My unemployment appeal was reversed now what - Washington ESD next steps?

I think it went to the Board of Appeals automatically? The letter mentions something about a Board review. I'm not sure if I requested that or if Washington ESD did.

Okay that makes sense. Either party can appeal a hearing decision to the Board of Appeals within 30 days. The Board can reverse, affirm, or modify the hearing decision.

How much were the penalties? I'm already worried about paying back the $2,800 I received, let alone additional fees.

The penalty was 15% of the overpayment amount, so for me it was about $400 extra on top of the $2,600 I had to repay.

That's brutal. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my similar situation but can never get through on the phone.

How much does it typically cost to appeal to Superior Court? I can't afford a lawyer right now.

You can represent yourself, but there are court filing fees (around $200-300). You'd also need to be very familiar with legal procedures and unemployment law.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked for me. Saved me hours of trying to call. The agent was able to explain the exact reasoning behind my case decision.

I'm skeptical of any service that charges to help with government benefits, but I guess if you're desperate enough...

I need to read through the decision more carefully. It's pretty technical language and hard to understand.

Yeah those Board decisions are written like legal briefs. Very confusing for regular people.

I feel you. The whole process is designed to wear people down so they give up on their claims.

That's exactly how I feel right now. Like I should just give up and figure out how to pay it back.

What happens if I just ignore the overpayment notice? Can they garnish wages or tax refunds?

Yes, Washington ESD can collect through wage garnishment, tax refund intercepts, and even placing liens on property. Better to address it head-on.

How did you get through to someone? Every time I call I get hung up on after waiting forever.

It took forever but I kept trying different times of day. Early morning seemed to work best for me.

I had better luck using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got through same day instead of weeks of trying.

Oh no, I didn't even think about that. How much do I need to work to requalify?

Usually it's about 6 times your weekly benefit amount in new wages, but it depends on the specific disqualification reason.

Good point. I filed this week before I got the reversal notice. Should I contact them about that?

Definitely. They'll probably deny that claim anyway, but it's better to be proactive about stopping the claims.

What did you decide to do? Appeal to Superior Court or just accept the decision?

I accepted it and set up a payment plan. The legal costs weren't worth it for my situation, but yours might be different depending on the amount involved.

I don't even know how to get the hearing transcript. Is that something I have to request?

You should have received a copy with the Board decision, but if not, you can request it from the Office of Administrative Hearings.

That's terrifying. How much did they take?

like $1800 which was supposed to pay for my car repairs. now im stuck with no car and still owe them more money

Are there any free legal aid services that help with unemployment appeals?

Some legal aid organizations do help with unemployment cases, but they're usually overloaded. Try contacting Northwest Justice Project or your local legal aid office.

4 months? That's crazy. Are you still collecting benefits while it's pending?

No, benefits stopped as soon as Washington ESD appealed the hearing decision to the Board. That's probably what happened in your case too initially.

So there's no point in trying to submit additional documentation now?

Not to the Board - their decision is final unless you appeal to Superior Court. But additional evidence might be relevant for a court appeal.

How do I request a waiver? Is there a specific form?

There should be information about waiver requests in your overpayment notice, or you can call Washington ESD to request the waiver application.

This is exactly the kind of question where using Claimyr to get through to an agent would be helpful - they can explain the waiver process and requirements.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I need to talk to an agent first to understand exactly what my options are before deciding whether to appeal to court.

Smart approach. Getting clarity from Washington ESD first will help you make an informed decision about whether a court appeal is worth pursuing.