Just following up - were you able to get this resolved? I'm curious because I may be in a similar situation soon.

This reminds me of when I had to deal with ESD last summer... I was trying to get standby for a completely different reason (temporary layoff) and the whole system is so confusing! I spent hours reading their website and still couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do. Ended up having to get help from my state representative's office to resolve it. Why can't they make this stuff clearer??

If you ever need to speak directly with ESD about payment timing or other issues, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was stuck in payment pending for weeks and couldn't get through on the regular ESD phone line. Claimyr got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Much better than spending days hitting redial!

Adding one more important detail: If you have urgent financial needs and your payment will be delayed due to a holiday, you might qualify for a hardship payment. You would need to call ESD and explain your situation (rent due, etc.). This isn't guaranteed, but in some cases, they can expedite payment processing. Keep in mind that hardship considerations are case-by-case, and you'll need to provide specific details about your financial emergency.

After my long wait, I found out from an agent that my claim got stuck because my married name is on my license but my birth name was on my SS card. So make sure all your docs match exactly! They never contacted me about this discrepancy - I had to call multiple times to figure it out.

Update to my earlier comment - the ESD website now says verification timelines are "4-6 weeks" rather than "5-6 weeks" as of their April 2025 update. Small improvement but shows they're at least working on the backlog. Make sure you check your spam folder daily too - some ESD communications get filtered there.

Just wanted to add some clarification on the legal side of this: The pandemic overpayment review is happening due to the Relief for Taxpayers Act that passed in 2024. ESD is legally required to review ALL pandemic-era overpayments, even small ones like yours. There's no way to opt out of the review itself, but you can definitely decline any refund they might determine you're eligible for. Based on my experience as a benefits navigator, I'd recommend sending a secure message through your eServices account that simply states: "I acknowledge the pandemic overpayment review process, but formally decline any waiver or refund that may result from this review. Please note this decision in my file." That creates a record of your preference while minimizing your interaction with them.

lol everyone in these comments acting like ESD is actually organized enough to follow through on anything. I got the same emails 9 months ago, ignored them all, and literally nothing happened. Their systems are so messed up they probably have no idea who's responded and who hasn't. I wouldn't waste a minute of mental energy on this.

Based on what others have shared about the "blanket overpayment forgiveness initiative," this makes perfect sense now. The Washington legislature did approve a measure last year to review certain types of separation disputes where employer testimony was the primary deciding factor. If yours fell into that category, you're legitimately entitled to this refund. As for what to do: I recommend keeping the money in a separate savings account for 6 months. If ESD doesn't contact you by then requesting it back, it's almost certainly yours to keep. By that time, you should also have received a 1099-G for tax purposes if the refund is considered taxable income (which it likely is). The most important thing is that you've already tried to verify this with ESD, which shows you're acting in good faith if there ever was an issue down the road.

Just a final thought - while waiting for verification, check if you can access any adjudication notes in your online ESD account. Sometimes the decision documentation contains important details about why they reversed their decision. Look specifically for terms like "administrative review," "legislative relief," or "class action settlement" - all of these would indicate a systematic reversal rather than an error. Also, starting in 2025, ESD is required to provide clearer documentation when they reverse previous decisions, but since your refund is happening under the old system, you might need to dig a bit for the full explanation.