ESD says I'm not at fault for overpayment I already repaid - will they refund me?

Yes, they should refund you the money, but don't expect it to happen automatically or quickly. You'll need to contact them to initiate the refund process. When ESD determines you're "not at fault" for an overpayment you've already repaid, they're required to issue a refund, but their systems don't always handle this smoothly. I recommend calling first thing Monday morning (right when they open at 8:00) and specifically ask about their "overpayment refund process." Be prepared to reference both your original overpayment notice from October and the new determination letter. Make sure you have your claim ID and the exact overpayment amount ready.

good luck getting thru to ESD!! i've been trying for 3 WEEKS about my adjudication issue. every time i call they say high volume and hang up on me. total bs system!!!

This happened to me in January!!! ESD is seriously so disorganized. I paid back $1900 in overpayment last year and then got a letter saying I wasn't at fault. It took SEVEN phone calls over THREE WEEKS to finally get my refund processed. The first 4 agents didn't even know how to handle it and kept transferring me around. Make sure you talk to someone in the overpayment department specifically. Regular agents will just tell you to wait or transfer you to someone who hangs up on you (happened to me twice). And keep that "not at fault" letter safe! You'll need the reference number on it.

U might wanna check ur eservices account too. Sometimes they add important mesages there but dont send u notification emails. My friemd had refund info in her eservices message center but never knew till she checked random one day.

One important thing to know: ESD has a specific form for requesting refunds of overpayments when you've been found not at fault. It's not well-publicized, but it's called the "Request for Refund" form. When you get someone on the phone, specifically ask them to email you this form or tell you where to find it online. Also, if it's been 8 months, make sure they include any interest you might be entitled to. Washington state law sometimes requires interest on improperly collected overpayments if certain conditions are met. Document everything - date and time of calls, names of representatives, reference numbers, etc. This will help if there are any delays in processing your refund.

I work in employment law (not for ESD) and can add some context here. When ESD determines you're "not at fault" for an overpayment, it means they've concluded you didn't misrepresent anything or try to collect benefits you knew you weren't entitled to. By law, they must refund any money you've already repaid on a non-fault overpayment. However, their internal processes weren't designed well for this scenario. Their collection system and refund system are separate, which causes delays. As others have suggested, call and specifically request to speak with the overpayment department. Be very clear that you've already paid the full amount and now have a determination letter saying you're not at fault. Use those exact terms. They may tell you to wait for automatic processing, but in my experience, these refunds rarely happen without direct follow-up from the claimant. Be politely persistent.

my cousin had this EXACT situation in 2023 and she neve rgot her money back because she waited too long to call them!! dont wait!!! ESD is terrible about this stuff u have to be super aggresive or they will just keep ur money