EDD sending collection notices during appeal of mysterious overpayment - moved out of state

This happens more often than you'd think, unfortunately. EDD is extremely backlogged with appeals - they're showing as receiving appeals from 4-5 months ago right now. You absolutely need to call them to 1) confirm they received your appeal and 2) request a formal stay on collections while your appeal is pending. The collections department and appeals department don't communicate well, so one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. Make sure to document everything - dates of calls, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers, etc. Also, request that they send you the specific reason for the overpayment determination - by law, they have to tell you why.

I went through this exact situation last year and it was a nightmare. My overpayment was because they retroactively determined I wasn't eligible for some weeks I claimed in 2021, even though they approved everything at the time! You definitely need to keep responding to the collection notices while your appeal is processing - they run on separate tracks. Send a letter specifically responding to the collection notice stating you've filed an appeal (include the date you sent it) and request collections be paused pending the outcome. Send it certified mail so you have proof. Also check if there's any info on your UI Online account about the reason for the overpayment - sometimes it shows up there even if they didn't send a letter.

omg this hapened to me too!!! Got hit with $3200 overpaymnt outta nowhere, no explanatin why, super confusing. been trying to call for WEEKS cant get through AT ALL. edd is such a mess right now, i think they just making up numbers tbh

Are you sure the notices are legitimate? There's been a huge increase in EDD scams targeting former claimants. Check that the letters have the official EDD letterhead and verify any contact information against the official EDD website. Real EDD collection notices would reference a specific overpayment section code (like 1375A or 1375B) and include information about why the overpayment occurred. If the letters look suspicious, report it to EDD's fraud department immediately.

I had success using Claimyr to get through to an EDD rep when dealing with my overpayment mess. The service basically keeps calling EDD for you until it gets through, then connects you. I was skeptical but after trying to call for 3 weeks with no luck, I used them and got through to a specialist in about 30 minutes. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The rep I reached was able to tell me exactly why I had an overpayment (in my case, they needed additional proof of income I never knew about) and put a hold on collections while I gathered documents.

THE EDD IS A COMPLETE JOKE!!! They do this ALL THE TIME - demand money back years later with zero explanation!!! I got hit with a $6,700 "overpayment" from 2020 claims and they couldn't even tell me why for MONTHS. Meanwhile they kept sending threatening collection letters every 2 weeks. KEEP APPEALING AND CALLING. Their internal systems are BROKEN - the appeals dept doesn't talk to collections. I had to get my state representative involved before they would stop the collection notices. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE HATE DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES!!!

Have you tried checking your spouse's inbox in UI Online? Sometimes they send electronic notifications explaining overpayments but don't mail paper copies. Also, since you moved out of state, make sure EDD has your current mailing address - they might have sent important documents to your old California address.

The best advice I can give is to request an "Overpayment Itemization Statement" from EDD. This is a document they're required to provide that breaks down exactly which weeks were overpaid and why. You can request it by calling or in writing. If you can't get through by phone, send the request via certified mail to: EDD Overpayment Center, PO Box 826218, Sacramento, CA 94230. Include your claim ID, name, and contact information. Also, since you've moved out of state, there might be interstate claim issues involved that are complicating things.

After using Claimyr to reach a rep about my overpayment issue, I learned that cross-state overpayment situations are actually handled by a special interstate claims unit. The regular EDD reps often can't even see the full details. Ask specifically to speak with someone from the interstate claims department once you get through. They can tell you if the move to Oregon is complicating your case.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! As someone who went through a similar situation, here are a few additional steps that helped me: 1) File a complaint with the California State Auditor's Office - they're currently investigating EDD's overpayment practices and your case could help their investigation. 2) Document EVERYTHING with timestamps - every call attempt, every letter sent/received, every conversation. 3) Consider reaching out to local news stations that cover EDD issues - sometimes media pressure helps move things along faster. 4) If you have any employment records, pay stubs, or tax documents from when your husband was claiming benefits, gather them now as you'll likely need them for the appeal. The fact that they're sending collection notices without explanation is unfortunately typical EDD behavior, but don't let them intimidate you. Keep fighting and know that many of these mysterious overpayments get overturned once someone actually reviews the case properly. Hang in there!

I went through something very similar in 2022 - EDD hit me with a $3,400 overpayment notice completely out of the blue, no explanation whatsoever. What I learned is that you absolutely MUST respond to both the appeal AND the collection notice separately - they're handled by different departments that don't communicate. For the collection notice, send a certified letter immediately stating that you have an active appeal pending (include the date you filed it) and request a temporary hold on collection activities. I also discovered that many of these mysterious overpayments are actually data entry errors or employer wage reporting mistakes that EDD's automated systems flag incorrectly. In my case, it turned out they had duplicated some wage information, making it look like I earned more than I actually did during certain weeks. The appeal process took 6 months, but I eventually got the overpayment completely reversed. Don't let them intimidate you - keep fighting and demand specific documentation about why they think you were overpaid. The burden of proof should be on them, not you!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - got hit with a $2,800 overpayment demand last month with zero explanation, and like you, we moved out of state (to Arizona) after my claim period ended. What's helped me so far: 1) I sent a certified letter to both the appeals department AND the collections department on the same day, clearly stating I'm appealing and requesting all collection activity be suspended pending resolution. 2) I also sent a separate certified letter specifically requesting an "Administrative Review" of the overpayment determination - this is different from a regular appeal and sometimes gets faster results. 3) Through persistence (and about 40 phone call attempts), I finally got through and learned that out-of-state moves can trigger automatic system reviews that sometimes generate false overpayments. The rep told me to specifically ask for the "Interstate Claims Unit" when I call back for updates. 4) I'm keeping a detailed log of every interaction, and I've also filed complaints with both the California State Auditor and my new state's unemployment office (they can sometimes apply pressure on California's behalf). The whole system is broken, but don't give up - I've read too many success stories here to lose hope. Hang in there and keep fighting!