ESD demanding $15,000+ overpayment from my son - how common is this?

Unfortunately, overpayment notices have become pretty common with ESD. I work at a legal aid clinic, and we've seen a significant increase in overpayment cases in 2025. The most common reasons include: 1. Income reporting discrepancies (when employer-reported wages don't match what the claimant reported) 2. Retroactive eligibility changes (ESD decided later you didn't meet criteria you were initially approved for) 3. Job search requirement failures that were discovered in later audits The good news is you absolutely have appeal rights. Your son needs to file an appeal within 30 days of receiving the notice. While appealing, he should request a payment plan regardless of the outcome - ESD can set up very reasonable plans based on income.

my cousin got one of these for $9,000 last month!!!! he was freaking OUT. turns out esd said he didnt do enough job searches each week but he swears he did. he called them everyday for 2 weeks and never got thru to anyone. total nightmare dealing with them tbh

I received an $8,300 overpayment notice in January, and after panicking for a week, I was finally able to get through to an ESD agent who explained my situation. In my case, they determined I wasn't meeting the able and available requirements during certain weeks I claimed benefits. I've found the quickest way to reach ESD is through Claimyr.com. It's a service that connects you with an ESD agent, usually within 20-30 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. It saved me so much stress during the appeals process. Definitely appeal if you believe the determination is incorrect, and make sure to gather any documentation showing your son met all requirements during the weeks in question.

ESD overpayment specialist here. This is something we're seeing frequently, and there are multiple paths to resolution: 1. Appeal within 30 days - this is critical. Use the appeal form that came with the notice. 2. Request a waiver if the overpayment wasn't your son's fault. If approved, he might not have to repay anything. 3. Request financial hardship consideration and a payment plan if the appeal is unsuccessful. Key factors in these cases typically include whether your son properly reported all income, if he met job search requirements (currently 3 activities weekly), and if he was truly able and available for work during each week claimed. Get a copy of his complete claim file through a records request - this will show exactly what ESD is basing their determination on. This is essential for preparing an effective appeal.

I just got done fighting a $12,475 overpayment notice from ESD!!! Took me 4 months but I WON. They originally said I wasn't eligible for ANY benefits from Oct 2024-Feb 2025 because my former employer claimed I quit (I was actually laid off). Here's what worked for me: 1) Filed appeal immediately 2) Collected ALL documentation (termination letter, texts from manager, final paystub) 3) Had a former coworker write a statement confirming layoffs 4) Requested a hearing with Office of Administrative Hearings 5) Actually PREPARED for the hearing with notes and practice Don't just accept the overpayment! Many of these are mistakes or can be negotiated down. Tell your son to take this VERY seriously and fight it with everything he's got.

My daughter had an overpayment of $6k last year. Turns out ESD had miscalculated her benefit amount originally and then "fixed" it by demanding everything back. We tried appealing but honestly the process was sooo complicated we eventually just set up a payment plan ($75/month). It will take her 7 years to pay it off but at least they stopped sending threatening letters about collection agencies.

Based on the amount ($15,000+), I suspect this might be related to either: 1. A substantial period where ESD determined he wasn't eligible at all (possibly 10+ weeks) 2. An identity verification issue that invalidated the entire claim 3. A significant unreported income situation Here's what your son needs to do immediately: 1. Log into his ESD account and look for the "Determinations" section - this will have the specific reason code 2. Check if there's a "Request for Information" he might have missed responding to 3. File the appeal right away (30-day deadline is strict and rarely extended) 4. Request a formal hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings The success rate on appeals is actually quite good (about 40% are modified or reversed), especially when the claimant actively participates in the process. Don't give up!

This is why I HATE the ESD!!! They approve you initially, then come back MONTHS later saying "oops nevermind, give all that money back now" like we're all just sitting on thousands of dollars waiting to return it. The system is totally RIGGED against regular people. The appeal process is designed to be so confusing that people just give up and accept payment plans they can't afford. It's disgusting.

After helping several family members through overpayment situations, here's what I've learned: 1. The reason for the overpayment MATTERS in how you approach it 2. Job search related overpayments can sometimes be resolved by providing documentation after the fact 3. If he has ANY proof of job searches during those weeks (emails, application confirmations, etc.), gather them now 4. Request a payment plan WHILE also appealing - you can do both simultaneously One more tip: When he finally speaks with ESD, ask specifically about a "Section 3304(a)(4) waiver" if he can demonstrate financial hardship. Many agents won't mention this option unless specifically asked.

woah $15,000 is crazy!!! that's way more than most of the overpayments i've heard about. has your son checked if his identity was stolen? sometimes scammers file claims using other peoples info and that could explain why the amount is so high?? just a thought