How to get rid of unemployment overpayment - Washington ESD demanding $2,800 back

You can definitely appeal this! Don't just accept it. You have 30 days from the date on the notice to file an appeal with Washington ESD. Gather all your documentation - pay stubs, work schedules, copies of your weekly claims where you reported hours worked.

I went through this exact same thing last year with a $3,200 overpayment. The key is proving you reported everything correctly. Do you still have copies of your weekly claim submissions? Also check if you have any emails or correspondence with Washington ESD about reporting requirements.

Before you panic, definitely try calling Washington ESD to get clarification on exactly what triggered the overpayment. Sometimes it's a simple data entry error on their end. I know their phone lines are impossible though - I've been trying to reach someone for weeks about my own claim issue. Someone mentioned using Claimyr.com to actually get through to agents, might be worth checking out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you're having trouble getting through.

Whatever you do, don't ignore it! These overpayment notices don't just go away. Washington ESD will eventually start taking money from your tax refunds, garnishing wages, or even putting liens on property. The sooner you deal with it the better.

Check if you qualify for a hardship waiver too. If paying back the overpayment would cause you severe financial hardship, Washington ESD sometimes waives part or all of the debt. You'll need to provide financial documents proving you can't afford it.

The most important thing is to respond within that 30-day window. Even if you don't have all your documentation ready, file the appeal first to preserve your rights, then you can submit additional evidence later.

Had this happen to my brother in law. Turns out Washington ESD made an error in their system and he never actually owed anything. Don't assume they're right just because they sent you a scary notice.

If you do end up owing money, you can usually set up a payment plan rather than paying the lump sum. Washington ESD would rather get the money slowly than not at all.

ugh the same thing happened to me!! they said i owed like $1900 because apparently i reported my hours wrong on like 3 different weeks. i was so confused because i thought i did everything right. still fighting it

Make sure you understand exactly what they're claiming you did wrong. Sometimes it's as simple as reporting gross vs net wages, or not understanding how to handle holiday pay or bonuses. The devil is in the details with these overpayment cases.

Whatever you do, keep calling Washington ESD until you can actually talk to someone. The written notices don't always tell the whole story and sometimes agents can explain things better or even fix errors on the spot.

Don't let Washington ESD intimidate you with their threatening language. These government agencies love to use scary wording but you have rights and options. Fight back if you believe you're in the right.

Document everything from here on out. Save copies of every form you submit, every phone call you make, every email you send. If this goes to a hearing, you'll want a paper trail of all your efforts to resolve it.

Also check if there's a statute of limitations on overpayments in Washington. I think they can only go back so far to demand money back, but I'm not 100% sure on the exact timeframe.

The whole system is broken honestly. They make it so complicated to report wages correctly then punish people when they mess up. Meanwhile it takes forever to get anyone on the phone to ask questions.

If you file an appeal, they'll usually stop collection efforts until the appeal is resolved. That at least buys you some time to gather your evidence and figure out your next steps.

Last resort - if you genuinely can't afford to pay it back and can't get it waived, bankruptcy might be an option. Unemployment overpayments can sometimes be discharged, though it's complicated and you'd need to talk to a bankruptcy attorney.

Just wanted to add - if you do end up needing to speak with Washington ESD about this overpayment, definitely try Claimyr if the regular phone lines aren't working. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked for me when I had a similar issue. Got connected to an agent who could pull up my account and walk through exactly what triggered the overpayment notice.