Unexpected ESD deposit in my account - not unemployed, should I worry?

dont touch that money!! ESD will figure it out eventually and demand it back with penalties if u spend it. happened to my cousin last year and it was a NIGHTMARE

This happened to me in early 2025 - turns out my employer had incorrectly reported my SSN on some paperwork which triggered an auto-payment based on an old claim. You need to call ESD immediately and report it. Don't spend the money because they WILL want it back. Document everything including when you noticed it and your attempts to contact them.

It could be a few things: 1. Identity theft - someone filed using your info 2. Employer error - your company might have reported you as separated 3. System glitch - ESD sometimes has processing errors 4. Legitimate backpay from a previous adjudication You definitely need to contact ESD ASAP. If it's fraud, you'll want to report it immediately. Check your ESD account online to see if there's an active claim in your name too.

omg this EXACT thing happened to me!!! took me 3 DAYS of calling to finally talk to someone at esd!! so frustrating!!!!

After struggling for days trying to reach someone at ESD about a similar issue, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual ESD agent in under 30 minutes. It was worth it just to avoid the constant disconnects and busy signals. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their website is claimyr.com. If you think someone filed fraudulently using your info, you definitely need to talk to someone ASAP.

This is almost certainly identity theft. You need to: 1. Report the fraud to ESD immediately using their fraud reporting form: https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/unemployment-benefits-fraud 2. File a police report for identity theft 3. Check your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com 4. Place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus 5. Do NOT return or spend the money until instructed by ESD ESD has a special identity theft unit that handles these cases. Make sure you document all communications and follow up persistently. The sooner you report, the better protected you'll be.

i got a random deposit from esd once and it turned out it was backpay from when they recalculated my benefit amount from 2 years ago. do you have an active esd account? you could check if theres any notices or letters explaining the payment.

UPDATE: I just saw your comment about finding an active claim you didn't file. This is 100% identity theft. In addition to the steps mentioned above: 1. Change ALL your online passwords immediately, especially email and banking 2. Contact your bank and put a fraud alert on your accounts 3. Consider freezing your credit with all three bureaus 4. Check if any other accounts have been opened in your name The ESD fraud department can be reached at 800-246-9763 but prepare for very long wait times. Document everything, including the exact date and time you discovered the fraudulent claim.

After I reported identity theft to ESD, it took about 5 weeks to fully resolve. They'll eventually send you an affidavit to complete. Make sure you keep following up regularly and check your ESD account daily for any updates or required actions. The fraud department moves slowly but they do eventually resolve it.

I'm glad to see you're taking this seriously. One additional tip: create a detailed journal documenting EVERYTHING related to this issue. Every phone call (date/time/who you spoke with/what was discussed), every form submitted, every change to your ESD account status. This documentation will be invaluable if there are any disputes about when you reported the fraud. ESD can sometimes hold victims partially responsible if they determine you didn't report promptly enough.