ESD overpayment due to school attendance - hearing this Friday! Urgent advice needed

I went through almost this exact situation last year. The key is showing that school didn't actually interfere with your ability to work. For your hearing, you should bring: 1. Your class schedule showing when your classes were 2. Documentation of job search activities during that period 3. Any evidence showing you were available full-time (like flexible class schedule, night classes, online courses, etc.) 4. A clear statement about your willingness to quit school for work During my hearing, I explained that my classes were all scheduled in the evenings specifically so I could work daytime hours. The judge ended up ruling in my favor and canceled the overpayment completely.

omg i had the SAME THING happen like 2 months ago!!! i checked yes for school but they never even asked me any followup questions and then BAM overpayment notice for like $3200. so frustrating!!! let us know how it goes!!!

ESD has very specific rules about school attendance while on unemployment. The primary issue is whether your schooling interferes with your ability to accept full-time work. Before your hearing, carefully review RCW 50.20.095 which covers unemployment benefits while in training. Make sure to emphasize that: 1. Your course schedule had flexibility that allowed you to accept full-time work 2. You continued actively searching for work (bring evidence of job applications) 3. You were willing to abandon training for suitable employment (your statement of intent matters here) The Administrative Law Judge will be looking primarily at whether your school schedule effectively removed you from the labor market. Be prepared to explain how your specific courses and schedule still allowed full availability for work. If you lose, they typically set up a payment plan rather than demanding immediate full payment.

I HATE how ESD handles these school situations!!! The whole system is designed to TRAP people. If you say NO to school, they can disqualify you for misrepresentation. If you say YES, they can disqualify you for not being available. It's basically IMPOSSIBLE to win!!! I had a similar situation and ended up with a $6,200 overpayment. The whole hearing was a joke - the judge had clearly decided before I even spoke. Now they take 25% of my paycheck every week to pay it back. The system is RIGGED against regular people!!!!!

I work with unemployment appeals frequently. For your hearing, make sure to emphasize that your schooling did not interfere with your ability to search for and accept full-time work. The most successful claimants I've seen in your situation come prepared with: 1. A detailed log of all job search activities during the period in question 2. Documentation about the flexible nature of your classes (online, self-paced, etc.) 3. Evidence that you would have accepted suitable work (emails with potential employers, interviews you attended, etc.) Also, be very clear and direct in your testimony. Don't ramble or get emotional. Just stick to the facts showing that school didn't limit your work availability. Administrative Law Judges appreciate concise, fact-based presentations.

Have you tried calling ESD directly to discuss your situation before the hearing? Sometimes they can provide insight into why exactly they determined you were ineligible, which might help you prepare better. I've been calling them for weeks about my own issue and finally got through using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They hold your place in line and call you when an ESD agent is available. Saved me hours of redial frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Might be worth trying before your hearing so you're better prepared with exactly what documentation to focus on. Good luck!

one thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure you're on time for your hearing! they usually only wait 10 mins if your late and then you forfeit. also have you checked if its phone or video hearing? mine was on teams and i had technical issues at first

Another tip - take detailed notes during the hearing. If you end up needing to appeal the decision later, those notes will be incredibly helpful. Also, speak clearly and directly answer the judge's questions. Don't volunteer extra information unless it specifically helps your case about availability for work. And remember that everything is being recorded, so stay professional even if you feel frustrated by questions.

I've been through a similar situation and want to echo what others have said about preparation being key. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline document showing: - Dates I was in school - My class schedule/format (online, flexible, etc.) - Job applications I submitted during that time - Any interviews or job contacts Having it all laid out chronologically made it much easier to explain to the judge how school never interfered with my work availability. Also, if you have any documentation showing you told potential employers you could start immediately or drop classes for work, that's gold. Even text messages or emails can help show your intent. The good news is that online, self-paced classes are usually viewed much more favorably than traditional classroom schedules. You've got a strong case - just stay calm and stick to the facts about your availability. Wishing you the best of luck on Friday!