Do you have to pay back unemployment if Washington ESD finds an overpayment?

How long do you have to appeal? The letter is kind of confusing about the timeline.

You typically have 30 days from the date on the overpayment notice to file an appeal. Don't wait - even if you're not sure you want to appeal, it's better to file and preserve your rights.

What did you end up doing? Did you have to pay it all back?

I ended up using a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Got my case resolved in about 2 weeks instead of months of trying to call.

The best protection is keeping detailed records of everything - your job search log, any work you do, all correspondence with Washington ESD. Most overpayments happen because of miscommunication or late employer responses.

I keep everything in a folder but it's still scary knowing this could happen months later

How do they determine if it's fraud vs just a mistake? My situation was definitely not intentional.

Fraud requires intent to deceive. If you were honestly reporting your information and there was just a misunderstanding or error, it should be classified as non-fraud. This is why appealing is so important - you can present your case.

Have you tried calling right when they open? I've had better luck getting through early morning.

I've tried every time slot, different phone numbers, everything. The system just hangs up on you after 2 hours on hold.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr - they bypass all that phone tree nonsense and get you directly to agents who can actually help resolve overpayment issues.

Yes, Washington ESD can garnish wages, tax refunds, and even bank accounts for unpaid overpayments. But they usually try to work with you on payment plans first if you communicate with them.

Great, so ignoring it isn't an option. Thanks for the info.

How long did the appeal process take? And did you need a lawyer?

Took about 6 weeks total. I didn't use a lawyer - just presented my case clearly with documentation. The hearing was done over the phone and was pretty straightforward.

You can request a detailed explanation of the overpayment determination. Sometimes it's buried in the paperwork, but you have a right to understand exactly what they're claiming.

I've been trying to get that explanation for months. Can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD who can actually explain it.

Waivers are available in limited circumstances - usually when the overpayment was entirely Washington ESD's fault and you had no way of knowing it was incorrect. The criteria are pretty strict though.

Mine was definitely their mistake - they approved my claim then decided months later I wasn't eligible. Worth a shot I guess.

Same boat here - owe $3,200 apparently. The calling situation is ridiculous. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - might be worth checking out if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Yeah I saw that. Might have to try it because this regular calling thing isn't working at all.

How do you set up a payment plan if you can't reach them by phone?

There should be information about payment plans in your overpayment notice. You can also try their website, though it's not always clear what the options are.

I get the frustration but panicking won't help. Focus on gathering your documentation and filing an appeal if you think the overpayment is wrong.

Easy to say when you're not the one getting threatening letters about money you don't have.

Paying back an overpayment doesn't disqualify you from future benefits. However, if you have an outstanding overpayment balance, Washington ESD may offset future benefits to collect what you owe.

Good to know. So it's definitely better to deal with it now rather than let it sit.

How did you finally get through to someone? That seems to be the biggest challenge.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Worth every penny to avoid the phone system nightmare and get actual help with my case.

I think I kept most stuff but now I'm worried it's not enough. This whole situation is really stressing me out.

Don't panic. Even if you don't have perfect records, you can still appeal and explain your situation. The key is to be proactive rather than ignoring the notices.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel a bit better knowing I'm not alone in this and that there are options.

Good luck with your situation. Remember that most of these overpayment issues can be resolved with persistence and the right help.

This is really helpful advice, thank you. I think part of my stress is not understanding exactly what they think I did wrong. The letter has a bunch of dates and dollar amounts but doesn't clearly explain their reasoning. How do you request that detailed explanation you mentioned? Is that something you have to do formally or can you just ask when you call?

You can request a detailed explanation both formally and informally. When you call (if you can get through), just ask the agent to explain the specific reasons for the overpayment determination. You can also submit a written request through their online portal or by mail asking for a breakdown of how they calculated the overpayment and what specific weeks or issues triggered it. Sometimes the explanation is in the fine print of the documents they sent, but it's often buried in legal language that's hard to understand. Don't be afraid to ask them to explain it in plain English - you have every right to understand exactly what they're claiming before you decide whether to appeal or accept the determination.

I completely understand that sick feeling - I was in the same place when I got my overpayment notice. The uncertainty and financial stress is overwhelming, especially as a single parent. From reading through this thread, it sounds like many people have been able to get answers and resolve these situations, even when the initial letters are confusing. Since you can't get through by phone, you might want to consider that Claimyr service that several people mentioned - it seems to help bypass the phone system issues. Also, don't assume you actually owe the full amount until you can get someone to explain exactly what happened. Many overpayments get reduced or overturned entirely once people can actually talk to someone who understands their case. The 30-day appeal deadline is important to keep in mind too.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress as a single mom - that financial pressure must be incredibly overwhelming. One thing that might help while you're trying to get through to someone is to start gathering all your documentation from when you were claiming benefits. Even if the letter doesn't explain what went wrong, having your records organized will help when you do finally talk to someone. Look for your weekly claim confirmations, any correspondence from Washington ESD, job search logs, and documentation of your work separation. Sometimes what looks like a legitimate overpayment is actually an error or miscommunication that can be cleared up once the right person reviews your file. The fact that you were honest and followed the rules works in your favor. Try not to panic about the dollar amount until you understand what they think happened - many people in this thread have gotten their situations resolved or significantly reduced.