commentator
Senior Member
In answer to your question....no do not wait to answer the inquiry! That is the one thing you can do that will make your situation much worse. Answer it, be honest. DO NOT try to wait till you have the money saved up to pay it back to start responding to their inquiries. Please, listen to me on this. It will not go away if you ignore it.
Yes, everyone here has enjoyed the fire out of getting to tell you you did something wrong and dumb and dishonest. You did. But to the Utah unemployment fraud unit, you are not a novelty, you are one of thousands of people who do this sort of thing all the time. They are not going to try to do anything but get their money back with penalties.
If you do not respond to them, they will find out what they need to know anyway. They will certainly be able to find you, determine this overpayment, and begin garnishing your checks, taking your income tax refunds, penalizing you in various ways. The sooner you begin the making amends process, the easier they will go on you in terms of collection and punishment. If you don't have any money right now, tell them. But for your own sake, establish contact and come clean NOW.
Yes, everyone here has enjoyed the fire out of getting to tell you you did something wrong and dumb and dishonest. You did. But to the Utah unemployment fraud unit, you are not a novelty, you are one of thousands of people who do this sort of thing all the time. They are not going to try to do anything but get their money back with penalties.
If you do not respond to them, they will find out what they need to know anyway. They will certainly be able to find you, determine this overpayment, and begin garnishing your checks, taking your income tax refunds, penalizing you in various ways. The sooner you begin the making amends process, the easier they will go on you in terms of collection and punishment. If you don't have any money right now, tell them. But for your own sake, establish contact and come clean NOW.