Am i required to repay an overpayment by workmans comp?
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Am i required to repay an overpayment by workmans comp?
I was injured on the job, and required shoulder surgery which led to my going on a temporary leave from work. I received workmans compensation until I returned to work a couple of months later. All of this occurred in the months of March through May 2016. The claims company has now notified me they overpaid approximately $1500 that is now due to them. I have had different people tell me different things and I need to know where I stand.
Asked on August 15, 2017 under Insurance Law, Alabama
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
IF you were in fact paid more in error or by accident than you would be entitled to for this situation, you would have to repay the overpay or surplus: the law is very clear that a mistake does not entitle to you keep another's money. You are only entitled to what you are entitled to, so to speak, not what may have been accidently sent to you. (And conversely: if you had been underpaid and the underpayment was discovered, they'd have to pay you the balance due to you.)
If you disagree with their calculation of the amount, ask them to justify it to you--to show you have they came to that number. If after that, you still you don't think you owe them that, you can refuse to pay and let them take legal action against you to recover it; in that legal action, they will have to prove the existence and amount of the overpayment to recover it.
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