ESD sent me COVID-era overpayment notice for $7,800 - is this happening to everyone?

You're definitely not alone. ESD has been doing a lot of retroactive audits lately. I got a similar notice about 2 months ago for $4,300. When I called (took forever to get through), they said they determined I hadn't provided enough documentation for one of my job search activities each week. Check the letter carefully - there should be a section that explains the specific reason for the overpayment. You have the right to appeal within 30 days of the notice date. I'd recommend doing that immediately while you gather your documentation.

got mine last week. $5600!! they said i didn't qualify for regular UI and should have been on PUA or something. makes NO sense bcuz THEY approved me in the first place!!

This is happening due to ESD's multi-year review program. They're systematically reviewing all COVID-era claims and finding technicalities to issue overpayments. The good news is that you can appeal, and many appeals are successful if you have proper documentation. Here's what to do: 1. File your appeal immediately using the form that came with your letter 2. Request all records ESD has on your claim through their records department 3. Gather all documentation of your work history, layoff, and any job search activities 4. Be specific in your appeal about why you believe you were eligible The deadline for appeal is strict - 30 days from the date on the notice, not the date you received it. If you miss this window, it becomes much harder to contest.

This happened to my brother too! ESD is basically trying to claw back money from everyone they can. They know most people won't fight it. Stand your ground!

I've helped several clients with these COVID-era overpayment notices. The most common reasons are: 1. Job search requirements that weren't properly documented 2. Income reporting discrepancies 3. Availability for work issues 4. Employer contesting your claim after the fact 5. Misclassification between UI and PUA If you appeal, you can request a hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). I strongly recommend getting all your documentation in order before this hearing. Do NOT ignore the notice, as the debt can be sent to collections if unaddressed. Also, you may qualify for a waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship. There's a separate form for this that you can request.

I went through this nightmare last year. I couldn't get ANYONE on the phone at ESD to explain the details. After 60+ calls over two weeks, I finally tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to ESD in about 20 minutes. The agent explained exactly which weeks were affected and why, which helped me prepare a specific appeal with the right documentation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Turns out my former employer claimed I was fired for cause when I was actually laid off. I won my appeal by submitting the original layoff notice and emails from my manager.

anyone else notice all these overpayment notices started right after the legislature cut ESD's budget??? kinda suspicious timing if u ask me...

Make sure to request a waiver of the overpayment! Even if you lose the appeal, you can still request that they waive repayment due to financial hardship or because the overpayment wasn't your fault. I got my $3,200 overpayment completely waived after showing I couldn't afford to pay it back on my current income.

UPDATE: After looking at the responses here, I wanted to share that there's now a class action lawsuit against ESD over these mass overpayment notices. You might want to Google it and see if you qualify to join. It argues that ESD approved claims based on their guidance at the time, and can't retroactively change interpretation of eligibility rules years later.