ESD claiming I have an overpayment but my weekly benefit amount changed - confused!

this hapnd to me last yr!! the ESD system is a mess. they told me $610/wk but only paid $520 then came after me for $1800 in 'overpayments' even tho they underpaid me!! turned out they messed up my wage calculation TWICE. keep ALL ur determination letters and check ur wage records carefully

What's likely happening is that there are two separate issues: 1) They recalculated your weekly benefit amount from $540 to $480 (probably due to wage verification), and 2) They're asking for a repayment of $540 for a different reason - perhaps a week they determined you weren't eligible for. I suggest you check your notices carefully in your eServices account. Look for a "Redetermination" notice that would explain the change from $540 to $480. Then look for a separate "Overpayment" notice that should explain exactly which week they want repaid and why. If the overpayment is actually referring to the WBA difference, then you definitely need to appeal within 30 days of the notice date.

ESD is NOTORIOUS for this!!! They deliberately make it confusing so people don't fight back. I was told I owed $3700 last year for "unreported earnings" when I reported EVERYTHING correctly. Took me 4 months to resolve and they still took $220 I shouldn't have owed. The system is DESIGNED to screw people over.

I had a similar issue last month and I was able to get it resolved by using Claimyr to reach an actual ESD agent. Getting through to someone who could look at my specific case made all the difference. The agent explained exactly what happened with my claim - turned out there was a mistake in how my base year wages were calculated. It cost a bit but saved me from owing back $850! Check out their demo video if you're curious: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 or their website claimyr.com

Wait are we talking about regular UI or pandemic unemployment? Because those had different rules. I'm still sorting out issues from 2021 lol

Here's what you need to do step by step: 1. File an appeal immediately to protect your rights - you have 30 days from the date on the overpayment notice 2. In your appeal, request all documents related to your claim, specifically asking for: - The original monetary determination showing $540 - Any redetermination notices changing your WBA to $480 - The overpayment calculation and specific weeks involved 3. Request a payment plan pending the appeal decision if you can't afford to repay the amount in full 4. Check your wage records carefully in your eServices account - make sure all employers and wages are correctly listed Most importantly, continue filing your weekly claims during this process, even while appealing. Many overpayment issues are the result of simple calculation errors that can be corrected once you get the right person looking at your claim.

I recommend trying to reach them by phone in addition to the appeal. The appeals process can take 6-8 weeks, but if you can get through to a claims specialist, they might be able to resolve it much faster, especially if it's just a calculation error. Their phone lines are usually less busy first thing in the morning (right when they open) or in the middle of the week (Tuesday-Thursday).

did u check ur monetary determination letter? somtimes they show u the calculation breakdown. mine had 2 different amounts on it - one was 'maximum benefit amount' and one was 'weekly benefit amount' maybe ur looking at the wrong number?

this happened to my cousin last month! turns out he had holiday pay they didn't know about at first and it changed his whole calculation. maybe check if you had any special pay they might have missed initially?

After you file your appeal, make sure to monitor your eServices account daily. ESD often sends requests for additional information with very short deadlines (sometimes just 48 hours). Missing these can cause bigger problems. If you have a smartphone, set up email notifications for your ESD account so you don't miss anything important.