An amount of benefits paid to an individual to which the individual is not legally entitled is an overpayment of benefits.

When the Division determines a claimant for unemployment benefits made a false statement, failed to report earnings or withheld information when claiming benefits, the claimant will be required to repay those benefits. Overpayments are also deducted from future benefits owed and from Missouri income tax refunds and lottery winnings. The claimant could also be assessed a penalty up to the amount of benefits received, have their benefit rights canceled and be arrested, fined and imprisoned. To avoid this,

DO NOT

• Continue to file weekly claims after you have gone back to work full time

DO

• Report all earnings
  • Include all wages earned during the week you are claiming, even though you may not be paid until later. This includes wages for full-time, part-time or temporary work.
  • Include vacation pay, holiday pay and WARN pay (do not include severance or termination pay).
  • Notify the Division if you are receiving a pension (other than Social Security).
• Make the required number of work search contacts, if applicable
• Report in person every four weeks to a Missouri Career Center, if applicable

What happens if I am overpaid?