Do you have to pay back unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about overpayments

That's reassuring. I've been super careful about reporting even the smallest amounts of work. What exactly counts as an overpayment though?

Common overpayments include not reporting part-time work, being disqualified after benefits were already paid, or receiving benefits while not able and available for work. Washington ESD will send you a written notice if there's an issue.

Did you have to pay it back or were you able to appeal successfully?

I appealed and won because I had documentation showing I reported the work correctly. The hearing was nerve-wracking but worth it. Keep all your records!

How long do they give you to pay it back if you can't appeal?

They're usually pretty reasonable about payment plans. You can negotiate something that works with your budget. The important thing is to communicate with them and not just ignore the notice.

Is that service legitimate? I've been having trouble getting through to anyone at Washington ESD myself.

Yeah it's legit. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me probably 20 hours of calling.

I've heard of that too. My friend used it when she had an adjudication issue that wouldn't resolve. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

I get the frustration, but the rules are actually pretty straightforward. Report all work, be available for work, do your job search activities. Most overpayments happen when people don't follow these basic requirements.

maybe for you but some of us are doing this for the first time and its overwhelming

What about if you make a mistake on your weekly claim by accident? Like if you forget to report a small amount of work?

Honest mistakes can usually be corrected if you catch them quickly. You can call Washington ESD or log into your account to make corrections. It's the intentional stuff that gets you in real trouble.

Yes, standby claims have specific rules. You can't just file regular UI claims if you're supposed to be on standby. Different process entirely.

Standby is for people who have a definite return-to-work date, usually seasonal workers or people on temporary layoff. If you file regular claims instead of standby when you should be on standby, that could create an overpayment.

That sounds terrifying. How do they decide how much to garnish?

There are limits on how much they can take, but it's still scary. Better to just be super careful with your weekly claims from the start.

This is really good advice. I've been lazy about keeping records but I should start doing this.

Trust me, it's worth the extra effort. Takes like 5 minutes a week but could save you thousands if there's ever a dispute.

How did you prove it was their error and not yours?

I had my hire date documentation from my employer and could show exactly when I stopped filing claims. The dates didn't match what they had in their system.

What if you get a job but it doesn't start for a week or two? Can you still file claims until your start date?

Generally yes, as long as you're still available for work until your start date. But check with Washington ESD to be sure about your specific situation.

That seems extreme for making a mistake on a weekly claim.

Honest mistakes are different from fraud. They look at patterns and intent. One small error won't land you in jail, but repeatedly lying about work or job search activities could.

Does it cost a lot to use that service?

Worth every penny when you need to actually talk to someone about your claim. Way less stressful than the alternative.

This makes me feel a lot better. I've been really paranoid about doing something wrong.

That paranoia is actually good - it means you're being careful. Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll be fine.

How long does the appeal process usually take?

Can take several months depending on the complexity. But if you win your appeal, you don't have to pay back the overpayment.

That's a really practical suggestion. I'm going to start doing this immediately.

Same here. Better safe than sorry when it comes to Washington ESD.