ESD Overpayment Waiver taking forever - how long before I hear back?

I went through this last year. Got hit with a $19,800 overpayment after they determined I wasn't eligible for benefits during the first half of 2022. Filed my waiver in February 2025 and got a decision in late May - so about 3 months total. They approved a partial waiver (reduced it by 60%) based on my financial hardship documentation. Make sure you've included these with your waiver application: 1. Last 3 months of bank statements 2. Current income documentation (pay stubs, etc) 3. Monthly expense breakdown (rent, utilities, food, etc) 4. Any medical bills or unusual expenses 5. Documentation of any public assistance you receive Also, keep making whatever payments you can during this time, even if small. It shows good faith and can help your case.

ESD's waiver process is deliberately slow and frustrating. They HOPE you'll give up and keep paying!! I waited FIVE MONTHS for my waiver decision last year. When I finally got it, they only waived 30% even though I was barely surviving. The entire unemployment system is designed to wear you down. My advice? KEEP CALLING THEM. Make yourself a problem they need to solve. Document EVERY call attempt with date/time. If you get through, get the name of who you speak with. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these people.

Having worked with many clients facing ESD overpayments, I can tell you the current processing time for overpayment waivers is running 3-4 months on average. However, they're dealing with a backlog from a system update earlier this year, so some are taking longer. A few important points: 1. Continue making at least minimal payments if possible. This demonstrates good faith. 2. If your financial situation worsens while waiting, you can submit additional documentation to strengthen your hardship claim. 3. You can request an update on your waiver status by calling the Collections unit directly at 855-829-9243 (rather than the main ESD line). 4. If you're facing imminent eviction or utility shutoff, mention this specifically when you call - it may help prioritize your case. The criteria for waivers are: 1) the overpayment wasn't your fault, and 2) repayment would cause significant financial hardship. Be sure both elements are clearly documented.

hey i had an overpayment of like $14k back in 2021 and it took them 2 months to process my waiver. got denied tho. they said i should have known i wasnt eligible even tho they approved me initially?? makes no sense. ended up on a payment plan for like $120/month. still paying it off lol

I had a similar issue trying to reach ESD about my overpayment waiver last year. I spent WEEKS trying to get through on their main line with no luck. After nearly giving up, I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live person at ESD. They have a system that waits on hold for you and calls you when an agent is available. They have a demo video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I finally spoke with someone, I was able to check on my waiver status and learned it was assigned to a specific agent. The rep gave me a direct contact email, which helped speed things up. My waiver was processed about 3 weeks after that call - ended up getting a 75% reduction in what I owed based on my financial situation.

waiver took 10 weeks for me. they only waived half. still better than nothing i guess. the whole system is messed up!!

Just a thought - have you contacted your state representative's office? My sister had an ESD issue that was dragging on for months. She reached out to her state rep's constituent services and they helped push her case through. Worth a try if you're desperate.

One more thing about the waiver process - make sure you check both your physical mail AND your ESD online account messages regularly. Sometimes they'll send the decision online only, and you could miss it if you're just checking the mailbox. Also, if it's been more than 90 days, you can submit what's called a "Hardship Inquiry" through your online account. This flags your case for review and sometimes speeds things up. Look under the "Contact Us" section of your ESD account to find this option.

Another thing - if they deny your waiver or only approve a partial waiver, you have the right to APPEAL! Don't just accept their decision. You have 30 days from the date on the determination letter to file an appeal with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). My first waiver request was completely denied, but I appealed and got 50% waived after the hearing. The judge was actually reasonable unlike the ESD bureaucrats. Make sure you have all your financial hardship evidence organized if you need to go this route.