ESD overpayment notice during medical crisis - how to request hardship waiver?

Yes, there are options for her situation! ESD does offer overpayment waivers in cases of hardship. She needs to submit an Overpayment Waiver Application explaining her circumstances. The form is available on the ESD website under 'Forms and Publications.' Make sure to include documentation of her hospital stay and medical condition, plus her current financial situation showing inability to pay. Also immediately request a payment plan to avoid collections while the waiver is being processed.

my brothr had something similar happen last year!! they kept sending him letters even after he told them he was in th hospital!! its ridiculous how they expect people to pay when theyre sick!!

I've been through the overpayment waiver process before. You need to act quickly because there's a 30-day deadline to respond to the notice. Here's exactly what I recommend: 1. Call ESD immediately to inform them of the situation and request a temporary hold (though this can be nearly impossible to get through) 2. Submit the waiver application with ALL medical documentation 3. Also submit a payment plan request form - even if you plan to get a waiver, this buys time 4. In her situation, specifically request a "financial hardship waiver" not just a payment plan If she qualifies for the hardship waiver, they may forgive the entire amount based on her medical condition and unemployment status.

I had to deal with ESD for an overpayment while I was having health issues too. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone who could help. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual ESD agent without the endless waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I got through, I found out there's a specific department that handles hardship waivers for overpayments. Make sure you're talking to the Collections and Overpayment Department, not just general UI staff. They'll connect you with a caseworker who can pause collection activities during medical hardship.

You might want to look into if the overpayment was her fault or ESD's mistake. Theres different rules depending on if it was her error or theirs. ESD makes alot of mistakes on claims.

ESD IS THE WORST!!! They did this to me too and GARNISHED MY WAGES even after I sent them PROOF I was entitled to benefits!!! They don't care about people's situations AT ALL. Get a lawyer NOW before they take everything!!

When my mom had a similar situation last year, we discovered there's actually a medical condition exemption form specifically for cases like your daughter's. It's separate from the regular hardship waiver. Ask specifically for the "Medical Condition Overpayment Review" form. It requires a doctor's statement about why the condition prevented proper claim handling. In our case, they reduced the overpayment by 75% and set up a very minimal payment plan for the remainder. The key was having detailed medical documentation and a letter from her doctor explaining how her condition affected her ability to manage her unemployment claim properly.

Just an update on waiver deadlines - in 2025, ESD extended the response window for overpayment appeals and waiver requests to 35 days (it used to be 30). Make sure you're tracking the exact date on the notice. Also, if you mail any forms, use certified mail so you have proof of when you submitted everything. ESD has been known to claim they never received documents.

I wanted to follow up with one more important detail - your daughter should also request a formal appeal of the overpayment determination within the 35-day window, not just the waiver. This preserves all her rights while you work on the waiver request. The appeal form (called a "Request for Review") can be submitted online through her eServices account or by mail. Also, yes, most forms can now be uploaded directly through the eServices portal. Go to her account, look for "Upload a Document" and select the appropriate form type from the dropdown menu. You'll still want to keep screenshots or confirmation numbers as proof of submission.