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Overpayments

Did you get a notice of overpayment from ODHS?

If you were overpaid by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), you will need to pay back the extra money or benefits you received. This keeps Oregon’s benefits programs fair for everyone.

Need help? See our frequently asked questions or contact us.

 DON'T REPAY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HERE
If you got a notice of overpayment from the Oregon Employment Department, visit their website or call 800-553-5396. Don't use the links on this page.

Ways to pay ODHS

There are several ways to make payments, including monthly payment plans. 

Make a payment

Pay online Pay by phone: 800-273-0548

Mail a payment: 
ODHS Overpayment Recovery Unit
PO Box 3496
Portland, OR 97208

Monthly payment plans

You can set up a monthly payment plan. Call us at 800-273-0548 to get started.


Frequently asked questions

An overpayment is when the State pays a person or vendor too much. This could be for food, cash, medical benefits ​or other services that you​ applied for.

​There are a few different ways overpayments can happen.

Administrative Error

This happens when staff don't enter changes that you reported, and you keep getting benefits based on outdated information.

Client Error

This happens when you or your representative accidentally don't provide correct or complete information. It can also happen if you or your representative accidentally don't report changes to your income, household, other benefits, employment status, lump-sum payments or receipt of property that would directly affect your eligibility for benefits.

Fraud

A fraud overpayment happens if you intentionally (on purpose):

  • Did not provide correct or complete information.​
  • Did not report changes to your income, household, other benefits, employment status, lump-sum payments or receipt of property that would directly affect your eligibility for benefits.​
  • Altered a benefit check, medical card or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.

There are several ways to repay an overpayment:

  • ​You can pay in full by check, money order, debit card or credit card (not American Express).
  • You can set up monthly payments.
  • Your cash (TANF) or food (SNAP) benefits can be reduced if the overpayment was for those programs. Your benefits will be reduced by 10 percent or $10 (whichever is greater), unless the overpayment was because of fraud. For fraud, your ​benefits will be reduced by 20 percent or $20 (whichever is greater). You can also tell your caseworker if you have unused benefits you would like to apply to your payment.
  • Your Oregon state tax refund or US Treasury (federal) payments can be reduced to pay back your overpayment. Your state tax refund can be reduced to pay back overpayments from ​public assistance and food programs. Your US Treasury payments can only be reduced to pay back overpayments​ from food programs. If the reduction ends up being more than what you owe, ODHS will pay you back for the difference.

​Yes. Federal and state laws require liable individuals to ​repay overpayments. You must pay back the money even if it was not your fault or you didn't know you were being overpaid.​

​If you don’t make timely payments, your paycheck could be reduced (garnished). Money could also be taken from your bank account and/or a lien could be added to your property.

Yes. You can get ​benefits if you meet eligibili​ty requirements and have not been disqualified for any reason, like fraud or intentional program violation.

Contact us