ESD suddenly reversed denial and deposited money - Is this legit or will I owe it back?

This actually happens more often than you'd think. ESD sometimes conducts massive reviews of old cases, especially if there was a policy change or court decision that affects a bunch of similar claims. The fact that you got an official message through your ESD account (not just the deposit) is a good sign this is legitimate. But I understand wanting confirmation! The best number to call for this specific situation is the Benefits Accuracy & Recovery department at 866-697-4831. They handle all reversed decisions and can confirm if your case was part of a review initiative. Be ready with your claim ID and the exact wording from the message you received.

congrats on the win!! dont question it lol just take the $$$ and run. thats what i would do anyway

I had almost the EXACT same thing happen to me back in January! They denied part of my claim in 2023, made me pay back $1,950, and then THIS YEAR I got a notice that they reversed it. It was legit in my case - apparently there was some kind of mass review of standby claims from that period. You definitely need to talk to someone though. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to get through on the regular number and eventually found out about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that gets you through to an actual ESD agent without the endless busy signals. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was the only way I could get confirmation about my situation. The agent I spoke with explained exactly why my denial was reversed, and I got documentation so I could be confident using the funds.

This is actually part of a massive settlement from a class action lawsuit that was finalized in November 2024. ESD had to review thousands of claims where they wrongly denied benefits for people who were on standby status during 2022-2023. They're paying people back WITH interest! But seriously, don't spend it until you get confirmation. I work at a nonprofit that helps with unemployment issues and we've seen tons of these cases coming through. About 95% are legitimate reversals but there have been a few mistakes.

just curious how much did they end up depositing? wondering if its the same amount you had to pay back or if theres interest added

THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!!! they deny you when you deserve benefits, make you PAY BACK money you needed for SURVIVAL, then years later they're like "oops our bad here's your money" with ZERO explanation!!! how are people supposed to trust anything they say or do??? i bet half the people who deserved this reversal never even got it because they changed addresses or dont check their accounts anymore. sorry for the rant but this makes me SO ANGRY at how they treat people who are just trying to get benefits they EARNED through their work!!

Seeing your comments about standby status, I'm confident this is related to the Jefferson settlement. Here's what you should do: 1. Print out the message from your portal (screenshot is fine) 2. Get the determination letter by calling ESD (use the Benefits Accuracy number) 3. Check if there's a breakdown showing the original amount plus interest 4. Keep all documentation indefinitely (seriously, in a safe place) The money is almost certainly legitimately yours based on everything you've shared, but documentation is your best protection. And if your situation is related to the Jefferson settlement, there's an FAQ page on the ESD website specifically about these reinstatements that might answer some of your questions.