ESD took huge chunk for overpayment without explanation - COVID related?

Thanks for the tip. I just checked my eServices and there's nothing in the notices tab about any overpayment. How did they explain it to you when you finally got through? Did they tell you the total amount you supposedly owe?

I checked both my mail and eServices - nothing about overpayments anywhere. I've been trying to call for 3 days but can't get through to anyone. Is there any online way to request this information? The anxiety of not knowing how much they think I owe is killing me.

They did this to me back in November too! Seems like ESD is on some kind of collection spree for old COVID overpayments. Watch out everyone who collected during the pandemic...

Thanks for the suggestion. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers. Did they explain why you never received notification about the overpayment?

In my case, they had sent the notices to my old address even though I had updated my contact info. The ESD agent was able to resend all the documentation and explain exactly why they determined there was an overpayment. For me it was because my employer reported different hours than what I had claimed for two weeks during COVID.

It's so frustrating! Did you ever find out how much you owed in total? I'm worried they'll just keep taking money indefinitely.

took me THREE MONTHS of calling to find out! turns out i supposedly owe $4,300!!! for what?? they say i "didn't qualify" for benefits i got during covid even though THEY APPROVED ME! now they're taking 30% of every payment until it's all paid back which will take FOREVER!

Thank you for the detailed information. I'll try that collections number tomorrow. Do you know if they can set up payment plans that take less than 30% each week? At the current rate they're taking, I can't cover my basic expenses.

Yes, ESD can establish payment plans based on financial hardship. You'll need to specifically request a hardship reduction and be prepared to provide information about your expenses, income, and why the current rate is creating a hardship. They can reduce the withholding to as little as 15% in some cases, though they rarely go lower than that. Make sure to have your budget details ready when you call.

Yes, you can check if you have any outstanding overpayments by logging into your eServices account and looking under the "Notices" section. You can also call the Collections unit at 1-866-697-4831 and ask if there are any overpayments on your record. Being proactive is definitely the best approach!

That would explain why so many people seem to be experiencing this at the same time. Did your cousin mention how far back they're going with these audits?

she said they're looking at all pandemic claims from 2020-2022, something about a federal deadline to finish reviewing them this year. they have like 6 years to collect overpayments tho so even if they just finding it now they can still take the money

i applied for a waiver in December. they sent me a huge packet to fill out asking for all my finacial info, bank statements, bills, etc. still waiting to hear back. process takes FOREVER.

Overpayment waivers are possible but fairly difficult to obtain. You need to prove that: 1. The overpayment wasn't your fault (no false information or failure to report) 2. Repayment would cause significant financial hardship 3. Collecting the overpayment would be "against equity and good conscience" The application is detailed and requires substantial documentation of your financial situation. Success rates are higher for COVID-era overpayments due to the recognized complexity of those programs and rules.

Glad you got answers! Important note about appeals - you normally have only 30 days from the date of the original overpayment notice to file an appeal. Since you never received that notice, you should request that they reset the appeal timeline based on the date you were actually notified (today). Make this request in writing ASAP and keep documentation of it. When you receive the paperwork, check carefully for any calculations about your reported hours vs. what your employer reported - that's often where the discrepancies occur.

Thank you! That's extremely helpful advice. I'll make that written request today and will document everything carefully going forward. I appreciate everyone's help with this frustrating situation!

Welcome to the community, Diego! Sorry you're dealing with this nightmare too. The $380 they took from you is really significant - I totally understand the fear of not knowing the total amount. From what I've learned here, definitely try that collections number (1-866-697-4831) that Javier mentioned, and document everything in writing about not receiving proper notice. It seems like so many of us pandemic claimants are getting hit all at once. Keep us posted on what you find out - your experience might help others who are just discovering these surprise deductions. We're all in this together!