Do you have to pay back unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

You only have to pay back unemployment if there was an overpayment or fraud. As long as you're following the rules and reporting everything correctly, you should be fine. The main reasons people have to pay back are: working while claiming without reporting it, not doing job searches, or providing false information on their initial claim.

I had to pay back $2,100 last year because I didn't report some part-time work I did. Washington ESD sent me an overpayment notice and I had to set up a payment plan. It was a nightmare trying to get through to them to discuss it.

The Washington ESD website has a whole section about overpayments. Generally you have to pay back if: 1) You received benefits you weren't entitled to, 2) You didn't meet work search requirements, 3) You were able to work but claimed you weren't, 4) You quit or were fired for misconduct but didn't report it correctly, or 5) You had earnings that should have reduced your benefits.

I'm in the same boat as you OP - been getting benefits for 2 months and constantly worried about doing something wrong. The system is so confusing and it's hard to get answers when you call Washington ESD.

They also audit randomly sometimes. My cousin got audited even though she did everything right, and it was stressful but she didn't owe anything back.

The key is keeping good records. I save screenshots of every weekly claim I file and keep a detailed job search log with dates, company names, and positions applied for. If they ever question anything, I have proof.

Watch out for identity theft too. My friend had someone file a fraudulent claim in her name and Washington ESD came after her for the money even though she never received any benefits. It took months to sort out.

If you do get an overpayment notice, don't panic. You have appeal rights. I successfully appealed mine because Washington ESD made an error in calculating my benefits. The hearing officer agreed with me.

The system is designed to catch errors eventually. They cross-reference with IRS records, employer wage reports, and other state agencies. It might take months or even years, but if you owe money back, they'll find it.

I had to pay back benefits when I went back to work full-time but forgot to close my claim. I kept getting payments for 3 weeks after I started working. Washington ESD wanted it all back plus penalties.

The worst part is trying to get through to Washington ESD when you have questions. I spent weeks trying to clarify something about my claim and finally gave up. Luckily it worked out okay, but the stress was awful.

Bottom line: if you're following the rules, reporting everything honestly, and keeping good records, you shouldn't have to pay anything back. The people who get in trouble are usually the ones who try to game the system or make honest mistakes they don't correct.

Just want to add - if you're ever unsure about something, it's better to ask than to guess wrong. The consequences of an overpayment can be serious, including having to pay back money you might have already spent.