ESD demanding repayment - how to reach someone about overpayment appeal?
I'm at my wit's end trying to fix this ESD overpayment mess! They're claiming I owe them $4,200 from benefits I received last year. I've already submitted pay stubs and a letter from my former employer that CLEARLY shows I was eligible for those benefits, but nobody seems to be looking at my documentation. Called 50+ times this month but either get disconnected or told to "start a new claim" which makes ZERO sense since this is about an old claim! I don't want to start over - I need someone to actually REVIEW the paperwork I already submitted! Does anyone have a direct number to reach someone who actually handles overpayment appeals? The regular customer service people just keep transferring me to dead ends. I've tried the appeals office but they say I need to talk to the overpayment department first. It's like they're deliberately making it impossible to fix their mistake!
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Giovanni Rossi
You need to specifically request to speak with the overpayment unit when you call. Don't explain your situation to the first person who answers - just say "I need to be transferred to the overpayment unit regarding an appeal." That worked for me after weeks of getting nowhere. Also, make sure you've formally filed an appeal through your eServices account - there's a specific form for overpayment appeals that's different from regular appeals.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Thank you! I'll try that specific wording. I did submit something through eServices but now I'm wondering if I used the right form. Will double-check that today.
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Aaliyah Jackson
omg same thing happened to me!!! they said i owed $3800 and i sent in my work hours and everything but nobody ever looks at what u send them its like throwing papers into a black hole
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KylieRose
•Make sure you're sending documentation to the correct department. There's a specific email address for overpayment evidence: uioverpayment@esd.wa.gov. Include your claim ID in the subject line and a brief explanation. I've found attaching a cover letter that clearly outlines your evidence helps get it to the right person.
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Miguel Hernández
The ESD system is completely broken right now. I dealt with an overpayment notice last month and wasted HOURS trying to reach someone. Finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual agent in about 30 minutes instead of days of calling. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I got through, I asked specifically for the overpayment department and explained I had already submitted documentation. The agent was able to flag my account for review and two weeks later I got a notice that the overpayment was canceled. Worth trying if you're desperate.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•I've never heard of this service but at this point I'm willing to try ANYTHING. Did they actually get you to someone who could help with overpayments specifically or just the general line?
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Miguel Hernández
•They got me through to the main ESD line, but without the hours of busy signals and hangups. Once I was connected, I asked for the overpayment unit specifically. The first agent tried to transfer me but I got disconnected, so I used the service again and the second time I got through to someone who could actually help.
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Sasha Ivanov
Y not just giv up & pay it?? Thats wat i did. fought for 3 months then gave up. ESD NEVER admits when theyr wrong its easier 2 just set up paymnt plan
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Because I literally don't owe them anything! I was eligible for every dollar I received. Why would I pay back $4,200 I don't owe just because their system is broken? That's a LOT of money for me.
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KylieRose
•Don't give up if you have legitimate documentation. While the system is frustrating, overpayment determinations can absolutely be reversed with proper evidence. I've seen many cases successfully resolved when claimants persist and get their documentation to the right people.
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Liam Murphy
Have you tried contacting your state representative? I was stuck in overpayment hell for 2+ months last year - nothing worked until I reached out to my district's state rep. Their office has special liaisons who work directly with ESD. My case was resolved within 10 days after they got involved. Here's how to find your rep: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/ Contact their office, explain your situation, and they'll have you fill out a release form so they can inquire about your case. It's literally their job to help constituents with state agency issues.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•That's a fantastic idea I hadn't considered. I'll look up my rep today. Do you remember what information they needed from you to help with your case?
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Liam Murphy
•They'll need your name, address (to confirm you're in their district), claim ID number, and a brief explanation of your issue. They'll send you a privacy release form to sign that gives them permission to inquire about your case. I provided copies of all my documentation to them as well, which seemed to speed things up. My rep's office called me within 2 days of submitting everything.
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Amara Okafor
whatever u do DONT start a new claim!!!!! thats a trap!!! if u do that they'll close ur appeal on the old claim cuz they'll say ur "abandoning" it happened to my roomate
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Thank you for this warning! I was actually considering doing that since they kept suggesting it. Sounds like that would've made things even worse.
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Giovanni Rossi
One more thing to try - there's a specific overpayment email that sometimes works better than calling: benefits@esd.wa.gov. Put "URGENT: Overpayment Appeal Documentation Review" in the subject line. Include your claim ID, the overpayment amount, and a VERY brief (2-3 sentence) explanation of why the determination is incorrect. Attach your evidence (keep file sizes small). I've heard from several people that this approach got results when calling failed. Also, document EVERYTHING - dates, times, names of representatives you speak with, what they told you. This creates a paper trail that can help if your case escalates to a formal hearing.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Thank you for this email address too! I'll try both the phone approach and email approach this week. And you're right about documenting everything - I've started keeping a log of all my contact attempts.
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CaptainAwesome
•the benefits email never worked for me they just send autoresponses. but the documentation advice is solid!
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KylieRose
Based on your situation, here's a specific action plan: 1. First, verify you've filed the correct appeal form for overpayments (different from regular appeals) 2. Call using the specific language suggested above to reach the overpayment unit 3. Email documentation to both uioverpayment@esd.wa.gov AND benefits@esd.wa.gov with your claim ID prominently displayed 4. If no response in 7 days, contact your state representative's office 5. Document all communication attempts with dates, times, and names Most importantly, don't start a new claim as this could jeopardize your appeal rights on the existing claim. Overpayment issues can take 8-12 weeks to resolve even when you do everything right, but following these steps should get movement on your case.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•This is incredibly helpful - thank you for laying it out so clearly! I'm going to follow this exact plan starting tomorrow morning. Will update this thread if/when I get a resolution for anyone else who might be in the same situation.
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