How long do I have to pay back Washington ESD unemployment overpayment?

The due date on my notice is next Friday. Should I call them even if I don't know how much I can afford to pay monthly yet?

Yes, definitely call before that deadline. They're usually willing to work with you on payment amounts if you're proactive about it.

Did you end up doing a payment plan? How long did they give you to pay it off?

They let me spread it over 12 months with no interest. Had to provide some financial info but it was pretty straightforward.

I used Claimyr to get through to an agent last month about my overpayment. Saved me hours of calling. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah, it handles the calling and waiting for you. I was able to get my payment plan set up within a couple days instead of spending weeks trying to reach them myself.

Do you know what those procedures are? Like do they have to give you more warnings before they start garnishing wages?

They have to send you notices and give you opportunities to set up payment arrangements first. Garnishment is usually a last resort after other collection efforts fail.

I feel you on the frustration but they do offer payment plans if you contact them. The key is not ignoring the notices.

Easy to say when you can actually get someone on the phone. I've been trying for three weeks.

Can you do both - appeal it AND set up a payment plan in case the appeal doesn't work?

Yes, you can request a payment plan while your appeal is pending. That way you're protected either way.

This is really helpful info. I wish Washington ESD made this clearer in their notices.

I'm not currently on benefits but might need to file again soon. Would they still take money out of new benefits for an old overpayment?

Yes, they can offset future benefits for past overpayments until it's paid off. Another reason to set up a payment plan if possible.

How long did it take to get that set up once you called them?

About 20 minutes on the phone once I actually got through to someone. The hard part was reaching an agent in the first place.

Did they ask for a lot of financial information to approve the payment plan?

They asked about my income and basic expenses but it wasn't too invasive. Just enough to determine what I could reasonably afford.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you or do they actually talk to Washington ESD on your behalf?

They handle the calling and waiting, then connect you directly with the Washington ESD agent when one becomes available. You still handle your own conversation but skip all the busy signals and hold time.

Is there any downside to appealing? Like do they get mad if you appeal something that ends up being correct?

No downside at all. It's your legal right to appeal and Washington ESD expects some people will exercise that right. Better to appeal if you have doubts than to just accept it.

Good point. Most payment plan agreements have terms that make the full balance due if you miss payments. Read the agreement carefully.

What happens if you miss just one payment? Do they immediately demand the full amount?

Usually they'll give you a chance to get caught up if you contact them quickly. But repeated missed payments can definitely trigger acceleration of the full balance.

How long did it take from the original notice to them actually starting wage garnishment?

About 4 months. They sent several more notices and tried calling me but I kept avoiding it. Should have just set up a payment plan from the start.

Can you still set up a payment plan even after garnishment starts?

I'm trying to now but it's much more complicated once they've started collection proceedings. They have less incentive to negotiate.

Mine doesn't mention interest anywhere. Does that mean there won't be any?

Probably not, but it's worth confirming when you talk to Washington ESD. Some types of overpayments don't accrue interest while others do.

What if the 30 days has already passed but they haven't started collections yet? Is it too late to try setting up a payment plan?

You can still try but they're not required to offer payment plans once that initial period expires. Better to call and find out than assume it's too late though.

How did you prove it was their error? Did you need documentation or anything?

I had kept copies of all my correspondence with Washington ESD and could show they had approved my benefits based on the information I provided. Took about 6 weeks but the appeal was successful.

That's great! How much are your monthly payments going to be?

$140 per month. Much more doable than trying to come up with the full amount. Wish I had called sooner instead of stressing about it for weeks.

Glad Claimyr worked out for you! It really does make a difference when you can actually reach someone to work things out.

Good luck! Remember to get any payment plan agreement in writing for your records.

Hope it works out for you. The payment plan route definitely seems like the way to go if you can't pay it all at once.