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Try calling exactly at 4:25pm. That worked for me twice because most people don't realize they're open until 5pm and stop calling after lunch. The queue usually clears out a bit by then.
Finally got through! Used the Claimyr service you recommended and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They fixed the issue with my overlapping claims and released all my pending payments. Such a relief after weeks of frustration. Thank you SO much for the suggestion!
One more thing to be aware of - if your overpayment was due to an agency error (which many pandemic ones were), you might be eligible for an additional waiver of the interest and penalties. This isn't automatic - you need to specifically request a "waiver of fees and interest under RCW 50.20.190(4)" in writing. The standard waiver program doesn't always include this. Could explain some of the difference in your refund amount.
Update: I finally got through to ESD after trying for two days straight. The agent explained that the $1,400 difference was broken down as: - $515 in administrative fees (which aren't waived) - $685 in federal tax withholding (10%) - $200 in interest that had accrued before I started repayment She said I'll receive a detailed breakdown in the mail within 2 weeks, and the actual refund should be deposited within 30 days. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice - it gave me the right questions to ask!
I had this same problem for 5 weeks back in January. Turned out there was a flag on my account because my previous employer contested my claim but ESD never sent me any notification. The only way I found out was by finally getting through to someone on the phone. Once I talked to them, they moved my case to adjudication and I eventually got backpay for all the weeks, but it took almost 2 months total. Did you check your spam folder? Sometimes their emails end up there. Also, did you verify your identity through ID.me? That's another common holdup.
UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning! Used the Claimyr service that someone recommended above and it worked great. Turns out there was an employer response issue that never showed up in my online account. They've now moved my claim to adjudication and said I should see some movement within 1-2 weeks. The agent also approved provisional payments while they review my case, so I should get some money by next week. Thank you to everyone who helped!
Update: My payment just came through this morning (Thursday)! Looks like everyone was right about the holiday delay. Thanks for helping me not panic!
FYI for anyone who finds this thread in the future - I've been on UI for about 5 months now, and I've noticed this pattern: If there's a Monday holiday: Payment usually arrives Thursday If there's a Friday holiday: Usually no delay Multi-day holiday periods (like Christmas/New Year): Can delay payments by 2-3 days Just sharing so others can plan ahead better than I did initially!
Sean O'Connor
btw when you finally get ur hearing make sure u have ALL ur documents ready. the judge only gave me like 15 min to explain my situation and I almost messed up by not having my work search records printed out. have everything organized by dates and bring extra copies
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CyberNinja
•Great advice. When preparing for your hearing, organize your documents chronologically and create an index. For my hearing, I prepared a timeline summary showing when I filed claims, when I reported work, and all communications with ESD. The judge appreciated having this overview, and it helped keep my testimony organized.
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Zara Ahmed
Just to give you some hope - my overpayment was completely dismissed after my hearing. The ESD representative couldn't prove I had been properly notified about reporting requirements. Make sure you review all notifications they sent you during your claim period. If they failed to properly inform you about any requirements they're using as basis for the overpayment, that's a strong defense. About 70% of the overpayment appeals I've heard about were either reduced or dismissed entirely.
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Diego Ramirez
•That's really encouraging to hear! I've kept all the emails and letters from them so I'll go through everything again. My situation was that I reported all my part-time hours but they're claiming I calculated the hours wrong. Thanks for giving me some hope!
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