Can I visit ESD office in person for overpayment letter and tax document help?
I'm at my wits end trying to get this overpayment issue resolved! We received an overpayment letter last month saying we owe $4,700 back to ESD, but there's definitely a mistake. My husband was laid off from construction work and qualified for everything. Now they're saying he wasn't eligible?? On top of that, the tax document (1099-G I think?) we got shows a much higher amount than he actually received in benefits. We've been calling EVERY DAY for 3 weeks and either get disconnected or sit on hold until the office closes. Has anyone had success just walking into an actual ESD office? Is that even allowed in 2025? I'm located in Tacoma and willing to drive anywhere in western WA at this point. I just need to talk to a real human who can fix this before we get sent to collections!
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Chloe Robinson
Yes, you can visit an ESD office in person, but you need to make an appointment first through your online account. Go to the ESD website, log in to your SecureAccess Washington account, then navigate to the 'Contact Us' section where you'll find the appointment scheduler. Select 'Overpayment Issues' as your reason for visit. The Tacoma office is at 3640 S Cedar St, but they're often booked 2-3 weeks out for in-person appointments.
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Omar Hassan
•Thank you!! I had no idea I needed an appointment. I was about to just show up tomorrow morning. I'll check the appointment scheduler right now.
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Diego Chavez
OMG same thing happened to us!!! ESD is saying we owe $3k but my partner was def eligible. They sent us a letter in January and we've been calling nonstop. So frustrating!!
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NeonNebula
•The overpayment appeals process is separate from regular phone support. You need to file a formal appeal within 30 days of receiving the overpayment notice. Don't waste time trying to resolve it through regular phone lines. Make sure you formally request an appeal in writing through your eServices account under the "Appeals" section. Keep copies of everything you submit.
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Anastasia Kozlov
In-person appts are useless tbh. Waited 3 weeks for mine just to be told they couldnt help with my overpayment and i still needed to call the collections dept. such a waste of time.
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Sean Kelly
•Not true for everyone! My in-person appointment saved me. The lady who helped me was able to see my entire claim history and fixed the issue on the spot. I think it depends on who you get and what your specific problem is.
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Zara Mirza
I tried calling for 2 months straight about my overpayment notice before I found Claimyr! It got me through to an actual ESD agent in under 15 minutes after weeks of failed attempts. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Their website is claimyr.com and it was seriously the only thing that worked for me. The agent I spoke with was able to review my overpayment and start the process to get it reversed.
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Omar Hassan
•Is this legit? I've never heard of it before and I'm a little nervous about using third-party services with anything related to my unemployment claim. Has anyone else used this?
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Luca Russo
•I used Claimyr last year when I had an identity verification hold on my claim. It did work for getting through to an agent faster than I could on my own. Just make sure you have all your claim information ready when they connect you.
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NeonNebula
For your tax document issue (1099-G), that's actually handled by a completely different department than the overpayment unit. For incorrect 1099-G forms, you need to email 1099G@esd.wa.gov with your full name, last 4 of SSN, and a clear explanation of the discrepancy. Include any documentation that shows the correct benefit amount you received (bank statements showing deposits can work). For the overpayment, make sure you respond with a formal appeal within the deadline on your notice. Don't just call - you need written documentation of your appeal. You can submit this through your eServices account under "Appeals." Make sure to clearly explain why you believe the determination is incorrect and include any supporting documentation (approval letters, eligibility notices, etc.).
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Omar Hassan
•Thank you so much for this detailed info! I had no idea these were handled by separate departments. I'll email about the 1099-G today. For the overpayment, we're still within the appeal window (just barely), so I'll submit that through eServices right away. This is incredibly helpful!
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Diego Chavez
so if u go in person do u need to bring anything special? like proof or documents or whatever?
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Chloe Robinson
•Yes, definitely bring documentation! At minimum, bring: 1. Photo ID (driver's license or state ID) 2. Social Security card 3. The overpayment notice letter 4. Your 1099-G form 5. Any approval letters or correspondence from ESD 6. Bank statements showing benefit deposits 7. Employment records from the period in question Basically, bring everything related to your claim. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.
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Sean Kelly
I was in this exact situation last year! What worked for me was sending a message through the eServices portal under the "Send a message" option. I selected "Unemployment Benefits" and then "Overpayments" as the categories. I got a response in 4 days and they actually called me back to resolve it. Worth trying while you wait for an in-person appointment.
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Omar Hassan
•I've sent two messages through the portal already with no response :( But maybe third time's the charm? I'll try again with those specific categories you mentioned. Thank you!
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Anastasia Kozlov
ESD is such a joke in this state. they take MONTHS to review anything then demand you pay back thousands with barely any notice. the whole system is designed to frustrate people into giving up. and don't get me started on their "improved" website that crashes every other day.
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Nia Harris
•So true! My cousin works for the state (not ESD) and she says they're severely understaffed. Apparently they lost like 40% of their experienced staff after COVID and haven't been able to replace them. Not excusing it, but explains why everything takes forever now.
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Luca Russo
Whatever you do, make sure you keep responding to the overpayment notice even if you can't reach anyone by phone. I ignored mine thinking I'd get it sorted out later and they ended up garnishing my tax return without warning! The 1099-G issue is less urgent but still important to fix before next tax season. I'd recommend a dual approach: 1. Schedule the in-person appointment as others suggested 2. Submit a formal appeal through eServices immediately 3. Contact your state representative (seriously - this worked for me when nothing else did) Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
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Omar Hassan
•Thank you for the warning about garnishment! I definitely don't want that to happen. I've submitted the appeal through eServices today and scheduled an appointment for next week (earliest available). I've never contacted my state rep before - did you just call their office?
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Luca Russo
•Yes, I called my state representative's office and explained the situation. Their staff took my information and said they'd reach out to their ESD liaison. Within a week, I got a call directly from someone at ESD who had reviewed my case. Representatives often have dedicated contacts at agencies that can help constituents with problems that seem impossible to resolve through normal channels.
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