For your specific situation, I'd recommend you clearly document your financial hardship when communicating with ESD. Washington has a process for expediting claims where there's a risk of eviction or utility disconnection. When contacting them (through any method), explicitly state: 1. The exact number of days your claim has been pending 2. That you're at risk of eviction/utility disconnection 3. Any specific deadlines for payments you're facing Also, while waiting for resolution, make sure you continue filing your weekly claims without interruption. Missing even one weekly certification can further delay your payments once the claim is approved.

Just want to add a quick update on my earlier comment - when contacting your state rep, email works better than calling in my experience. I got an auto-reply with a case number and then a real response within 48 hours. They asked for my claim ID and contact info, then reached out to their ESD liaison directly. My claim was resolved about 5 days later. Much faster than the governor's office route!

r u sure u entered the right bank info? my friend put in the wrong account # and it took them 3 weeks to figure it out and fix it

Just to update the information here for anyone reading this thread later: As of 2025, the typical timeline from approval to first payment is: - With direct deposit properly set up: 4-7 business days after your first eligible weekly claim shows as 'paid' - With ReliaCard: 7-14 calendar days (to allow for mail delivery of the card) If you're approaching these timeframes without receiving payment, you should contact ESD. And remember that bank holidays can add delays to the processing time.

my cousin went thru something like this and just ignored the overpayment letters for like a year and eventually they just went away lol not saying thats what u should do but just saying...

Hey I just remembered something important - make sure you submit a request to WAIVE the overpayment at the same time you appeal the disqualification! Even if you lose the appeal about being disqualified, you might be able to get the overpayment waived if you can show it wasn't your fault and you can't afford to repay it. It's a separate process but you can do both.

This overpayment situation is actually quite common with PUA and other pandemic unemployment programs. The formal notices stating you're "not responsible for repayment of any kind" are likely the result of blanket overpayment waivers that were authorized by federal legislation for non-fraudulent COVID-related overpayments. What you're experiencing is a disconnect between ESD's waiver processing and their accounting systems. Here's what I would recommend: 1. Double-check that the notices specifically reference your current claim ID and the exact overpayment amount you're concerned about 2. Submit a records request through ESD's Public Records department (you can do this online) asking for all documents related to your overpayment balance and any waivers applied 3. Keep copies of all waiver notices in a safe place - these are your legal protection The lack of collection activity is actually a good sign that the waiver is recognized in their enforcement system, even if the accounting system still shows a balance. This is a known issue with ESD's outdated computer systems. Getting it fully resolved will likely require speaking with someone at ESD who has the authority to manually adjust your account.

A bunch of us at my old job got hit with these overpayment notices after COVID and almost everyone I know got them reduced or waived completely. But the ESD computer system is like ancient and doesn't update right. My cousin works for DSHS (different agency but they talk) and she said the notices saying your not responsible are the official legal document that matters, not what the computer shows. But yeah if u can get through to them somehow get them to correct the computer balance too just for peace of mind.

At my last job, I actually processed unemployment claims for the state of Nevada (similar system to WA). The training is incredibly intensive because one small mistake can cause massive overpayments or wrongful denials. I had three months of training and still made mistakes my first year. Accessing sensitive data also requires background checks and security clearances that take time. That said, ESD should absolutely implement a callback system rather than making people wait on hold. That technology exists and many other states use it. No excuse for not having that in 2025.

You can submit feedback about the callback suggestion through the Contact Us form on the ESD website, but honestly reaching out to your state representatives might be more effective. They have direct channels to ESD leadership and constituent complaints get prioritized. Worth a shot!