Received ESD waiver letter for possible 2020-2021 overpayment - do I need to submit if I never had one?

I got the same thing and was confused too lol. My neighbor who works at WorkSource said its some kind of mass mailing they did and you only need to fill it out if you actually had an overpayment. If you didnt get any notices before about owing money your prolly fine to ignore it

This is actually an important notice. ESD is sending these waiver applications as part of a review of all pandemic-era unemployment claims. Even if you weren't specifically notified of an overpayment before, they could potentially identify one during this review process. The letter is giving you a proactive opportunity to request a waiver if they determine later that you were overpaid. I would recommend completing and returning the form by the deadline as a precautionary measure. Make sure to check the box indicating you never received a previous overpayment notice, but still want to be considered for a waiver if one is identified. It's always better to have a waiver request already on file than to have to scramble to submit one after they identify an issue and start collection proceedings.

Don't panic! These letters are going out to THOUSANDS of people as part of ESD's effort to clean up the pandemic claims mess. Here's what's happening: The federal govt required states to review pandemic benefits (PUA, PEUC, etc) for potential overpayments. Rather than reviewing each claim individually first, ESD is sending these waiver forms to EVERYONE who received those benefits. If you never received an overpayment notice before, you have two options: 1. Complete the form as a precaution (recommended) 2. Wait to see if you get an actual overpayment notification Personally, I'd fill it out. It takes 10 minutes and could save you a lot of headache if they decide months from now that you were overpaid by mistake.

I got one of these too! I literally spent 4 hours trying to get through to ESD on the phone to ask the exact same question. Kept getting hung up on because of "high call volume" 🙄 Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent told me it's a mass mailing and I should definitely submit it if I received pandemic benefits in 2020-2021, even if I haven't been notified of an overpayment. She said it basically puts a waiver request on file in case they identify an overpayment during their review. Better to have it on file now than try to appeal later.

@OP - Yes, if there's any chance an unexpected repayment would cause financial difficulty, definitely check that box. They consider factors like your current income, expenses, and other debts when evaluating hardship. Be honest but don't understate the impact a surprise bill would have.

SUBMIT IT!!!! My sister ignored a similar letter last year thinking she didn't owe anything, and 4 months later ESD hit her with a $7,900 overpayment notice!!! Said she hadn't provided some document during pandemic, BUT SHE HAD NEVER BEEN ASKED FOR IT BEFORE!! By then the waiver period was over and she's stuck paying it back in monthly payments. These people are TRYING to squeeze money out of everyone they can. PROTECT YOURSELF!!!

To clarify for everyone - this is actually good customer service from ESD (surprising, I know). Rather than reviewing all claims first and then sending overpayment notices to some people, they're giving everyone an opportunity to request a waiver upfront. The federal government allowed states to waive certain pandemic-related overpayments when they weren't the claimant's fault or would cause financial hardship. This mass mailing is ESD's way of implementing that policy before they start their comprehensive review. Fill out the form, keep a copy, and return it by the deadline. That way, if they do identify an issue with your claim, the waiver request is already in the system.

@casual_commenter - It was for the PUA program during COVID. She was self-employed and qualified but they came back later and said she didn't have enough proof of income loss. But the rules kept changing during the pandemic and it wasn't her fault!! Now they take $330 a month from her tax refunds. The whole system is designed to confuse people!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm definitely going to fill out the form and send it in before the deadline. I'll also make a copy for my records just in case. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge - this was stressing me out!