EDD claiming overpayment but no letter received and phone reps giving contradicting info

The main EDD customer service number (1-800-300-5616) is practically useless unless you call at exactly 8:00 AM when they open. I was dealing with a similar overpayment issue where they claimed I owed $2,800 but couldn't explain why. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a rep. They have a service that basically gets you in the call queue without you having to keep redialing. I watched their demo video first (https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km) to see how it worked. Within 30 minutes I was talking to someone who could actually see my account details and explain the overpayment calculation.

omg THIS IS LITERALLY HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!! no letter, no notice, just random deductions from my weekly benefit amount. so frustrating!!!

EDD is NOTORIOUS for this type of nonsense!!! I had something similar happen last year and it turned out they were taking money for an overpayment from 2023 that they NEVER NOTIFIED ME ABOUT!!!! You have to specifically ask them about "offset collections" - that's what they call it when they take money from current benefits to pay for supposed past overpayments. The system is DESIGNED to confuse people!!

This sounds like a situation where they're applying what's called a "benefit offset" where they recoup overpayments by reducing your current benefits rather than sending a formal overpayment notice requiring immediate repayment. However, they are still required to send you documentation about this. A few suggestions: 1. Check your UI Online account and look specifically in the "Notices" section. Sometimes these documents are only sent electronically and not by mail. 2. Request a formal overpayment determination in writing. Send a letter to EDD via certified mail requesting documentation of any overpayment being applied to your claim. 3. If they are reducing your benefits without proper notice, you have the right to appeal this action. You can file an appeal even without the formal notice - just explain in your appeal that you were never notified of the overpayment determination. 4. As for reaching a representative, try calling the main number (1-800-300-5616) at 8:01 am precisely. If that doesn't work after several attempts, the Appeals office number (1-800-300-5616) sometimes has shorter wait times.

My neighbor just went through someting like this. The EDD was taking money from her benefits and she couldnt figure out why. Turns out they thought she reported her work hours wrong last summer but never told her about it? She finally got through on the phone and they fixed it. she said it took like 2 weeks of calling every morning

To answer your earlier question - yes, the rep I got through to with Claimyr did resolve my issue. They explained exactly where the overpayment calculation came from (in my case, they had incorrectly calculated my earnings for one quarter). The rep sent me the missing documentation and helped me file an appeal since it was their mistake. Without talking to an actual person who could see my full account, I would have been completely stuck.

@profile5 It worked for me twice, both times I got through within 30-45 minutes. Much better than the 200+ redials I was doing before. It's not instant, you still have to wait in the queue once they get you in, but at least you know you're actually in line instead of getting that frustrating "we're too busy" message.

When you do finally get through to someone, make sure to ask these specific questions: 1. When was the overpayment established (exact date) 2. What weeks are affected by the overpayment 3. What is the total overpayment amount 4. Why was the overpayment created 5. Request they send you an official overpayment notice if you never received one 6. Ask about your appeal rights (there should be a deadline, usually 30 days from notice) Documenting everything is critical. Get the representative's ID number and write down everything they tell you. If they say something that contradicts what another rep told you, politely point this out and ask them to verify in their system. Also, check if the overpayment is being classified as "fraud" or "non-fraud" - this makes a huge difference in penalties and repayment options.

I had a similar issue back in October where EDD was taking money but I didn't know why. I finally found out they were taking it because I supposedly didn't report some income from 2023, which was completely false! I had all my pay stubs to prove it. The annoying thing was I had to get through to someone on the phone to even start fixing it. Just wanted to add that sometimes they're just flat out wrong in their calculations. Don't assume you actually made a mistake just because they say you did. Get all your income documentation together before you call so you can discuss it properly with them.

One additional important point: if they are indeed recouping an overpayment through benefit offsets, they are only supposed to deduct up to 50% of your weekly benefit amount (unless the overpayment involves fraud). If they're taking more than 50%, that's something you should specifically mention when you reach a representative.

Yes, you can request a lower offset percentage based on financial hardship. When you get through to a representative, explain your financial situation and ask if they can reduce the offset amount. They may ask you to complete a financial statement form to document your hardship. In some cases, they can lower the recovery rate to as little as 10% of your weekly benefit amount. Alternatively, you can request a payment plan for after your claim ends, which might be a better option if you need your full benefit amount now.