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I'm about 8 days into waiting on my pending claim and this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! It's so reassuring to see Isabella's update that her claim moved to processing - gives me hope that mine will follow soon. I've been doing all the right things (weekly claims, job searches, checking messages) but was starting to second-guess myself wondering if I missed something. The insight about multiple employers potentially causing delays really helps explain things too, since I had three different W-2s last year. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's amazing how much better it feels knowing this waiting period is completely normal and that I'm not alone in this situation!
You're definitely not alone in this, Malik! Having three different W-2s last year could definitely explain the delay - it sounds like ESD needs extra time to verify all those income sources like Chloe mentioned earlier. 8 days is still really early in the process, so try not to stress too much about it. I went through the same thing of constantly second-guessing whether I'd filled something out wrong or missed a step. The fact that you're staying on top of your weekly claims and job searches means you're doing everything right. Seeing Isabella's progress from pending to processing really does give hope that these claims are moving through the system, just at their own pace. Hang in there - you've got this!
I'm in a very similar boat - filed my claim about 16 days ago and still sitting at pending status. This thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was getting really anxious thinking I'd done something wrong, but seeing that 2-3 weeks is normal processing time makes me feel so much better. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and job search requirements, but like everyone else here, the financial stress while waiting is intense. Isabella, congrats on your claim moving to processing - that gives me hope! For anyone else reading this later, I think the key takeaway is to stay patient during those first 2-3 weeks while making sure you keep filing weekly claims and meeting all requirements. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and creating such a supportive discussion!
Madison, you're absolutely right about those key takeaways! 16 days is still within that normal range, so try to hang in there. I'm actually on day 5 of my pending claim and was starting to get worried already, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a reality check. It's crazy how much anxiety builds up when you're used to knowing exactly when your next paycheck is coming! The consistency in everyone's advice about keeping up with weekly claims really shows how important that is. I'm bookmarking this thread to come back to if I start spiraling again in a few days. Thanks for adding your timeline to the mix - it really helps to see the range of experiences people are having right now.
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i remember standing in line at the food bank last year cuz of my overpayment took all my money and some lady told me she got hers forgiven but i didnt believe her. guess its really possible huh
It absolutely is possible! It's not easy or quick, but don't give up. The financial hardship angle is important - if you can document that paying back would cause significant hardship (like needing food assistance), that strengthens your case for forgiveness. Are you still dealing with your overpayment now?
Yes, it's definitely possible! I've been following overpayment cases in this community for a while and there are more success stories than you might think. The key is understanding that ESD often makes mistakes, especially with pandemic-era claims. If you're still dealing with your overpayment, consider reaching out to the Unemployment Law Project for free legal help, or at minimum file a waiver request if you haven't already. Don't let them intimidate you into just accepting the debt - you have rights and options.
This is such an inspiring success story! I'm currently dealing with a $9,800 overpayment from 2022 and honestly was starting to lose hope after 14 months of back and forth with ESD. Reading about your persistence paying off gives me the motivation to keep fighting. I've been documenting everything like you mentioned, but I think I need to be more aggressive about contacting my state rep. Did you find that political pressure helped move things along? Also, for anyone else reading this - I want to emphasize that the Unemployment Law Project that Isabella mentioned is a real game changer. They helped me understand my rights and prepared me for my OAH hearing. Even though my case is still pending, I feel so much more confident having their guidance. Don't try to navigate this alone!
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Glad to hear it worked out smoothly! This is such useful info for others who might make the same mistake. The fact that it went to your old account on normal timing confirms what others said about ESD's payment system being separate from their account management system. Keeping both accounts open is definitely the smart play - I've seen too many horror stories about payments getting stuck in limbo when people close accounts too quickly while on unemployment.
Thanks for sharing the update! This whole thread has been really helpful. I'm new to unemployment benefits and honestly had no idea about the timing issues with bank account changes. Good to know to plan ahead and keep old accounts open during the transition period. The ESD system seems pretty confusing but at least now I know what to expect if I ever need to switch banks while on benefits.
This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my claim yesterday and then realized I need to update my address with ESD since I moved last month. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like I should probably call to make sure my payment doesn't get mailed to my old address. Has anyone had experience with address changes affecting payment timing? I'm hoping it's not as complicated as the bank account situation since I can always forward mail, but want to be proactive about it.
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To clarify for everyone: These refunds are part of ESD's implementation of the blanket waiver program that was authorized during COVID. ESD is still processing these even in 2025 due to the massive backlog. Regarding taxes: 1. If you deducted the original repayment on your taxes as an itemized deduction → You likely need to report the refund as income (tax benefit rule) 2. If you used the standard deduction → You generally DON'T need to report the refund as income 3. If your itemized deductions that year didn't actually reduce your tax liability → You might not need to report it as income ESD should have included Publication 525 information with your refund check. It specifically addresses the tax implications of benefit repayments and subsequent refunds. If you're unsure, consult a tax professional with your specific situation.
Thank you SO much for this detailed explanation! You're right, there was an insert with the check that mentioned Publication 525, but I didn't realize what it was. I'll go back and look at it more carefully now.
wait so are they doing this automatically for everyone or do we need to apply somewhere? i paid back like $5k in 2021 and nobody told me anything about waivers
They're processing them automatically, but they're going through cases very slowly. The blanket waivers were approved for non-fraud overpayments during the pandemic period, but ESD's implementation has been extremely inconsistent. If you repaid an overpayment from the COVID period (roughly March 2020 through September 2021), it's worth calling ESD to check if your case qualifies for the waiver program. Be prepared for a long wait though - their phone lines are still overwhelmed.
Louisa Ramirez
I totally understand your concern about not wanting to hurt your employer - it shows you're a thoughtful person! But honestly, you shouldn't feel guilty about this at all. When I filed after my hours were drastically reduced, I learned that unemployment insurance is literally designed for exactly these situations. Your employer has been paying unemployment taxes all along specifically to fund this system, so when you file a claim, the benefits don't come directly out of their pocket - they come from the state insurance fund. Think of it like any other insurance policy they carry. Yes, their rates might go up slightly in future years if they have multiple claims, but that's spread out over time and across their entire workforce, so your individual claim won't make a huge impact. Most employers understand this is just part of the cost of having employees, especially during slow periods when they need to reduce hours instead of doing layoffs. You've earned the right to these benefits through your work, and using them when your income drops significantly is exactly what the system is there for!
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Thank you so much for explaining it that way! The insurance analogy really helps me understand how this works. I've been stressing about this for weeks, thinking I'd be personally costing my former employer money, but framing it as insurance they've already been paying into makes it click. It's like car insurance - you pay the premiums hoping you never need it, but when you do have an accident, using it is exactly what it's there for. I feel so much better about moving forward with filing my claim now. Sometimes you just need to hear from people who've been through the same situation to realize you're not doing anything wrong by using a system that's specifically designed to help workers like us.
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Ravi Sharma
I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - you really don't need to worry about your employer! I was in almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago when my hours got cut from full-time to barely part-time. I was so anxious about filing that I put it off for weeks, but when I finally did, my old supervisor actually said "I was wondering when you were going to file for that!" Apparently they get these notices all the time and it's just routine paperwork for them. The benefits came from the state fund, not their budget, and while I know their unemployment tax rate might go up a tiny bit eventually, my supervisor said that's already factored into their business planning. Don't let worry about your employer keep you from getting the financial support you've earned and deserve. The system is working exactly as intended when someone like you, who lost income through no fault of their own, gets help while looking for better employment opportunities.
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Molly Hansen
•Your supervisor's reaction is so telling - "I was wondering when you were going to file for that!" really shows how normal and expected this is from an employer's perspective. It's wild how much we can stress ourselves out over something that's just routine business for them. I think a lot of us have this misconception that filing for unemployment is somehow taking money directly from our former employer's wallet, when in reality it's more like using any other insurance system they're already paying into. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really helps normalize what feels like a scary process when you're going through it for the first time!
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