Washington Unemployment
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Will ESD take unpaid unemployment overpayment from tax refund?
So I just realized I have this small unemployment overpayment from last year - only about $435. I didn't realize there was an issue until I got a letter last week saying I owe ESD money from when I reported my hours wrong for one week. I honestly can't afford to pay it back right now but I'm expecting a decent tax refund in 2025. Does anyone know if ESD automatically takes what you owe from your tax refund? Or do I need to set up a payment plan? Will they add penalties if I don't pay it immediately? I'm kind of freaking out because I really need that tax money for other bills.
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ESD payment shows 'paid' but money not in bank account yet - normal wait time?
Finally got through the whole adjudication mess after 7 weeks (ugh) and just checked my ESD account this morning - it says 'paid' for my back payments totaling around $4,800! Super relieved but... it's been almost 10 hours and nothing's showing up in my checking account yet. Getting a little nervous since I've got rent due in 3 days. For those who've been through this recently - how long does it typically take for the money to actually hit your bank account after it switches to 'paid' status? Is there anything I need to do to make sure it goes through? This is my first time on unemployment so I'm not sure what's normal. Thanks!
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Just checking back - did your payment arrive yet? It should have hit your account by now if it showed as paid on Tuesday.
Fired for reporting illegal tip theft - now stuck in ESD adjudication - will they believe me?
I'm freaking out about my unemployment situation right now. I was getting benefits for about 3 weeks (received one lump sum payment), but now my claim is stuck in adjudication. I called ESD yesterday and found out it's because my former employer is claiming they fired me for "violating company policy" - which is complete BS! The truth is I was fired after I reported that the restaurant owners were illegally taking tips from servers. I worked there for almost 2 years and had zero disciplinary issues until I spoke up about the tip theft. The ESD rep said an adjudicator has to review both our statements and make a decision. Has anyone been through this type of "he said/they said" situation? Do adjudicators usually side with employers? I did file a complaint with L&I after being fired, and apparently other ex-employees have filed similar complaints about tip theft. Should I mention this to ESD? Is there any other documentation I should provide to strengthen my case? I'm really worried they'll deny my claim and I'll have to pay back what I've already received. Any advice would be hugely appreciated!
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My brother works for a restaurant and had same problm with tips getting stolen but he just quit instead of getting fired. ESD denied him because quitting is different I guess? So maybe youre in a better position since they fired you. But I think its crazy how long they make people wait while bills still need to be paid! The whole system is messed up if you ask me.
You're right that quitting vs. being fired makes a big difference in UI claims. When you quit, you must prove you had "good cause" to leave, which has a higher burden of proof. When you're fired, the employer must prove "misconduct" to deny benefits. That's why being fired (for reasons other than misconduct) generally puts claimants in a better position than quitting.
Has ANYONE from ESD actually contacted you yet for your side of the story??? I'm on week 6 now of adjudication and literally no one has called me or sent me any messages asking for my version of events. How are they even making decisions if they don't talk to both sides?!?
If they haven't contacted you after 6 weeks, you should definitely be proactive. Log into your eServices account and look for the "upload documents" option. You can submit a written statement explaining your side along with any supporting evidence. Also, there's a secure message feature in eServices where you can ask about the status of your adjudication. Sometimes claims get stuck and a message can help move it forward.
ESD website immediately logs me out + disqualified claim with no explanation letter
Is anyone else getting kicked out of the ESD website right after logging in? This started 4 days ago and it's driving me insane! Every time I log in through SecureAccess Washington, within seconds it boots me out. I've tried different browsers, clearing cookies, even my husband's laptop - same problem. To make matters worse, I just discovered my claim shows as 'disqualified' but I never received ANY notification explaining why. No letter, no email, nothing in my online inbox. My employer confirmed they approved my claim and didn't contest it, so I'm completely confused. I've been trying to call the ESD helpline for days but can't get through - always 'all circuits are busy' or disconnects after 20 minutes on hold. Even contacted Governor Inslee's office but they said they can't help with disqualified claims. I sent a message through the portal almost 3 weeks ago with zero response. Any suggestions on fixing either the timeout issue or finding out why I'm suddenly disqualified? My rent is due next week and I'm getting desperate!
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my cousins friend works at esd and she said they're having MAJOR computer problems this month. like their whole system is being updated or something. that's probably why your getting kicked out AND why your claim shows wrong info. id wait til next week before panicking maybe
Thanks for the insider info! That's actually a bit reassuring. Maybe the disqualification is just a glitch from their system issues. I'll keep trying to reach someone but won't completely panic yet.
I just got off the phone with ESD (used that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - got through in about 20 minutes instead of days of calling). The rep confirmed they're having serious system issues right now that are affecting both the timeout problems AND claim statuses showing incorrectly for some people. The rep suggested taking screenshots of any error messages, and if your claim status suddenly changed without notification, they recommended checking again in 3-5 business days once their system update is complete. However, they also said if you're approaching the 30-day appeal window, you should file an appeal anyway just to protect your rights. Thought I'd share this update since it might help others with similar issues!
Thank you SO MUCH for reporting back with this info! That actually makes me feel a lot better. I just took screenshots of the disqualification status. Still couldn't get in today without timing out, but I'll keep trying periodically. If I still can't access anything by Monday, I'll try that Claimyr service. Thanks again!!
Desperate for ESD approval after 6+ weeks - need Governor's contact info
Filed my unemployment claim on Sept 10th and it's just sitting there with no movement. I check eServices every single day and nothing changes. I've called ESD probably 50+ times but either get disconnected or they say 'high call volume' and hang up on me. I'm seriously behind on rent, utilities, and now I'm literally rationing food to get by. This is insane! Does anyone know how to contact the governor's office directly? I heard they can sometimes push claims through when you're in a desperate situation. I worked consistently for 4 years before getting laid off and paid into this system - now when I need help they're nowhere to be found. Any advice or contact info would be greatly appreciated.
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I went through the EXACT same thing in July. Claim stuck for almost 7 weeks. What finally worked was contacting my state representative (like someone else mentioned). But what I learned afterward was that my claim was flagged for identity verification and they never sent me the notice! So check your spam folder AND your physical mail. Sometimes they send letters but not notices in the portal. So frustrating. Hang in there.
I've been checking mail obsessively and spam folder too. Nothing from them requesting anything else. I'm going to try Claimyr today to see if I can actually talk to someone, and also email my legislators. Will update if anything changes!
Just checking back - any updates? Were you able to reach anyone at ESD or get help from your legislators?
Yes!! Finally got some movement! I used that Claimyr service and actually got through to someone at ESD within an hour. Turns out my former employer disputed my claim saying I quit (I didn't - it was a layoff). The agent expedited my case since I explained my financial situation. Got approved yesterday and backpay should arrive next week. SUCH a relief. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
Giovanni Moretti
To properly address your overpayment and protect your tax refund, follow these steps: 1. Log into your eServices account at secure.esd.wa.gov 2. Navigate to the "Overpayment" section 3. Select "Set up payment plan" 4. Choose a monthly amount you can afford (even $20-30/month is acceptable) 5. Make sure you make the first payment immediately As long as you have an active payment plan and are making payments, ESD won't refer your debt to collections or the Treasury Offset Program. The key is taking action before the 30-day response window expires. Also, check if the overpayment is classified as "fraudulent" or "non-fraudulent" - if it's just a simple reporting error, it should be non-fraudulent which gives you more flexible repayment options.
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Jamal Carter
AuthorThank you! I just logged in and it's classified as non-fraudulent. I set up a $40/month payment plan which is manageable for me. Such a relief to have this figured out!
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Mei Liu
Make sure to keep all documentation too! I had a payment plan that somehow got "lost" in their system and they still tried to take my refund even though I had been making payments. I had to send them copies of my bank statements showing the payments to get it straightened out. Their record-keeping isn't always great.
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