Can you still get unemployment if you owe Washington ESD money from previous claim?

That's a relief! So if my weekly benefit would be $400, they'd give me $300 and keep $100 toward the debt?

Exactly right. They call it benefit offset and it's automatic once your new claim is approved.

How long did it take for your new claim to get approved? I'm worried they might reject it because of the debt.

Normal processing time, like 2-3 weeks. The debt doesn't affect whether you qualify for benefits, just how much you get paid.

I've been trying to call for weeks! How much does that service cost?

They focus on getting you connected quickly rather than having you waste hours calling. Worth checking out their site for details.

Never heard of this but anything's better than calling 500 times and getting hung up on.

Good to know there might be options. With rent and utilities, even losing 25% would be tough.

Definitely worth asking about. They have forms for hardship requests but you'll need to provide documentation of your expenses.

It's legal and standard practice for all state unemployment agencies. The alternative would be collections or wage garnishment which is worse.

i guess that makes sense but still sucks when you need the money

All overpayments get treated the same way regardless of which program they came from. PUA, regular UI, doesn't matter.

Ugh, I was hoping those were different. Thanks for the info though.

That's smart advice. I'll keep paying what I can on top of the automatic deductions.

Generally no, unemployment overpayments don't get reported to credit bureaus unless they go to collections. As long as you're making payments or have the offset happening, you should be fine.

That's a huge relief, thank you!

You can appeal overpayment determinations if you believe they were issued in error. There's a 30-day window from the notice date to file an appeal.

Too late for me but good info for others. Wish I'd known that two years ago.

Awesome! Glad that worked out for you. The offset isn't fun but at least you'll have some income coming in.

That's great news! How long were you on hold?

Maybe 10 minutes total including getting connected. Way better than my usual experience calling directly.

Good point, I wouldn't have thought of that. So if they send me $300 but my benefit was $400, I report the $400?

Correct. Washington ESD will send you a 1099-G showing the full amount before any offsets.

Nope, the overpayment is completely separate from eligibility. As long as you meet the work history and other requirements, you should be fine.

You can check your overpayment balance in your SecureAccess Washington account. It updates pretty regularly as payments are applied.

cool thanks, didnt know that was in there

Yes, interstate agreements mean overpayments can be collected even if you move. Other states can offset benefits or help with collections.

Darn, was hoping I could escape it by moving to Oregon. Guess not!

Yeah, I learned that lesson the hard way the first time. This time I'm being super careful about reporting everything.

Yes, you can make additional payments online through SecureAccess Washington or mail checks. Any extra payments reduce the balance faster.

Perfect, I'd rather get it over with quickly.

True, some states are way more strict about this stuff. Washington ESD isn't perfect but they're not the worst.

Good luck! Should be pretty straightforward since you've filed before.

Keep us posted on how it goes! Always helpful to hear about others' experiences.

Glad it was helpful! There's a lot of misinformation out there about unemployment rules.

Washington ESD eliminated the waiting week, so offsets start with your first payable week. No delay.

Got it, thanks for clarifying that!