Sec. 23.20.390. Recovery of improper payments; penalty.

552 words·~3 min read·/ak/title-23/chapter-20/23-20-390

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)An individual who receives a sum as benefits from the unemployment compensation fund when not entitled to it under this chapter is liable to the fund for the sum improperly paid to the individual.

(b)The department shall promptly prepare and deliver or mail to the individual at the individual's last address of record a notice of determination of liability declaring that the individual has been determined liable to refund the amount of benefits to which the individual is not entitled. The amount, if not previously collected, shall be deducted from future benefits payable to the individual. However, the department may absolve liability to the fund for repayment of all or a portion of those benefits if the department determines that an individual has died or has acted in good faith in claiming and receiving benefits to which the individual was not entitled and recovery of those benefits would be against equity and good conscience.

(c)For similar cause and in the same manner, a claim by another state for the recovery of sums paid as benefits under an employment security law of the other state is recoverable under this chapter if the sums were obtained by an individual who is not entitled and the other state has a comparable provision in its employment security law for recovery of the sums on behalf of this state.

(d)If paid-out benefit sums have neither been repaid by the recipient nor deducted from benefits payable to the recipient within two years following the last day of the year in which payment was made, the commissioner may declare the sums uncollectible and cancel both the resulting shortage and related records.

(e)An appeal from the determination of liability under this section may be made in the same manner and to the same extent as provided by AS 23.20.340 and 23.20.410 — 23.20.470 for an appeal relating to a determination in respect to a claim for benefits. If no appeal is taken to the appeal tribunal by the individual within 30 days of the delivery of the notice of determination of liability, or within 30 days of the mailing of the notice of determination, whichever is earlier, the determination of liability is final and the court shall, upon application of the department, enter a judgment in the amount provided by the notice of determination. The judgment has the same effect as a judgment entered in a civil action.

(f)In addition to the liability under

(a)of this section for the amount of benefits improperly paid, an individual who is disqualified from receipt of benefits under AS 23.20.387 is liable to the department for a penalty in an amount equal to 50 percent of the benefits that were obtained by knowingly making a false statement or misrepresenting a material fact, or knowingly failing to report a material fact, with the intent to obtain or increase benefits under this chapter. The department shall deposit into the unemployment trust fund account ( AS 23.20.135 (a)) a minimum of 30 percent of the penalties collected because of benefits that were obtained by knowingly making a false statement or misrepresenting a material fact, or knowingly failing to report a material fact, with the intent to obtain or increase benefits under this chapter.