ESD overpayment waiver stuck in review for months - any way to check status?

Unfortunately, waiver reviews are taking forever right now. Mine took about 4 months to process before getting approved. The key is reaching someone in the overpayment/collections unit directly, not just the general ESD line. Try calling right when they open at 8am and select the collections option in the phone tree, even if that's not exactly what you need. Those agents can at least check the status of your waiver review and possibly add notes to your account about financial hardship to pause collections while the waiver is pending.

omg same boat!! submitted mine in September and still waiting. so frustrating! the worst part is they took money from my tax refund last year even though I had the waiver pending. make sure you check if they put a hold on collections during review.

I went through this last year with a $6,200 overpayment. Here's what actually works: 1. Submit a secure message through your eServices account specifically requesting a status update on your waiver application. Include your claim ID and the date you submitted it. 2. Contact your state representative's office and ask for assistance with ESD. Legislators have special channels to ESD and can often get responses when we can't. 3. Request a formal appeal through the Office of Administrative Hearings if it's been more than 30 days. Even though your waiver is still pending, filing an appeal creates a parallel process that often gets attention faster. 4. Make sure you've submitted ALL documentation showing financial hardship. Bank statements, utility bills, rent, medical expenses - everything that shows you can't afford repayment. The current average for waiver processing is 14-16 weeks, so you're unfortunately still within the normal timeframe. Don't give up!

I had 2 deal with this last yr and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get through to anyone who could actually help!!!! Spent literally WEEKS trying to call with no luck. Called 30+ times, always disconnected or 3+ hour waits. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me through to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to look up my waiver status and put a note on my account to expedite the review. Approved 2 weeks later! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Worth every penny because I was about to lose my mind with the regular phone system. Just make sure you have all your claim info ready when you get connected.

The ESD waiver process is COMPLETELY BROKEN. They're deliberately slow-walking these reviews hoping people will just give up and pay. I had a $4,300 overpayment from a THEIR mistake and my waiver took 6 MONTHS to process. Even then, they only approved it after I got legal aid involved. If you qualify for low-income legal services in your county, reach out to them - they know exactly how to pressure ESD. And meanwhile, send a written request (certified mail) demanding they freeze all collection activities while your waiver is under review. They're required by law to pause collections during the review process but they "forget" unless you specifically demand it.

have u tried going to WorkSource in person? i couldnt get anywhere on phone either but went to local office and the guy there was able to at least confirm my waiver was in the system. didnt speed anything up but gave me peace of mind they didnt lose it lol

Just wanted to add some context on why these waivers are taking so long currently. ESD implemented a new case management system in late 2025 that created a backlog of waiver reviews. They've also been dealing with a surge of new overpayment cases due to the automated cross-matching with employer wage reports. The current staff handling waivers is about half what it was two years ago. This isn't to excuse the delays, but to help you understand you're not being singled out - it's a systemic issue affecting thousands of claimants right now. One thing I do recommend is checking that your contact information is up-to-date in the system. Sometimes they've tried to reach people for additional information but had outdated phone numbers or email addresses.

UPDATE: I tried calling the collections option this morning right at 8am and actually got through to someone after about 45 minutes! The agent confirmed my waiver is still pending review but added notes to my account about my financial hardship and put a temporary hold on collections for 30 days. She said that should give enough time for the waiver team to review my case. She couldn't guarantee approval but at least I know they haven't lost my paperwork and collections won't start immediately. Thank you all for your helpful advice! I'll update again once I hear the final decision.