Si recibió un pago excesivo por prestaciones por desempleo debido a la pandemia, es posible que tenga derechos en virtud de un acuerdo de demanda colectiva.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many New Mexicans were told they had been overpaid unemployment benefits. This was due to administrative errors by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS).
Several of these individuals filed a class action lawsuit, Duran v. New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, D-101-CV-2023-00698. The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and Ives & Flores represented the plaintiffs in this case. A settlement has been entered requiring DWS to forgive more pandemic overpayments and refund money that had already been repaid.
Many people may be eligible to apply for a waiver, forgiving this overpayment debt. Some people who already paid back overpayment amounts may be eligible for a refund.
If you believe you are covered by the settlement, contact DWS today.
To view or download our Know Your Rights fact sheet, click HERE for English, or click HERE for Spanish.
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, click HERE for English, or click HERE for Spanish.
Para leer el Aviso de acuerdo de demanda colectiva que se envió a todos los miembros de la demanda colectiva, haga clic AQUÍ.
To read the Settlement Agreement, click HERE.
Para todos los demás documentos judiciales, haga clic AQUÍ.
How to find out if you have an unemployment debt:
If you received unemployment benefits from New Mexico during the pandemic, contact DWS. Find out from DWS if you have an overpayment you owe back. Ask to apply for a waiver.
To apply for a waiver, individuals will answer these two simple yes-or-no questions: “Were you at fault for the overpayment?” and “Would repaying the overpayment cause a financial hardship?” After an individual applies for a waiver, DWS will notify them if the waiver has been granted or not. An individual whose application for a waiver is denied can appeal the denial.
Es posible que una exención no perdone todo el pago en exceso que una persona debe, ya que el DWS solo puede eximir los beneficios federales por pandemia, no los beneficios regulares por desempleo del estado.
Any amount that DWS waives will never have to be paid back.
To Contact DWS:
- Call (877) 664-6984, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM
- Click here to find a local office
- Click here to login to your online account
What if you already paid it back:
Algunas personas que reciben exenciones ya han devuelto parte del dinero al DWS. En algunos casos, pagaron directamente al DWS. En otros, el DWS lo dedujo de sus prestaciones o devoluciones de impuestos. Si el DWS ya ha recuperado parte del dinero de alguien a quien se le ha eximido del pago en exceso, el DWS le reembolsará el dinero que le retiró.
Si tiene alguna pregunta:
Póngase en contacto con los abogados que representan a las personas que presentaron esta demanda:
- Telephone at (505) 255-2840,
- Envíe un correo electrónico a uioverpayments@nmpovertylaw.org, o por
- Envíe por correo a 301 Edith Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
Contact the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at (877) 664-6984, Monday through Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm.