• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

John T. Turco & Associates PC, LLO

Omaha’s Premier Bankruptcy Law Firm

  • Call us today for help! (402) 933-8600
  • Search
  • Call us today for help! (402) 933-8600
  • Search
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Our Bankruptcy Lawyers
    • Client Reviews
  • Bankruptcy & Debt Relief
    • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
    • Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
    • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
    • Small Business Bankruptcy
    • Bankruptcy and Divorce
    • Car Loans, Repossessions, and Bankruptcy
    • Foreclosure Assistance
    • Medical Bankruptcies
    • Taxes & Bankruptcy
  • Bankruptcy 101
    • Understanding Bankruptcy
    • What Type of Bankruptcy Do I Qualify For?
    • How to File for Bankruptcy
    • Life After Bankruptcy
    • Debt Collection Practices
    • Credit Reporting Practices
  • Client Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Our Bankruptcy Lawyers
    • Client Reviews
  • Bankruptcy & Debt Relief
    • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
    • Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
    • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
    • Small Business Bankruptcy
    • Bankruptcy and Divorce
    • Car Loans, Repossessions, and Bankruptcy
    • Foreclosure Assistance
    • Medical Bankruptcies
    • Taxes & Bankruptcy
  • Bankruptcy 101
    • Understanding Bankruptcy
    • What Type of Bankruptcy Do I Qualify For?
    • How to File for Bankruptcy
    • Life After Bankruptcy
    • Debt Collection Practices
    • Credit Reporting Practices
  • Client Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact
Unemployment-Benefits-Sign

Will Bankruptcy Discharge an Overpayment of Unemployment Funds?

February 5, 2014 //  by John Turco

Maybe.  I say “maybe,” because technically, an overpayment of unemployment benefits is automatically discharged in bankruptcy unless the state objects to the discharge of that particular debt.  If you live in Nebraska, you can surely expect that the Nebraska Department of Labor will object to the discharge of the debt owed to them specifically.  Other states may be more liberal or less aggressive in pursuing these objections.  But, not in Nebraska.  The state very aggressively monitors and objects to such cases in Bankruptcy Court.

What determines whether a debt for an overpayment of unemployment compensation is wiped out in bankruptcy?

In a word, “fraud.”  Whether factually based or not, the Nebraska Department of Labor ordinarily alleges that individuals that receive an overpayment of unemployment benefits obtained such funds by making a “willful misrepresentation of a material fact” on the application.  Now, this may or may not be the truth.  Honest mistakes do happen, but if you do not timely respond or appeal a decision of the state quickly, then there is a presumption of fraud that sets in.

In a recent case before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Labor alleged that it overpaid a debtor $838.  Upon learning of the overpayment, the Department sent a letter to the debtor and stated that it believed the overpayment was incurred by fraud.  It also advised the debtor that he had until a certain date to appeal the decision if there were facts that could be shown to contradict this determination.  Unfortunately, the individual did not respond and thus a presumption of fraud was set in stone.

What happened to this individual in the Nebraska Bankruptcy Court?

Once the bankruptcy was filed, the state filed an objection to the discharge of its debt.  The Bankruptcy Court ruled that since the debtor did not timely respond to the Department of Labor, that he was now stuck with a determination of fraud, regardless if that determination was factually proven true or not.  In fact, the Bankruptcy Court ruled that a trial in the bankruptcy court was not necessary or called for due to the prior administrative finding of fraud months earlier.  In essence, the debtor had no chance of discharging this debt in bankruptcy.

The bottom line:  Document your innocence ASAP if a mistake has happened with an overpayment of unemployment compensation

I’ll repeat: Mistakes happen to good and honest people.  But, it is imperative that when this happens that you respond, in writing, as soon as possible and to seek a legal advocate when the matter is serious.  A failure to do so will many times end up making you look guilty by default and such a determination may carry over to other aspects of life, including getting rid of a debt for the overpayment of unemployment benefits in bankruptcy.

 

 

 

Share
Tweet
Share

Category: Bankruptcy Basics

About John Turco

John graduated from Creighton University in 1986 with a B.S. in Computer Science. He received his J.D. in 1989 from Creighton University School of Law. John has 27 years of experience representing debtors in bankruptcy and debt related matters and is a former Chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association. John has appeared on radio shows and has lectured to banking groups on issues regarding bankruptcy and collection practices. John is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association and a founding member of the American Consumer Bankruptcy College. He is also licensed to practice law in the State of Iowa.

Previous Post: «2014-Up-Trend-Arrow Better Bankruptcy Exemptions Proposed for Nebraska in 2014
Next Post: Top 5 Things You Should Know Before Filing Bankruptcy jpg»

Primary Sidebar

Request a Free Consultation

We'll discuss your situation, offer options, and answer your questions.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Bankruptcy 101

  • What Type of Bankruptcy is Best?
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
  • Small Business Bankruptcy

Explore the Blog

  • Bankruptcy Basics (40)
  • Bankruptcy Morality, Ethics, & Philosophy (10)
  • Bankruptcy News and Trends (9)
  • Chapter 13 Articles (10)
  • Chapter 7 Articles (4)
  • Dos and Don'ts in Bankruptcy (5)
  • True Stories (2)
  • Uncategorized (1)

We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.


This site is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. The materials on this site are not guaranteed to be complete or current, and they should not be relied on as a substitute for legal advice. This site conveys general information related to bankruptcy law in Omaha, Papillion, Bellevue, Gretna, Council Bluffs and surrounding communities. If you are contemplating or involved in any matter in which legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This disclosure is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa. Memberships and offices in legal fraternities and legal societies, technical and professional licenses, and memberships in scientific, technical and professional associations and societies of law or field of practice does not mean that a lawyer is a specialist or expert in a field of law, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Copyright © 2021 John T. Turco & Associates, PC LLO · All Rights Reserved · Sitemap