ESD hit me with $1900 overpayment notice - need advice on appeal & payment plans

Yes ESD does offer payment plans!!! When i got an overpayment last year (was about $2700 for me) I called them and they set me up with a 24 month plan. Was like $112/month which still sucked but better than paying it all at once. For your appeal you NEED to have copies of your job search logs from those weeks they're questioning. Also have any emails confirming job applications or interviews during that time. Good luck!!

I went through something similar in January. For your appeal, make sure you gather: 1. All your job search logs with detailed information 2. Any email confirmations of applications submitted 3. Screenshots of job application confirmations 4. Any correspondence with potential employers 5. Your work availability schedule during the period in question The appeal process typically takes 4-6 weeks. You'll receive a hearing date with an Administrative Law Judge who will review your case. Be prepared to explain clearly why you believe the overpayment determination is incorrect. In my experience, if you have good documentation, you have a decent chance of winning. As for payment plans, yes, they're available if the appeal doesn't go your way. You'll need to call the Collections Unit at 866-697-4831. They can set up monthly payments based on your financial situation - typically ranging from 12-36 months.

The EXACT same thing happened to me last year!! They said i didnt report some income but i did and i had proof. make sure u save everything and take screenshots and bring it all to the hearing. the judge was actually really nice and listened to me and i won my appeal. dont give up!

Hate to be that person but ESD is NEVER going to rule in your favor. I had an ironclad case with screenshots, emails, everything proving I was eligible and they still said I owed $3200. Then when I appealed, they scheduled my hearing during my work hours and wouldn't reschedule!! Total scam to take money from struggling people. The whole system is broken beyond repair.

Have you tried calling ESD to discuss the overpayment notice? Getting through to an actual person at ESD can help clarify why they determined you weren't eligible and might even resolve it without going through the entire appeal process. I've had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to ESD when their lines were jammed - they have a service that helps you connect with an actual ESD agent. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Worth a shot before your appeal hearing, as sometimes these overpayment notices are just simple misunderstandings that an agent can fix on the spot.

Quick question - did your notice mention anything about waiver options? Sometimes ESD will waive overpayments if repayment would cause financial hardship. Worth checking if that was mentioned anywhere in the notice they sent you. Also, while your appeal is pending, you don't have to start making payments yet.

my freind had a simlar thing happen and it turned out someone had STOLEN HIS IDENTITY and was claiming benefits in his name!!!! you should check ur credit report just to make sure thats not whats happening!!!

One more tip about the appeal hearing - make sure you clearly understand which specific weeks ESD is questioning. Sometimes they'll only contest certain weeks but not others. You should receive documents before the hearing explaining their exact reasoning for the overpayment determination. Read this VERY carefully and prepare your evidence to directly address their specific concerns. Judges appreciate when you're organized and directly addressing the issues at hand rather than making general statements about your eligibility.

Just to add to what others have said - if you do end up having to repay, know that you can negotiate the monthly payment amount based on your financial situation. I ended up with a small overpayment last year ($750) and initially they wanted $150/month, but after I explained my situation, they reduced it to $50/month. Don't agree to a payment you can't afford.