18 months waiting for ESD overpayment waiver decision - is this normal?

Unfortunately, this isn't uncommon. I submitted my overpayment waiver in September 2023 and just got a decision last month (16 months later). The backlog they're dealing with is insane. What worked for me was contacting my state representative - I filled out their constituent services form explaining how long I'd been waiting and within 3 weeks someone from ESD's escalation team called me. Apparently my waiver had been sitting in a queue that wasn't being actively worked. Worth trying if you're desperate!

18 MONTHS IS CRAZY! i waited 7 months for mine last year and thought THAT was outrageous!! the whole system is broken... they demand immediate repayment when THEY make a mistake but take forever to process when its OUR turn to ask for something. its totaly unfair how they treat people. did u try going to a WorkSource office in person? sometimes they can look up stuff in the system for u

I waited about 14 months for my waiver decision (which was approved, thankfully). One thing to know is that they're processing waivers in batches based on when they were filed, and they were severely backlogged after all the pandemic claims. Have you tried sending a secure message through your eServices account specifically asking about the status? Sometimes that works better than calling.

I had a similar experience with an overpayment waiver that took almost a year to process. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual ESD agent (claimyr.com). I was skeptical at first, but after months of failed call attempts, I tried it and got connected to an agent in about 45 minutes. The agent was able to look up my waiver status and flag it for review. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It wasn't an instant fix, but my waiver was processed about 3 weeks after that call. Might be worth trying if you're desperate after 18 months of waiting!

have u tryed the ombusman office?? they help with ESD issues when u cant get anywhere else. google washington unemployment ombudsman. my cosin used them when her claim was stuck for months.

Ugh, the ESD system is completely broken. I had an overpayment that they took FOURTEEN months to review my waiver for. And then guess what? They DENIED it with no explanation! Then I had to appeal to OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings) which took another 3 months. The judge overturned ESD's decision in literally 15 minutes because my case was so obviously a qualifying hardship. These people have no accountability whatsoever.

Just to follow up on your question - yes, my waiver was approved. I included substantial documentation showing financial hardship (bank statements showing negative balance, past due bills, eviction notice). The most important thing with these waivers is proving that repayment would cause significant financial hardship. Have all your documentation ready for when they finally review your case. Also, when you contact your state rep, include your full name, contact info, and ESD claim ID number. Makes it easier for them to inquire on your behalf.

I heard from an ESD worker that they're still dealing with a massive backlog from the pandemic years. Apparently, they had over 100,000 overpayment waiver requests to process! They're working through them by date received, so if you submitted in mid-2023, you might still be waiting a while. It's completely unreasonable but unfortunately seems to be their normal timeline now.

One more thing to consider - make sure you're responding to ANY communication from ESD, even if it doesn't seem directly related to your waiver. Sometimes they need additional information to process your waiver but don't clearly connect it to your pending waiver request. Check your eServices Message Center regularly and also your regular mail. I've heard of people's waivers being denied simply because they missed responding to a verification request.