<prompt> Human: I served in the military for a couple of years and was honorably discharged. Once I got out, I started collecting unemployment from the state of Maine. During this time I of course searched for work, sending out dozens if not hundreds of resumes, and applying in person at many establishments. I kept a record of all my searches, as required by the state, as they said they might request it sometime. After several months I eventually found a job overseas, and left the country. Ive been here for more than three years, and havent had much contact with people back home.I just found out that apparently the state wanted those documents once I had left, but never got them. They apparently want their money back. I havent been back to the states, and honestly I dont know if I plan on it - but my salary here is peanuts, about 10,000 a year. I have 20,000 in students loans which I pay. I dont want to have criminal charges against me, but I dont know what to do about this fact. I havent spoke to the state yet about it, as its still early over here. I dont know where to begin, or what Ill do about it as on my budget even a little money is a big deal. The total amount of unemployment before any fines was about 9,000 if I recall.  <response>: I dont know about Maine specifically but you generally receive a weekly or bi-weekly claim form. Like this. The week you stop filling out and returning those forms is the week they stop sending you unemployment benefits and your claim is terminated. Your unemployment claim was valid when you left the military and you kept it valid until you left the country. If the state wanted verification of your job searches they should have requested that while your unemployment claim was active. After it expired, you stopped sending in the forms, you should have no obligation to provide them with any information. Im not a lawyer but I would recommend contacting them and informing them that your unemployment claim was not active when they requested the information. Therefore the benefits you received were legitimate during the time the claim was active. If they needed work search verification to provide benefits they should have requested it on the benefits form. That is what California does. If a certain box is checked on the benefits form you have to write in the work search history on the back of the form. If it isnt checked you dont have to fill that portion out. Good luck. 