ESD forgave my $14,000 overpayment after 2 years - no warning, just gone!
After fighting with ESD for over 2 years, they suddenly forgave my entire overpayment balance of almost $14,000! Most of it was interest that kept piling up. I had almost given up hope and was just ignoring those awful monthly notices showing the amount getting bigger and bigger. Then today, I logged in to check something else and... BOOM... balance shows $0! No explanation, no letter, nothing. Just... gone! Has this happened to anyone else? I'm thrilled but also confused - should I be worried they'll change their mind? Anyone know why ESD would suddenly forgive an overpayment without telling me?
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Cameron Black
OMG thats amazing!!!!! congrats!!!!! i've been fighting mine for 8 months now, they say i owe $7,800 but i KNOW i reported everything right. gives me hope they might actually look at my case someday
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Victoria Jones
•Thank you! And don't give up on yours. I filed every appeal I could and sent so many messages through eServices that I lost count. Did you request a hearing with OAH? That's what I did, but never heard back about a hearing date.
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Jessica Nguyen
This happens more often than you might think. ESD periodically reviews outstanding overpayment cases, especially older ones, and may determine that continued collection efforts aren't worth the administrative costs. Also, if your case was part of a mass adjudication review or policy change, they might have determined you were eligible after all. I recommend checking your eServices account for any new determination letters - they should have documented the forgiveness somewhere. You might also want to download and save a screenshot of your zero balance just in case there's any question later.
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Victoria Jones
•Thanks for this info! I just checked and there's no new determination letter. The last thing in my account is from 18 months ago when they denied my appeal. I'm definitely taking screenshots of everything. Should I contact them to ask for documentation or just leave well enough alone?
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Isaiah Thompson
dont contact them!!!! thell probably just reopen it and make u pay again. just take the win and RUN
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Ruby Garcia
•While I understand the sentiment, this isn't good advice. If ESD made a legitimate determination to forgive the overpayment, they won't reverse it just because you ask for documentation. In fact, getting written confirmation is important for your records in case questions arise later, especially for tax purposes since forgiven overpayments can sometimes be considered taxable income.
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Alexander Evans
my cousin had the EXACT same thing happen like 3 month ago. she owed like $9k from 2020 and then one day it just disappeared. she called them (waited forever to get thru) and they said something about how they were reviewing old cases from the pandemic and decided hers was actually eligible. maybe youre part of the same review?
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Victoria Jones
•That's really interesting! Mine wasn't from the pandemic though - it was from 2022-2023. I'm still tempted to call but it's so hard to get through to them.
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Evelyn Martinez
I have been trying to reach ESD for WEEKS about my overpayment issue (they say I owe $5,200 that I absolutely do not) and can't get anyone on the phone. The automated system just disconnects me after 30 minutes of waiting. It's absolutely infuriating. Has anyone found a reliable way to actually speak to a human at ESD? I'm desperate at this point.
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Benjamin Carter
•I was in the same boat last month and finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting hung up on. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when an agent is available. Saved me a ton of time and frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was totally worth it to finally get my issue resolved after weeks of trying.
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Evelyn Martinez
•Thank you so much! I'll check it out right now. At this point I'd do anything to talk to an actual person at ESD.
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Maya Lewis
we shouldn't have to deal with this crap from ESD!!! they make up these BS overpayments and then dont even look at our PROOF that they're wrong! then they just decide whenever they feel like it to forgive them? THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT!!!!!
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Isaiah Thompson
•THIS!!! 👆👆👆 its all about making it so confusing that people just give up and pay money they dont actually owe. happened to my brother too.
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Ruby Garcia
For anyone dealing with overpayment issues, here are some important steps to follow: 1. Always appeal within the 30-day deadline if you disagree with an overpayment determination 2. Request a hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) if your reconsideration is denied 3. Document everything - save screenshots of all submissions and communications 4. Submit any evidence of your eligibility through eServices and by fax (yes, they still use fax) 5. If your appeal is denied, you can request a payment plan or hardship waiver I've helped dozens of people through this process, and persistence is key. Even after a denial, ESD periodically reviews cases, especially when policies change. In 2025, they've been more generous with forgiving older overpayments, particularly those related to work search requirements or employer-reported earnings discrepancies.
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Cameron Black
•do you know if theres a specific form for the hardship waiver? i looked everywhere on the website and cant find it
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Ruby Garcia
•Yes, it's called the "Overpayment Waiver Application" and you can request it by messaging through eServices or by calling. It's not available for download on the website for some reason. You'll need to document your finances thoroughly - income, expenses, assets, etc. They typically only approve these in cases of significant financial hardship.
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Jessica Nguyen
I recommend checking your mail carefully for the next few weeks. In my experience, ESD often sends the official forgiveness letter several days (or even weeks) after they've already zeroed out the balance in their system. The letter should explain their reasoning and confirm that the matter is closed. This is an important document to keep for your records.
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Victoria Jones
•That's good to know! I'll definitely keep an eye on my mail. Really hoping they send something official so I can finally stop worrying about this hanging over my head.
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