HARRISBURG – The Department of Labor & Industry reminds Pennsylvanians that after the unemployment compensation (UC) amnesty program concludes in two weeks, those who still owe overpayments to the UC fund will lose discounts on interest and penalties accrued and face possible prosecution.
The UC Amnesty Program, the first of its kind in the state, began June 1. Claimants who have received more UC benefits than they were entitled to and employers who have not made mandatory tax contributions to the UC Trust Fund have until 12 a.m. Aug. 31 to make it right.
“The time to pay what you owe is now,” Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Julia Hearthway said. “Once the amnesty period ends, we plan to step up enforcement efforts in order to keep the UC Trust Fund solvent and available for those who need and deserve benefits.”
This will not be the department’s first attempt to pursue prosecution in cases of fraudulent UC overpayments.
Since May of 2012, more than 100 cases involving more than $1 million have been referred to law enforcement for criminal prosecution.
“Claimants and employers with outstanding balances still have an opportunity to avoid possible legal action by paying what they owe before the amnesty period ends,” Hearthway said.
More than 130,000 individual claimants and nearly 50,000 employers received letters advising them of the amnesty program, how much they owe, and how to pay it back.
Those with outstanding UC payments are encouraged to visit the UC Amnesty Program Web site, makeitright.pa.gov, to find out more about the program and be connected to an online payment portal.
