For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) Outstanding balance means the total of all unpaid overpayment assessments (including penalties), court costs, interest charges, and surcharges.

(2) Due date means the date by which the minimum monthly payment must be received by the department as shown on the monthly billing statement.

(3) Delinquent means your minimum monthly payment is not received by the department on or before the due date.

(1) If the department has assessed more than one overpayment against you, we will first apply payments against any overpayment involving fraud. If there are multiple overpayments involving fraud, we will apply payments in order beginning with the oldest benefit year. If none of the overpayments involve fraud, we will apply payments in order beginning with the oldest benefit year.

(2) Within the priority established in subsection (1) of this section, the department will apply cash payments to the outstanding balance in the following order:

(a) Court costs including, but not limited to, filing fees and surcharges paid to the court for their official services, and surcharges and fees collected by the court for distribution to other programs or funds. It does not, however, apply to surcharges paid to the court under RCW 40.14.027 which are applied under (f) of this subsection.

(b) Interest.

(c) Penalties based on fraud.

(d) Charges for payments dishonored by nonacceptance or nonpayment.

(e) Overpaid benefits.

(f) Surcharge assessed under RCW 40.14.027.

(3) The department will only apply offsets to the overpaid benefits. Court costs, fraud penalties, interest, and surcharges cannot be offset; they must be repaid.

(4) The department will charge twenty-five dollars for each dishonored payment you submit. This is considered a commercial charge under the Uniform Commercial Code (RCW 62A.3-515).

The department will calculate your minimum monthly payment as described in this section, unless we approve another payment amount.

(1) If the overpayment was assessed by another state, the department will not calculate a minimum monthly payment. If the overpayment is being recovered by offset against future benefits, recovery will be done as described in WAC 192-230-100(4).

(2) For overpayments due to fraud, your minimum monthly payment will be the greater of (a) your weekly benefit amount or (b) three percent of your outstanding balance when the billing statement is sent, rounded down to the next whole dollar amount.

(3) For all other overpayments, your minimum monthly payment will be the greater of (a) one-third of your weekly benefit amount, (b) three percent of your outstanding balance when the billing statement is sent, rounded down to the next whole dollar amount, or (c) twenty-five dollars.

(1) Interest will not be charged on an overpayment assessed by another state.

(2) Interest will be charged at the rate of one percent per month for overpayments based on fraud. The interest will be charged on both the overpaid benefits and the fraud penalty, if any. If you appeal the finding of fraud, interest will accrue while the appeal is pending and will be added to your overpayment if the finding of fraud is upheld.

(3) If the overpayment is not based on fraud, interest will be charged at the rate of one percent per month when any portion of two or more minimum monthly payments is delinquent.

(4) In addition to the principal amount, interest will accrue based on the total of the overpayment including, but not limited to, interest, penalties, court costs, charges for dishonored payments, and related charges or fees.

(5) If the overpayment includes both fraud and nonfraud weeks, interest will be charged proportionally as described in subsections (2) and (3).

(6) In unusual circumstances, and at his or her discretion, the commissioner may suspend the assessment or collection of interest charges for overpayments not based on fraud.

(7) Interest is calculated on a monthly cycle as follows:

(a) For fraud overpayments, interest accrues beginning on the date the determination of fraud is effective.

(b) For nonfraud overpayments, interest accrues immediately, beginning after the due date.

(1) You may ask to repay an overpayment by offset on a valid benefit year as described in WAC 192-230-100. If the new balance available on your current benefit year is greater than the balance of your overpayment, you can choose the amount of benefits to be offset from each payment. However, if the new balance available on your current benefit year is equal to or less than the balance of an overpayment on that benefit year, offset will be done at the rate of one hundred percent.

(2) You may ask to repay overpayments owing on prior benefit years by offset as described in WAC 192-230-100.

(3) During any valid benefit year, the total amount of benefits paid to you plus offset credits granted will not exceed the maximum benefits payable on the claim.

(4) If offset of an overpayment is granted against weeks that are later found to have been paid in error or as a result of fraud, the offset for the week(s) will be canceled and the amount will be restored to your overpayment balance.

(5) If any portion of this section conflicts with federal law or regulations, the federal law or regulations will apply.

(1) If you do not repay an overpayment in full or make the minimum monthly payments provided for in WAC 192-230-030, the principal amount will be deducted from benefits payable for any week(s) you claim. Interest, penalties, surcharges, court costs, and charges for dishonored payments will not be deducted from benefit payments; they must be repaid.

(2) For overpayments assessed under RCW 50.20.010 because you asked to have your unemployment insurance claim canceled, the amount deducted will be one hundred percent of benefits payable for each week(s) you claim. The department will ensure you are informed of the advantages and/or disadvantages of canceling an existing claim to file a new claim. See WAC 192-110-115.

(3) If you are currently claiming benefits, the overpayment will not be offset from future weeks payable unless you have missed a portion of two or more payments as provided in WAC 192-230-030. If you have missed a portion of two or more payments, the overpayment will be offset as described in (a) and (b) below:

(a) If the overpayment was caused by a denial for fraud, misrepresentation, or willful nondisclosure as provided in RCW 50.20.070, the amount deducted will be one hundred percent of benefits payable for each week(s) you claim. These overpayments will be collected first.

(b) For all other overpayments, the amount deducted will be fifty percent of benefits payable for each week you claim, or such other percentage you request, up to one hundred percent of benefits payable. The percent deducted is based on your total weekly benefit amount, before deductions for such items as pensions, child support, income taxes.

(4) If the overpayment has been assessed by another state, the amount deducted will be as follows:

(a) For overpayments caused by a denial for fraud, misrepresentation, or willful nondisclosure, the amount deducted will be one hundred percent of benefits payable for each week(s) you claim. These overpayments will be collected first.

(b) For all other overpayments, the amount deducted will be fifty percent of benefits payable for each week you claim. However, you may request the overpayment be repaid at one hundred percent of benefits payable for each week you claim.

(1) Yes. State law permits the department to accept an offer in compromise for less than the full amount owed. For purposes of this chapter, an offer in compromise is referred to as a negotiated settlement.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a negotiated settlement of the overpayment for less than the full amount owed will be considered when to require you to repay the full amount would be against equity and good conscience as defined in WAC 192-100-015.

(3) In considering settlement offers, the emphasis will be on what is financially advantageous to the department. The department will consider the costs of collection compared to the amount of the overpayment. In doing so, the department may consider such factors as the age and amount of the overpayment, the number of prior contacts with you, whether you previously made good faith efforts to pay the debt, the tools available to enforce collection, and other information relevant to your ability to repay.

(4) A negotiated settlement for less than the full amount owed will not be considered when:

(a) The overpayment decision was issued by a state other than Washington; or

(b) The overpayment is for disaster unemployment assistance benefits paid under Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

(5) The department's decision to accept or reject a settlement offer is not subject to appeal. However, if the settlement offer is rejected, you are permitted to make another offer if your circumstances change.

Except in unusual circumstances, a settlement offer will not be accepted when your overpayment is the result of fraud, misrepresentation, or willful nondisclosure. Unusual circumstances that may warrant a negotiated settlement of the overpayment and associated penalties include, but are not limited to, long-term or terminal illness, severe permanent disability, or other circumstances that seriously impair your long-term ability to generate income.

(1) You may contact the department's unemployment benefits collection unit and make an offer to settle the debt for less than the full amount owing. Specify the amount you are offering to repay and be prepared to provide financial and other information in support of your offer. The department may request a credit report to verify the information you provide. The department will notify you of its decision to accept or decline your offer.

(2) Settlement offers may also be made by authorized department staff.