How do I pay back unemployment benefits to Washington ESD - overpayment notice received

Thanks! I'll check my account online. Do you know if there are penalties for setting up a payment plan versus paying in full?

No penalties for payment plans as long as you stick to the agreed schedule. They're usually pretty reasonable about working with you.

How long did it take you to finally reach someone? I've been trying to call but can't get through.

Try using Claimyr.com - it helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. I used it when I had adjudication issues and it saved me hours of calling. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

wish i knew about that when i was dealing with my overpayment mess

Good point. The notice just says 'unreported wages' but doesn't give specifics. How do I request more details?

You can request an overpayment breakdown through your online account or by calling the overpayment collection unit. They should provide dates, amounts, and which weeks were affected.

Right?? It's so confusing. Did you get any explanation about what wages they say you didn't report?

Not really, just some vague letter about wage discrepancies. I'm going to try calling them but everyone says it's impossible to get through.

You could try the Claimyr service to get through to them faster. I heard it helps with the Washington ESD phone system.

How long did the appeal process take? I'm wondering if I should just set up payments or try to fight it.

My first appeal took about 6 weeks, but they denied it. Second appeal with more documentation took another 8 weeks but they finally reversed the overpayment. Worth fighting if you think you're right.

What kind of documentation did you need for your appeal?

How much does it cost? I'm already stressed about money with this overpayment.

It's worth checking out their website at claimyr.com - they focus on helping people get through to unemployment offices efficiently.

I didn't know waivers were possible! What are the requirements for getting one approved?

You typically need to show that the overpayment wasn't due to fraud or your fault, and that repayment would prevent you from meeting basic living expenses. There's a waiver request form you can submit.

They can take it from tax refunds? I had no idea about that.

yeah they can intercept state and federal refunds if you default on payments. another reason to set up a payment plan early

Good to know. I'm not currently on benefits but might need to file again soon.

They did this to me and it made things really tight financially. Definitely try to set up your own payment plan first.

How long before they send it to collections? The notice doesn't mention a timeline.

Usually several months but it varies. Best to contact them proactively about payment arrangements.

Yes, wage reporting errors happen more often than people think. You can request copies of the wage records Washington ESD has on file and compare them to your own records.

That's a good idea. I'll make sure to gather all my pay stubs before I call them.

That's somewhat reassuring. Do they have a separate number for overpayment issues?

i think it goes to the same main number but you select a different option. they transfer you to the collections department

Yeah, I definitely don't want to make this worse by ignoring it. Thanks for the warning.

This is so true. They have ways to collect that you don't even think about until it happens.

That gives me hope! What evidence did you provide to show you reported correctly?

I kept screenshots of every weekly claim I filed showing the wages I reported. Also got letters from my employers confirming the dates and amounts I worked.

How did you finally get through? I've been trying for days.

This is exactly why I recommend Claimyr for getting through to Washington ESD. It eliminates the frustration of constantly calling and getting busy signals.

Thank you! I'll log in and check that out right now. That would be so much easier than trying to call.

You're welcome! The online system lets you choose your monthly payment amount as long as it meets their minimum requirements.