Good luck! From what I've seen, Washington ESD is usually reasonable about backdate requests when there's a legitimate reason like not understanding the weekly filing requirement. Just be honest and thorough in your explanation.

I went through this exact same situation last year and can offer some hope! I missed 4 weeks because the website made it seem like weekly filing was optional after approval. Here's what worked for me: I submitted a backdate request through the secure messaging system explaining that the instructions weren't clear to me as a first-time claimant. I included a timeline of when I filed my initial claim, when I realized my mistake, and when I started filing weekly. They approved it in about 3 weeks and I got all my back pay. The key is being honest about the confusion and showing you're now complying with weekly filing. Don't give up - they deal with this situation more often than you'd think!

Bottom line - if you think the overpayment is wrong, appeal within 30 days. If you know you owe it, set up a payment plan immediately. Don't let it go to garnishment if you can avoid it because then you lose control over the payment amount and timing.

If you decide to appeal, make sure you request all the documentation they used to calculate your overpayment. You have the right to see exactly how they determined you owe that money - sometimes there are calculation errors or they applied earnings to the wrong weeks. I had a similar situation where they miscategorized some of my part-time income and I was able to get about $800 of my overpayment reversed just by showing them their mistake. The appeal process can be slow but it's worth it if you genuinely think there's an error.

Just wanted to chime in as another newcomer who's been silently dealing with similar SAW frustrations! This thread is like finding gold - I've had the auto-logout issue twice in the past month and was starting to think I was going crazy. @Yara Assad, your detailed description of trying everything matches my experience perfectly, and seeing the community rally with so many different solutions gives me hope for next time this happens. @Javier Morales, your point about the 24-hour silent lockout is particularly eye-opening - I bet that's what happened to me the first time and I had no idea! And @Hiroshi Nakamura, the tip about using the direct SAW login instead of going through the ESD portal is brilliant - I never would have thought of that approach. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world troubleshooting that you can't find anywhere else. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and looking forward to being part of a community where people actually help each other solve problems instead of just complaining about them. Thanks everyone for showing what collaborative problem-solving looks like!

As someone who just joined this community after struggling with my own ESD issues, I have to say this thread is incredibly helpful! I've been dealing with intermittent SAW login problems for weeks and had no idea about so many of these solutions. The systematic approach you all took here - from basic troubleshooting to the more technical VPN and network solutions - is exactly what I needed to see. @Yara Assad, thanks for being so detailed about everything you tried initially. It helps knowing I'm not the only one who went through the whole "clear cache, try different browsers, reset password multiple times" routine! And huge thanks to everyone who contributed solutions, especially @Javier Morales for the comprehensive troubleshooting steps and @Hiroshi Nakamura for that direct SAW login tip - I had no idea that could make a difference. What really stands out to me is how @Yara Assad came back to update everyone on what actually worked. That kind of follow-through is gold for people like me who are searching for solutions to the same problem. I'm definitely saving this thread as my SAW troubleshooting guide. This community seems like exactly what I needed - people who actually want to help each other navigate these frustrating government systems!

UPDATE: I got through to ESD! For anyone who has this problem in the future - keep calling and try the WorkSource suggestion. The agent said they could see I was trying to correct an honest mistake. They canceled today's claim submission and I was able to refile it with the correct hours right away. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

This is such a relief to read! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now where I accidentally double-counted some hours from a side gig. Your post gives me hope that ESD will understand it was an honest mistake. Did they ask you for any documentation when you called, or were they able to see from your account history that it was clearly an error? I'm preparing to call tomorrow morning and want to have everything ready.

One thing to consider beyond the unemployment benefits - if you do go back, try to get the job offer in writing with details about the raise and any other changes. Since they already let you go once due to "performance issues" that apparently weren't actually your fault, you'll want some documentation about the new terms. Also might be worth asking about job security or what's changed to prevent this from happening again. The unemployment benefit situation sounds like it'll work out fine based on what others have said, but protecting yourself going forward is important too.

Dylan, you're definitely not alone in this situation - getting rehired after collecting unemployment can be confusing! The good news is that since you were legitimately fired on October 1st and have been properly following all the requirements (job searches, weekly claims), you won't have to repay those benefits. The key is that your separation was genuine and involuntary, and this rehire offer came unexpectedly after a management change. When you make your decision, just remember to: - Report your return-to-work date accurately on your final weekly claim - Stop claiming benefits once you start working again - If you start mid-week, report those earnings properly for partial benefits calculation The unemployment you collected during those 6 weeks was rightfully yours during a period of legitimate unemployment. Going back to your former employer doesn't somehow retroactively invalidate that. Best of luck with whatever you decide!