COVID ESD overpayment showing $6000 balance but got 'not responsible' notice - still owe?

You absolutely need to get clarification on this in writing. Those conflicting notices are a classic ESD systems issue. If you received official notices stating you're "not responsible for repayment of any kind," you should print those out and keep them forever - that's your best defense. Here are the steps I'd recommend: 1) Submit a secure message through your eServices account specifically asking about the status of your overpayment and reference the written notices you received saying you're not responsible 2) Request a formal "Statement of Overpayment Status" - this is an official document they can generate that shows exactly what you owe (if anything) 3) If you received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) during COVID, there were special waivers issued for many overpayments that weren't due to fraud Without contacting ESD directly though, there's unfortunately no other system or website where you can verify your true balance. The eServices portal isn't always reliable for overpayment information, especially for pandemic-era claims that went through multiple adjustments.

omg same thing happened to me!! My overpayment was like $8700 and i got a letter saying i didnt have to pay it back but the website STILL shows I owe money?? its been over a year and nothing has happened but im scared they'll suddenly come after me for it all at once. the whole system is so broken

The ESD is THE WORST with these overpayment issues!!! I had almost the exact same situation - got notices saying I didn't need to repay, but the system kept showing a balance. After TWO YEARS of this nonsense, I finally got through to someone who fixed it, but it took literally 40+ calls. DON'T TRUST what shows in the online portal - the waiver notice is what matters legally. If they ever tried to collect after sending you a waiver notice, you could fight it easily. BUT you should still try to get it officially resolved so it doesn't haunt you forever. If you can't get through on the phone (which is basically impossible these days), I'd recommend trying to schedule an in-person appointment at your local WorkSource office. They sometimes have ESD staff who can help with these issues face-to-face.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to ESD? I was in a similar situation with an overpayment issue that kept showing up in my account despite getting a waiver. After months of failed call attempts, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and was connected to an ESD agent in about 30 minutes. The agent was able to note my account that the overpayment had been waived and told me to disregard the balance showing in the system. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Seriously worth it for peace of mind on a $6000 question!

you should just ignore it thats what i did lol. if they havent sent it to collections after all this time they probly never will. the systems just broken and they dont care enough to fix it. my friend had $15,000 "overpayment" that just disappeared after like 3 yrs without him ever paying anything

I went through something similar last year. Those COVID-era overpayments are a mess because there were multiple federal relief programs with different rules, plus the state programs. If you received a formal overpayment waiver notice (typically on official letterhead with your claim ID), that document supersedes what's showing in the system. One thing nobody's mentioned - keep an eye on your tax documents. If ESD still has the overpayment in their system, they might incorrectly report it to the IRS on your 1099-G form. I had to request a corrected 1099-G after my waiver was processed. If you want to resolve this without calling, sending a secure message through eServices is definitely your best option. Be super specific, reference the exact notices you received (including dates and any identification numbers), and ask for written confirmation that you don't owe the money. Also mention that you need your account balance corrected to zero if you're not responsible for repayment.

This overpayment situation is actually quite common with PUA and other pandemic unemployment programs. The formal notices stating you're "not responsible for repayment of any kind" are likely the result of blanket overpayment waivers that were authorized by federal legislation for non-fraudulent COVID-related overpayments. What you're experiencing is a disconnect between ESD's waiver processing and their accounting systems. Here's what I would recommend: 1. Double-check that the notices specifically reference your current claim ID and the exact overpayment amount you're concerned about 2. Submit a records request through ESD's Public Records department (you can do this online) asking for all documents related to your overpayment balance and any waivers applied 3. Keep copies of all waiver notices in a safe place - these are your legal protection The lack of collection activity is actually a good sign that the waiver is recognized in their enforcement system, even if the accounting system still shows a balance. This is a known issue with ESD's outdated computer systems. Getting it fully resolved will likely require speaking with someone at ESD who has the authority to manually adjust your account.

A bunch of us at my old job got hit with these overpayment notices after COVID and almost everyone I know got them reduced or waived completely. But the ESD computer system is like ancient and doesn't update right. My cousin works for DSHS (different agency but they talk) and she said the notices saying your not responsible are the official legal document that matters, not what the computer shows. But yeah if u can get through to them somehow get them to correct the computer balance too just for peace of mind.