EDD overpayment collections when switching to SDI disability - will they take all my benefits?

Oh thank god. I was afraid they'd take everything and I'd be completely screwed. Do you know if I need to contact them about the hardship situation or is there a form somewhere on the website? I can barely afford the 25% reduction but at least it's not everything.

That's such a relief to hear! Did they automatically take the 25% or did you have to set up some kind of arrangement with them first?

it was automatic, they sent me a letter about the offset like a week before my first payment. but honestly it was confusing and i ended up having to call them to make sure i understood what was happening

This is incorrect information. The maximum garnishment for government benefits is 25% by federal law under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, regardless of previous overpayments. If they took 50%, it was likely because you had multiple active garnishment orders or you agreed to a higher voluntary repayment. The system isn't broken - you likely misunderstood what was happening with your specific case.

Thank you so much for breaking down the numbers like that. It helps to have a realistic idea of what to expect. I'll definitely call that Collections Division number. Just to be clear - I should apply for SDI now even though I still owe the unemployment overpayment, right? They're not going to deny my disability claim because of the debt?

Yes, apply for SDI immediately. Having an unemployment overpayment will NOT disqualify you from receiving disability benefits. They're separate programs, and you have every right to disability benefits if you meet the medical criteria. The overpayment only affects how much of your benefit you'll receive after the garnishment.

That's interesting... I didn't even think about appealing. I'm not sure what grounds I'd have though. They said I didn't report some income correctly, which honestly might be true. I was working part-time for a while and the reporting was confusing.

Be very careful with appeals. Only appeal if you genuinely believe the overpayment determination was incorrect. Filing an appeal just to delay collections can potentially result in additional penalties if they determine it was filed without merit. If you genuinely made reporting errors, you may want to instead request a waiver based on financial hardship or negotiate a minimal repayment plan.

Wow, that's really good to know! I've been trying to call for the past two days with no luck. Always the same message about high call volume. I'll check out that service - getting this sorted out quickly would be worth it. Did you have to provide any specific documentation for the hardship reduction?

They just asked me about my monthly expenses (rent, utilities, food, etc.) and income while on disability. I didn't have to submit any documents during the call, but the rep said they might request proof later if needed. They never did though. The most important thing was actually being able to speak to someone who could make the adjustment in their system.

Thanks for sharing that! It gives me hope that they might work with me on the percentage. $320/week is closer to what I might get after the reduction.

That's really good advice. I definitely don't want to end up with another overpayment. I'll make sure to document everything and be super careful with any reporting. I'm planning to focus entirely on recovery for at least the first month anyway since my doctor was very clear about no work at all.

Yes! I finally got it sorted. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to EDD and explained my situation. They agreed to reduce my garnishment to 15% because of financial hardship. My weekly SDI payment ended up being about $690 and they're taking around $104 for the overpayment, so I'm getting about $586 weekly. It's tight but manageable. The key was definitely getting through to someone who could actually help rather than just waiting for them to process everything automatically.

I'm so glad to hear there are success stories like this! As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these posts about EDD issues and it's honestly pretty overwhelming. Seeing that @facf45268409 was able to get their situation resolved and get a reduced garnishment rate gives me hope. I'm just starting to deal with my own EDD overpayment situation and was feeling pretty hopeless about it. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps to know that they do actually work with people who are struggling financially. I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service if I can't get through on my own!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand feeling overwhelmed - EDD issues can be incredibly stressful, especially when you're already dealing with financial hardship. The good news is that this community has been really helpful for me in figuring out my situation. Don't give up hope! From what I've learned through my experience and reading everyone's advice here, EDD does have hardship options available, but you really do need to speak with someone directly to get them applied. The automatic system just doesn't account for individual circumstances. Make sure to document all your expenses and be ready to explain your financial situation clearly when you do get through to them. Good luck with your case!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand that overwhelming feeling when you're first dealing with EDD issues - it can feel like you're drowning in bureaucracy. The good news is that this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating these situations. Definitely try calling EDD directly first (early morning seems to work best), but if you can't get through after a few days, that Claimyr service really does seem to work based on what others have shared here. The most important thing is to not panic and know that there are usually options available, even when it feels hopeless. Keep us posted on how it goes - we're all rooting for each other here!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand feeling overwhelmed - dealing with EDD issues can be incredibly stressful, especially when you're already facing financial hardship. This thread has been really helpful for me too. One thing I've learned from everyone's experiences here is that persistence really pays off. Don't be afraid to keep calling and advocating for yourself. The hardship reductions seem to be more common than I initially thought, which is encouraging. Good luck with your situation - hopefully you'll have a positive outcome like Cynthia did!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand that overwhelming feeling when you're dealing with EDD issues - it can feel really scary and confusing at first. But you're in the right place for support and advice. One thing I've learned from reading through all these posts is that persistence really pays off when dealing with EDD. Don't give up if you get stuck in their phone system or if the first person you talk to can't help. Keep trying different approaches and different representatives until you find someone who can actually assist you. Also, document everything - every call, every letter, every interaction. It'll help you keep track of what's happening and give you something to reference if you need to escalate your case. Good luck with your situation!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand feeling overwhelmed - EDD issues can be really stressful, especially when you're dealing with overpayments. It's great that you found this thread though because there's so much helpful information here from people who have actually been through it. Definitely don't lose hope! From what I've read here, it seems like the key is persistence in getting through to someone who can actually help, whether that's through the regular phone lines or services like Claimyr. Make sure to gather all your financial information before you call so you can make a strong case for hardship if needed. Good luck with your situation!

Welcome to the community! I know exactly how overwhelming this whole EDD situation can feel - I was in complete panic mode when I first posted here. The people in this community really know their stuff and saved me from making some bad decisions. Definitely try calling EDD directly first using that Collections Division number that @7379ec0f3842 shared (1-800-676-5737), but if you can't get through after a few days, the Claimyr service really does work. The most important thing is to not ignore the overpayment and hope it goes away - they will definitely collect it eventually, but they are surprisingly willing to work with you if you're proactive about addressing it. Feel free to ask questions here - everyone's been super helpful!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand that overwhelming feeling when you're first dealing with EDD issues - it can feel like you're drowning in bureaucracy. But you're absolutely right that success stories like Cynthia's really do help show that there's light at the end of the tunnel. The key thing I've learned from reading through all these discussions is that persistence really pays off, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Whether that's using a service like Claimyr or just keeping detailed records of everything - every little bit helps when you're navigating this system. Good luck with your situation, and don't hesitate to post here if you have questions. This community has been super helpful for a lot of people going through similar struggles!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand feeling overwhelmed - EDD issues can be incredibly stressful, especially when you're already dealing with financial hardship. The good news is that there are people here who've been through similar situations and are willing to share their experiences. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you need help navigating your overpayment situation. From what I've read in these threads, the key seems to be persistence in getting through to someone who can actually help, and being prepared to explain your financial hardship clearly. You've got this!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand feeling overwhelmed when dealing with EDD issues - it's such a stressful situation. The key thing I learned from going through this is that persistence really pays off. Don't give up on trying to reach them, and definitely document everything. The Claimyr service was a game-changer for me because I was spending hours trying to get through their phone lines with no luck. Also, don't be afraid to explain your financial situation in detail when you do get through to someone. They have more flexibility than you might think, especially if you can show genuine hardship. Good luck with your case!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand that overwhelming feeling when you're first dealing with EDD issues. When I started this whole process, I was completely panicked and didn't know where to turn. The good news is that there are people here who really know their stuff and are willing to help. Don't be afraid to ask questions - everyone here has been through some version of EDD stress and most people are genuinely helpful. The key thing I learned is that persistence really pays off, whether it's calling EDD directly or using services like Claimyr to get through. Hang in there and don't give up!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand feeling overwhelmed - EDD issues can be really stressful to navigate, especially when you're dealing with an overpayment. The good news is that this community has been incredibly helpful for me and others going through similar situations. Don't lose hope! Like @facf45268409 showed, there are often solutions available even when things seem impossible. Make sure to document everything and don't be afraid to ask for help - whether that's through services like Claimyr or just reaching out here for advice. We've all been there and people are really willing to share their experiences to help others. Good luck with your situation!

Welcome to the community! I totally understand feeling overwhelmed by all this EDD stuff - it can be really confusing and stressful, especially when you're dealing with an overpayment situation. The good news is that there are people here who have been through similar experiences and are willing to share what worked for them. Definitely try calling EDD directly first, but if you're having trouble getting through (which unfortunately happens a lot), that Claimyr service that @513d690470b8 mentioned seems to be a legitimate option that several people have had success with. Just remember that you have rights and options - don't let them intimidate you into accepting whatever they initially propose. Good luck with your situation!

Thanks so much @e062c331c939! This community really does seem like a lifesaver for people dealing with EDD issues. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the different programs and how they interact with each other, but reading through everyone's real experiences is way more helpful than trying to decipher the official EDD website. It's reassuring to know that even when things seem impossible, there are usually options and people who've been through similar situations. I'll definitely start by trying to understand exactly what caused my overpayment before I do anything else.

Absolutely! The EDD website is honestly pretty confusing to navigate, especially when you're stressed about money. One thing I'd recommend is keeping a simple spreadsheet or document tracking all your interactions with EDD - dates you called, who you spoke with, reference numbers, etc. It really helped me stay organized when I was dealing with my situation. Also, don't be afraid to ask for clarification if something doesn't make sense. The representatives are usually pretty patient about explaining things, especially if you mention you're new to dealing with these issues. Good luck with everything!

Absolutely agree with both of you! @ed5474bb5503 you're taking exactly the right approach by trying to understand the cause first. I'm relatively new here too but what I've noticed is that people are really generous with sharing their experiences and actual outcomes, which is so much more valuable than the generic information you find elsewhere. One thing that stood out to me from reading through this whole thread is how different everyone's situations turned out to be - some people got automatic 25% garnishments, others were able to negotiate lower rates, and the key seems to be persistence in actually reaching someone who can help. The Claimyr service that @513d690470b8 mentioned seems to come up a lot in these discussions as a way to actually get through to EDD when the phone system is impossible.

Absolutely agree with everything said here! @ed5474bb5503 you're taking the right approach by wanting to understand the root cause first. I went through a similar learning curve when I first joined this community - the EDD system is incredibly complex and the official resources can be confusing. What really helped me was reading through older posts here to see how different situations played out. One thing I'd add is to keep detailed records of everything moving forward - dates, phone calls, letters, payments. It makes a huge difference if you need to reference something later or if there are any disputes. This community has been invaluable for getting practical advice from people who actually understand how things work in reality versus how they're supposed to work on paper.

@ed5474bb5503 You're absolutely right about this community being more helpful than the official website! The EDD site is so confusing and doesn't really explain what happens in real-world situations. One thing I'd recommend is keeping detailed notes of everything - dates, amounts, who you talked to, etc. I wish I had done that from the beginning because it would have made everything so much clearer when I finally got through to someone who could help. Also don't be afraid to ask questions here even if they seem basic - everyone's been really supportive and there's no judgment about not understanding the system perfectly!

Thank you @2aa0c9fdc0e4! That's really practical advice about being prepared for the call. I'm definitely going to write everything down before I try to get through to them. It's so helpful to hear from people who have actually been through this process. I'm still pretty new to understanding how all these EDD programs work, but reading through this whole thread has been incredibly educational. It's amazing how much clearer things become when you hear real people's experiences rather than just trying to parse through government websites. I feel much more confident about tackling my overpayment situation now!

@2d28c942809c You're so right about government websites being confusing! I just joined this community yesterday after spending hours trying to figure out my own EDD situation on their official site. The difference between reading dry policy language and hearing from people who've actually navigated these issues is night and day. This thread alone has taught me more about overpayments and garnishments than weeks of trying to research on my own. It's really encouraging to see how supportive everyone is here - from @facf45268409 sharing her successful resolution to @2aa0c9fdc0e4 giving practical call preparation tips. Makes me feel like there's actually hope for getting through whatever EDD throws at us!

@2d28c942809c You're absolutely right about how much clearer things become when you hear from real people! I'm also relatively new here and this thread has been incredibly enlightening. What really struck me about @facf45268409's situation is how quickly things can change from feeling completely hopeless to having a workable solution - going from panicking about losing everything to getting a manageable 15% garnishment rate. It really reinforces what everyone's been saying about the importance of actually talking to someone at EDD rather than just accepting whatever they automatically do. I'm bookmarking this thread because it's such a great example of how to approach these situations step by step!

Welcome to the community @f57fee23f39f! Your situation sounds really similar to what many of us have been through. It's so reassuring to see how supportive everyone is here when dealing with these stressful EDD issues. A $2,800 overpayment is definitely significant, but based on what I've learned from reading through all these experiences, it sounds like you're approaching it with the right mindset - understanding your rights and options before they start any collections. The fact that you're preparing ahead of potentially needing disability benefits shows you're being really proactive. I'm still pretty new to navigating all this myself, but this thread has taught me so much about what to expect and how to advocate for yourself with EDD. Definitely seems like having a plan and being able to actually talk to someone makes all the difference!

Welcome @1b900bd09597! I'm also pretty new to this community and completely agree - this thread has been like a masterclass in understanding EDD overpayments and disability benefits. When I first started reading about these issues, I felt so lost trying to understand all the acronyms and processes, but seeing everyone's real experiences laid out step by step makes it so much clearer. The fact that @facf45268409 came back months later to share their successful resolution really shows the quality of this community. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as a reference because there's so much practical information here that you just can't find anywhere else. It's really reassuring to know there's a place where people actually help each other navigate these complicated government systems instead of just complaining about them!

@78a1faa28d52 @1b900bd09597 Welcome to both of you! I'm also relatively new here but have found this community to be an absolute lifesaver when dealing with EDD issues. This thread really is like a comprehensive guide - from the initial panic about potentially losing all benefits to the successful resolution with reduced garnishment rates. What I love most is how people share specific numbers and real outcomes, not just vague advice. The fact that we can see @facf45268409 went from being terrified about losing everything to managing with $586/week after a 15% garnishment shows that there really are solutions, even when things seem hopeless. I'm definitely saving this thread too - the combination of legal information, practical tips like the Claimyr service, and real success stories makes it invaluable for anyone dealing with EDD overpayments and disability benefits.