ESD taking $227 from my weekly benefit for WA debt - only got $23 this week?

Yes, ESD can and will automatically recover overpayments from your current benefits. Unfortunately, the standard recovery rate is 50% of your weekly benefit amount, but in some cases they take even more. You should have received a notice about the overpayment in your ESD account correspondence section before they started the recovery.

This happens a lot. You can request a reduced recovery rate by calling ESD and explaining your financial hardship. They can potentially lower the amount they take each week, but you need to speak directly with an agent. They're required to consider your ability to pay basic living expenses. Call the collections unit at 888-444-2441 and explain your situation. Have your financial information ready (rent amount, utilities, etc.) so you can make a strong case for reducing the recovery percentage.

I had this EXACT same problem last month! They took almost all my benefit for an overpayment I didn't even know about. It was from 2023 when they paid me for a week I wasn't eligible for or something. SO FRUSTRATING!!! They should at least warn us before they start taking the money.

ESD is taking 50% of my weekly benefit for an overpayment too. Been trying to call for days to request a hardship reduction but keep getting disconnected. The whole system is designed to make it impossible to actually reach someone.

Important to know: if you request a reduced recovery rate, make sure you submit your financial documentation as soon as possible. By law, they can take up to 50% of your benefit for overpayments, but they can reduce it if you demonstrate financial hardship. Also, you might want to check if you qualify for a waiver of the overpayment. If the overpayment wasn't your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship, you can request a waiver through your eServices account or by calling ESD.

i had this happen to me too!! they took $175 from my payment last month with NO WARNING. i called and cried to the lady and she reduced it to $70 per week instead. you have to really explain your hardship situation. tell them about your bills and that you'll be homeless if they take that much. they can adjust it but you HAVE to talk to a real person.

One more thing to know: when you do get through to ESD, ask about setting up a formal repayment plan instead of having them deduct from your benefits. Sometimes they'll let you make smaller payments after your claim ends, which gives you the full benefit amount now when you need it most. Make sure to get any agreement in writing through your eServices account.

UPDATE: Finally got through to someone at ESD this morning! They agreed to reduce the weekly recovery amount to $75 instead of $227. Not ideal but MUCH better than what I was left with before. They said I should see the change on next week's payment. For anyone else dealing with this, definitely call and explain your financial situation - they can adjust it!