Can Washington ESD unemployment overpayment be forgiven - options for relief?

Thank you! I couldn't find that form number anywhere. Do you know what kind of documentation they typically want to see?

They usually want bank statements, pay stubs, rent/mortgage statements, utility bills, and a completed financial statement showing your monthly income vs expenses.

Same experience here. The phone system is absolutely broken. I eventually found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD within like 20 minutes. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Did they charge you a lot?

It was worth it for me because I needed to get my waiver request clarified and couldn't reach anyone the normal way. Way better than losing days calling over and over.

What counts as 'no fault of your own'? I reported my work hours correctly every week on my weekly claims.

That's actually a good sign for your case. If the overpayment was due to Washington ESD's error in processing your claim rather than you providing incorrect information, you have a stronger case for waiver approval.

Did you appeal the waiver denial? You have 30 days from the denial notice to file an appeal with the Office of Administrative Hearings.

I didn't know I could appeal that. The denial letter was confusing and I thought that was it.

You might still be able to file a late appeal if you can show good cause for missing the deadline. It's worth trying.

How did you set up the payment plan? Did you have to call them or is there a form for that too?

I had to call and speak to someone in their overpayment unit. Took forever to get through but they were actually helpful once I reached them.

Yes, Washington ESD can garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, and even place liens on property for unpaid overpayments. It's considered a debt to the state.

omg that's terrifying. I have a small overpayment I've been ignoring...

Don't ignore it! Contact Washington ESD as soon as possible to discuss your options. The longer you wait, the fewer options you'll have.

What was your overpayment for? Was it related to work search requirements or something else?

Mine was because Washington ESD initially approved my standby status but then decided I didn't actually qualify. Since I followed their instructions and reported everything correctly, they approved the waiver.

That's true, but compromise settlements are pretty rare. Washington ESD only approves them in specific circumstances, usually when collection costs would exceed the amount they'd recover.

Yeah it's not common but worth knowing about if you have access to some money but not the full amount.

How much interest do they charge? My notice didn't mention anything about interest.

I think it's 1% per month on the unpaid balance, plus they can add collection fees if it goes to a collection agency.

I had the same problem until someone recommended Claimyr to me. It's a service that gets you connected to Washington ESD agents. Worked perfectly for my overpayment questions - got through in about 15 minutes instead of hours of calling.

Is that expensive? I'm already stressed about money because of this overpayment.

It was worth it for me to get my questions answered quickly. Way less stressful than the endless calling. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works.

My notice specifically says 'non-fraud overpayment' so I should be eligible for the waiver process, right?

Yes, that's a good sign. Non-fraud overpayments are typically due to Washington ESD errors, changes in circumstances, or misunderstandings rather than intentional deception.

That's correct. Washington ESD can intercept various state benefits and tax refunds to collect overpayments. It's called 'offset' and it happens automatically unless you have an approved payment plan or waiver.

Yeah, she didn't know about it until her benefits were suddenly reduced. Really caught her off guard financially.

Did you have to keep making payments while the waiver was being reviewed?

I didn't make payments during the review period, but I documented everything and stayed in communication with Washington ESD. Once the waiver was approved, the debt was completely forgiven.

That's not reliable advice. Washington ESD doesn't have a policy of automatically writing off small overpayments. Your friend might have qualified for a waiver without realizing it, or there could have been other factors involved.

fair enough, probably not something to count on

Good advice. Should I send the waiver form by certified mail or is regular mail okay?

Definitely certified mail with return receipt. That way you have proof they received it. Also keep copies of everything you send.

That's the frustrating thing about dealing with Washington ESD - so much important information isn't readily available online. You have to dig for it or talk to someone who knows the system.

Exactly. And good luck actually reaching someone who can give you accurate information without waiting hours on hold.

Same here! I was feeling pretty hopeless when I first got the notice but sounds like it's worth trying for the waiver.

Don't give up. The waiver process exists for a reason, and if you truly have financial hardship and the overpayment wasn't your fault, you have a legitimate case to make.

This is really excellent advice about legal aid services! I hadn't thought about that option but it makes total sense that they would have experience with these cases. Do you know if there are any specific legal aid organizations in Washington state that specialize in unemployment issues, or should I just contact my local legal aid office? Also, your point about including all expenses is spot on - I was only thinking about the major ones like rent and utilities, but things like medical costs and transportation really do add up and show the full picture of financial hardship.