Ssn
Before you call the authorities with your suspicions, try to be absolutely certain that your social security number has been compromised. One place to start is by contacting your employer to see if theyve actually used your number, and if so, why.
If youve recently started a job, you might be required to complete an I-9 form, which documents your name and social security number. If the form is supposed to include your current number, but the employer has written a different number on the form, then you should clarify the situation with your employer.
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