Reemployment Assistance
Overpayment - Collections
Repayment of all Reemployment Assistance (RA) benefit overpayments is required by law regardless of the reason for the overpayment. For information on avoiding being overpaid RA benefits, visit our Accurate and Honest Reporting page. Or refer to your RA Claimant Handbook (PDF) and RA Benefits portion of this website for additional information.
If you receive a notice in the mail that you have been overpaid RA benefits:
- Read the notice carefully. If you have any questions, call the Benefit Payment Control Unit at 605.626.7649.
- Appeal and waiver rights should be reviewed. Appeal on time if you disagree with the overpayment. Visit our File an Appeal page for information about the appeals and waiver processes.
- Monthly billing statements will be sent until the overpayment is paid. You should make a payment within 15 days and set up a reasonable monthly payment in order to prevent further collection action. If you make no payment on your overpayment, the Benefit Payment Control Unit may begin collection actions. See our Civil Actions and Prosecution of Offenders page.
- Interest — If you are at fault in the overpayment, interest will begin accumulating immediately. If you are not at fault, interest will begin accumulating after six months. Accumulated interest cannot be deducted from your future benefits. Interest will continue to accrue until the principal balance is paid. Repaying the overpayment quickly reduces your interest cost and preserves your future RA Benefits.
- Fraud Penalty — If you commit fraud to secure or increase benefits, a penalty of 50% percent of the amount of benefits obtained by fraud is applied for the first offense and a 100 percent penalty is applied for each subsequent offense. The department shall also impose four weeks of administrative penalty for each week that an individual willfully or fraudulently misrepresents a fact to secure or increase benefits. You cannot be paid any benefits until you have served the penalty by continuing to file weekly requests for payment you would otherwise be paid for. There is no expiration of this penalty.
Repayment Options
- Mail check or money order to:
Reemployment Assistance Division — Collections Unit
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
PO Box 4730
Aberdeen, SD 57402-4730 - Log in to the RA Benefits Portal and pay online using your checking/savings account or credit card.
- Complete and mail us the Credit Card Authorization Form for credit/debit card payments (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted). You can select one-time payment or set up recurring payments.
- DLR can arrange for flexible payment plans, and we will work with the individual to find a reasonable compromise. Call our Collections Unit at 605.626.7649.
1099-Gs and overpayments
1099-Gs and overpayments: If you were overpaid and have repaid any of your overpayment in that same year, subtract that amount from the total amount received as shown on your 1099-G. Enter the result on the appropriate line of your tax form. If you have any questions regarding this, please consult a tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service. Contact our Overpayments division for a receipt.