Need explanation of ESD Pandemic overpayment waiver options - totally lost

The pandemic overpayment waiver is specifically for people who received unemployment benefits during COVID but were later determined to have been overpaid through no fault of their own. ESD can waive repayment if you qualify. You need to submit the waiver application form and explain your financial hardship. They look at things like your current income, expenses, and whether repayment would cause significant financial burden. Don't panic - a lot of people got these notices. When you respond, make sure to include documentation of your current financial situation (income, rent/mortgage, utilities, medical expenses, etc). The key is showing that repaying would cause extreme hardship.

I WENT THRU THIS EXACT THING LAST MONTH!!!! They said I was overpaid $9,300 and I nearly had a heart attack. The pandemic waiver is actually pretty straightforward but ESD makes it confusing because they send the scary letter first. Basically if you got benefits during Covid and the overpayment wasn't because you committed fraud, you can ask them to forgive the debt. The form should have been included with your notice (last few pages) or they might have sent a separate letter with instructions. If not, call ESD and request the pandemic overpayment waiver application. DO NOT IGNORE THE DEADLINE - that's super important!!!!

my cousin got one of these notices for $5,400 and just ignored it thinking it was a mistake. BIG MISTAKE!! they started garnishing his wages and put a lien on his bank account. dont be like my cousin lol. deal with it right away even if you think its wrong

To clarify some misinformation in this thread: The pandemic overpayment waiver is available under specific circumstances, and you must demonstrate that: 1. The overpayment was not your fault (no misrepresentation or withholding of information) 2. Repayment would cause financial hardship 3. Recovery would be against equity and good conscience The form should be available on your eServices account under the "Upload a Document" section - look for "Pandemic Unemployment Payment Waiver Request" in the dropdown menu. You can also call ESD directly to request they mail you the form. If your request is denied, you still have the right to appeal within 30 days. Include all financial documentation showing hardship - income statements, bank statements, bills/expenses, etc. Be thorough and don't miss the deadline.

I tried calling ESD for weeks about my overpayment waiver and could never get through. The automated system kept disconnecting me after 2+ hours on hold. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual ESD agent within 20 minutes. They helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for my waiver and even noted in my account that I had called about it. Saved me so much stress! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I spoke with was super helpful and explained that since my overpayment was because of an ESD calculation error (which sounds similar to your situation), I had a good chance of getting the waiver approved as long as I submitted the proper documentation.

im going thru this right now too and its sooooo confusing... one thing nobody mentioned is that if your overpayment was because of an employer protest or appeal that happened way after you got the money, thats definitely eligible for the pandemic waiver. thats what happened to me - i got approved, got paid for months, then 8 months later my employer contested it and suddenly i "owed" everything back. the esd person i talked to said those cases are usually approved for waivers since it wasnt my fault the determination changed after the fact.

Almost forgot to mention - if your waiver gets denied, don't give up! You can still request a payment plan. I know someone who got a 48-month payment plan with really low monthly payments. Not as good as a waiver but WAY better than having to pay it all back at once or getting your wages garnished!

If you need some guidance on filling out the form, the Northwest Justice Project has a really helpful guide specific to ESD pandemic overpayment waivers. Just search "Northwest Justice Project ESD overpayment waiver guide" and it should come up. They walk through exactly what to include in each section and what documentation is most important. Also - be sure to check if you qualify for a "blanket waiver" which is different from the individual waiver process. In some specific situations, ESD is automatically waiving certain types of overpayments from the pandemic period. This includes cases where you were eligible under one program but should have been paid under a different program.