Can't find pandemic overpayment waiver form on ESD website - anyone know how to get it?
I'm completely stuck trying to find the pandemic overpayment waiver request form. ESD sent me a letter saying I owe $4,800 from 2022 benefits and that I might qualify for a waiver, but they don't actually tell you how to get the form! I've called the main ESD number (800-318-xxxx) which just redirected me to another number (800-697-4831), but none of the menu options there led to anything about waiver forms. The website is no help either - I've clicked through every section I can find. Has anyone successfully requested this form? Where is it hiding? This is so frustrating! Thank you for any help!
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Omar Fawaz
I went through this last month! The waiver form isn't available on their regular website. You need to call the collections department directly at (360) 486-5817 and specifically ask for the "Pandemic Overpayment Waiver Application." They should email it to you within 1-2 business days. Make sure you explain that you received notification about potentially qualifying for the waiver. The form is fairly straightforward but gather documentation showing financial hardship before you submit it.
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Freya Thomsen
•Thank you SO MUCH! I've been going in circles for days. I'll call that number tomorrow morning. Did you have any trouble getting through? And how long did your waiver take to process after you submitted it?
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Chloe Martin
omg i hate thier stupid phone menu!!! none of the options ever match what u need. ive been hung up on like 6 times trying to deal with my claim issues last week
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Diego Rojas
•Yeah, the ESD phone system is deliberately designed to frustrate us and make us give up. They don't WANT to pay benefits or provide waivers so they make it as difficult as possible to actually reach anyone who can help. Classic government inefficiency mixed with malicious intent. I've spent HOURS trying to get through about my adjudication and it's like they're laughing at us.
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Anastasia Sokolov
Have you checked your eServices messages? Sometimes they send the form directly to your secure inbox there. That's where I found mine under "Important Information" tab. I almost missed it because the subject line was super vague - something like "Action Required - Benefits Documentation.
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Freya Thomsen
•I just double-checked my eServices and there's nothing there about waivers. Just the original overpayment notice from March. So frustrating how inconsistent they are with their processes! Thanks for the suggestion though.
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StarSeeker
I had to get this waver form too! It was werid because they sent me a letter saying i could aply for a waver but no form. I finally found it by googling "washington esd pandemic overpayment waiver pdf" and it came up in the search results from some random ESD page that wasnt linked from the main site. Try searching that maybe? Good luck!!
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Sean O'Donnell
•I tried searching for this exact phrase and found nothing useful. ESD keeps changing their website structure and forms without updating all their links. I finally gave up on finding forms online and used Claimyr to get through to an actual human at ESD. It's a service that gets you past the busy signals and holds (https://claimyr.com). They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I spoke with emailed me the waiver form directly, and I was able to ask questions about how to fill it out properly. Saved me days of frustration.
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Zara Ahmed
The pandemic overpayment waiver process is confusing because it's handled differently than regular UI overpayments. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the ESD Collections Unit at 360-486-5817 (as mentioned above) 2. Ask specifically for the "PUA/PEUC Overpayment Waiver Application" 3. Be prepared to provide your claim ID and the overpayment ID from your notice 4. You'll need to document financial hardship - gather bank statements, bills, etc. 5. Submit everything within 30 days of receiving the form Important: Make sure to check the box that indicates this is for pandemic unemployment assistance specifically. Regular UI overpayments have different waiver criteria than pandemic benefits overpayments.
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Freya Thomsen
•Thank you for such detailed instructions! I didn't realize there was a specific PUA/PEUC waiver form that's different from the regular one. The notice I got didn't specify any of this. I'll make sure to ask for this specific form and gather my financial documentation. Do you know if they're actually approving these waivers? I'm worried about going through all this effort only to be denied.
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Diego Rojas
I wish you luck but I'm on month 3 of waiting for a decision on my pandemic waiver and can't get ANY updates when I call. They'll make you jump through 50 hoops just to apply then let it sit in some digital pile for months. The whole system is a joke. Make sure you keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, copies of everything you submit. ESD is notorious for "losing" documentation.
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Omar Fawaz
•This is unfortunately common with waiver requests. I recommend sending your waiver form and documentation via certified mail with signature required, or if submitting online, save a screenshot of the confirmation page. Also, after submitting, call weekly to check status and document each call. If you don't hear back within 45 days, contact your state representative - they often have liaisons who can help move things along with ESD.
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Ravi Sharma
I just went through this exact same situation! The collections number (360-486-5817) that Omar mentioned is definitely the right one to call. When I called, I had to wait about 20 minutes but got through to someone who was actually helpful. They emailed me the PUA overpayment waiver form the same day. One tip - when you call, have your Social Security number and the overpayment notice reference number ready because they'll ask for both right away. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to seems confused about the waiver - I had to explain that I received a letter saying I might qualify for a waiver and they transferred me to someone who knew exactly what I was talking about. The form itself took me about an hour to complete once I had all my financial documents together.
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AstroAce
•This is really helpful, thank you! I'm glad to hear someone else got through successfully on that number. Did you have any issues with the form itself being confusing, or was it pretty straightforward once you had your documents ready? I'm trying to prepare as much as possible before I call tomorrow. Also, do you remember approximately how long it took to get a decision after you submitted everything?
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