Your experience mirrors mine almost exactly! I also won my overpayment appeal last month after a 14-month battle. The most frustrating part was that during the hearing, it became obvious that the ESD representative hadn't even fully reviewed my file before denying my waiver request. The judge actually commented on this during the hearing. One thing that really helped my case was having detailed records of every single interaction with ESD - phone calls (dates, times, names of representatives), copies of all correspondence, and screenshots of my weekly claim certifications showing I had reported everything correctly. For anyone facing an overpayment notice, document EVERYTHING from the very beginning. Even if you think something isn't important, save it. You never know what might end up being the key piece of evidence that saves you thousands of dollars.

Anyone else notice how ESD is suddenly finding all these "overpayments" right when the state budget is tight? Seems mighty convenient they're trying to claw back money from thousands of people who followed their instructions during the pandemic. I've talked to so many people dealing with this exact same issue! I'm glad you won your case but it's CRIMINAL that you had to fight for 2 YEARS and deal with health problems because of their incompetence. They should be paying YOU for all the stress and time wasted fighting their mistake!

Quick update: The 8am call approach is definitely your best bet. I just spoke with a claims specialist yesterday (using Claimyr to manage the hold time), and they confirmed they're experiencing system issues with the document upload feature right now. Many uploaded documents aren't attaching properly to claims. The specialist advised to bring this up specifically when you get through to someone so they can check their internal system to see if your documents are in there but not properly linked to your account.

Update: I GOT THROUGH!!! Used a combination of calling right at 8am, using the employer menu option, and having Claimyr as backup. It turns out my ID verification was flagged because my address on my new driver's license didn't match my previous tax return address (I moved). They fixed it on the call and said my backpay should process within 3 business days. THANK YOU all so much for your help!

One more thing - make sure you're still completing your weekly claims even while waiting for the payment issue to resolve. I've seen people get so focused on the stuck payment that they forget to file for current weeks, which creates even more problems. Also, when you do reach someone at ESD, ask them to check if there's an "identity verification hold" that may not be visible to you in your online portal. Sometimes these are placed automatically by their system with no notification.

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD! I tried the Claimyr service that someone suggested here, and despite being skeptical, it actually worked. After weeks of trying on my own, I connected with an agent within 20 minutes. Turns out my payment was stuck because of what they called a "cross-match flag" with another state system (even though I've never worked outside WA). The agent was able to clear it immediately. She said the payment should hit my account within 48 hours. Thanks to everyone for the advice and suggestions. Will update again when the money actually arrives!

Update: I finally got through to ESD this morning! Called right at 8:00 AM like someone suggested. Turns out the overpayment was because I accidentally reported working 15 hours one week in 2020 when my employer reported 19 hours. The agent was actually really helpful and I'm going to send in some old pay stubs I found to contest it. They put a hold on collections while I gather my documentation. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Glad you got through! One more tip - make copies of EVERYTHING you send them and keep a log of every conversation (date, time, agent name if possible). I learned the hard way that sometimes things get "lost" in their system and you need proof of what you've submitted and when.

Why is it so IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone on the phone at ESD?!? I've been trying for 3 weeks to fix an error they made on my claim. This system is completely broken. Meanwhile they expect us to respond to their requests within 48 hours or risk disqualification!

One more point to consider: You're allowed to submit a statement correcting information on your initial claim. Go to your eServices account, find the "Upload Documents" section, and upload a signed statement explaining the error and including any supporting documentation from your employer. Title it "Request for Redetermination - Separation Pay Classification". This creates a paper trail while you're trying to reach someone by phone.