maybe unpopular opinion but i think people need tougher skin?? not defending trolls but if ur gonna be on internet forums u gotta expect some jerks. just ignore them & focus on helpful comments

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This is EXACTLY why the ESD system is so frustrating!! They make it impossible to get basic information that any normal payroll system would provide automatically. I spent THREE HOURS last year trying to reconcile my payment records because I needed the info for a mortgage application. The system is designed to be confusing on purpose I swear.

Just something to be aware of - make sure you're setting aside additional money for taxes if needed. The 10% withholding might not cover your full tax liability depending on your tax bracket and other income. I got caught by surprise last year when I still owed additional taxes even though I had withholding on all my UI payments.

After you try reaching ESD, if you still don't have an answer, you might want to contact your state representative's office. They often have liaisons who work directly with ESD and can sometimes get answers when individuals can't. Just search for "[your district] state representative" and call their office. I've seen this work for several people with stubborn claims.

Just following up - did you get any resolution to your claim? I was thinking about your situation and remembered that sometimes the first payment can be delayed if your former employer contests your unemployment claim. Did you leave your job under any questionable circumstances? If your employer disputed your eligibility, that would definitely cause delays while ESD investigates.

sometimes they let u do a reschedule if u have a good reason, just saying

UPDATE: Just had my hearing and wanted to let everyone know what happened! My employer actually DID show up - it was someone from HR I've never even met before. But the good news is the judge ruled in my favor right on the call! The HR person couldn't provide any evidence that I quit voluntarily, and I had those emails showing the restructuring that I mentioned. The judge said I should see the decision letter in 7-10 days and then my payments should start processing if nothing else comes up. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

One more thing to try - there's a specific overpayment email that sometimes works better than calling: benefits@esd.wa.gov. Put "URGENT: Overpayment Appeal Documentation Review" in the subject line. Include your claim ID, the overpayment amount, and a VERY brief (2-3 sentence) explanation of why the determination is incorrect. Attach your evidence (keep file sizes small). I've heard from several people that this approach got results when calling failed. Also, document EVERYTHING - dates, times, names of representatives you speak with, what they told you. This creates a paper trail that can help if your case escalates to a formal hearing.

Based on your situation, here's a specific action plan: 1. First, verify you've filed the correct appeal form for overpayments (different from regular appeals) 2. Call using the specific language suggested above to reach the overpayment unit 3. Email documentation to both uioverpayment@esd.wa.gov AND benefits@esd.wa.gov with your claim ID prominently displayed 4. If no response in 7 days, contact your state representative's office 5. Document all communication attempts with dates, times, and names Most importantly, don't start a new claim as this could jeopardize your appeal rights on the existing claim. Overpayment issues can take 8-12 weeks to resolve even when you do everything right, but following these steps should get movement on your case.