Unemployment Overpayment Due to Ineligibility

Hi! In 2020 I was self employed and lost income due to COVID and not being able to continue work.

I wanted to apply for PUA, but first had to apply for regular UI because in order to receive PUA you had to be disqualified from receiving UI. Anyway, I was denied regular UI, as expected, and proceeded to apply for PUA and was approved. I filed claims and received PUA for several months before getting a letter stating I was no longer eligible for PUA because I was approved for regular UI. After going around and around on the phone with both, I was told I should start filing my claims through regular UI and I would receive the remainder of my benefits through them.

NOW, I received a notice of overpayment due to fraud because I was ineligible for PUA due to being eligible for regular UI. I appealed and a decision was made not in my favor. They are saying I received both benefits and committed fraud even though I did not receive both.

Can anyone advise on what I should do? I know I can appeal the decision, but I don’t know what to say that I haven’t already said to the judge. I filed my application and claims truthfully and still believe I was eligible for PUA given my self employed status at the time. I did not commit fraud and I don’t know how to prove that.

Thank you.