Unexpected ESD deposit years after closing claim - how to reach an actual human?

OMG the exact same thing happened to me last month!!! I got a deposit for $1200 after not being on unemployment for years. I tried calling for THREE DAYS and never got through. Finally I just went ahead and SPENT the money - figuring if they want it back they can come get it LOL. Probably not the most responsible advice but seriously their system is so messed up... Who deposits money randomly with ZERO explanation??

Please do NOT follow this advice. ESD can and will issue an overpayment notice if funds were sent in error, even years later. You'll end up owing the original amount plus interest if you spend it without confirming what it's for.

this could be from an adjudication that finally got resolved in ur favor. happened to my cousin. he had appealed something from 2021 and totally forgot about it then boom random $$$ in 2023

That's interesting - I did have an adjudication issue way back then but thought it was resolved when I paid them. I don't remember filing any appeal though. Wouldn't they send some kind of notice before just depositing money?

This is most likely the result of what's called a 'redetermination' of your claim. ESD periodically reviews closed claims, especially those with overpayments, and sometimes finds errors in their original calculations. When they discover they collected more than they should have, they're required to refund the difference.\n\nThe deposit amount being close to half of what you paid back is a strong indication this is what happened. You should receive a formal notice in the mail within 5-10 business days explaining the redetermination, but their system typically processes the refund before generating the notice.\n\nIf you want to confirm this before receiving the letter, you'll need to speak with an ESD agent. Unfortunately, reaching them by phone is extremely difficult through the regular channels.

Thank you for this explanation! That makes sense with the amount being about half of what I paid. I still really want to talk to someone to make absolutely sure because I'm paranoid about them coming back later saying I owe it again.

After 2 weeks of constant busy signals with ESD, I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically hold your place in line so you don't have to keep redialing. I was skeptical at first but they connected me to an actual ESD agent in about 40 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 \n\nWorth it for peace of mind in your situation where you need an actual explanation about the money.

is this legit? sounds like one of those scams where they just take your info

It's definitely real. They don't process your claim or anything - they just connect you to the actual ESD phone line so you can talk to a real agent. The ESD agents are used to getting calls through them now.

Did u check ur eServices account? Sometimes the letters are posted there b4 they come in the mail. Go to ur dashboard and click on the

I checked eServices first thing and there's nothing new in the letters section since 2022. That's part of why I'm so confused!

Based on the timing and amount, this appears to be from the Unemployment Insurance Recovery Audits that ESD has been conducting since late 2024. They've been reviewing claims from the high-volume COVID period and finding a significant number of calculation errors. When they determine claimants were incorrectly charged overpayments, they issue refunds automatically.\n\nYou have a few options:\n\n1. Wait for the official letter (typically arrives 1-2 weeks after the deposit)\n2. Continue attempting to reach ESD directly\n3. Use a third-party service to connect with ESD (as someone mentioned above)\n4. If the deposit was to a direct deposit account, check with your bank - sometimes the ACH transfer details include more specific information about the source\n\nIf you do reach an agent, ask specifically about the \

Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'll check with my bank tomorrow morning to see if there's any additional info on the transfer. If not, I guess I'll try one of the connection services since I really want this documented in case there's any issue later.

Has anyone else noticed that ESD NEVER explains anything clearly?? Like why not just send an email or something BEFORE randomly dropping money in people's accounts? It's like they deliberately want to confuse everyone!

Srsly! they demanded $4k back from me last year claiming I didn't submit job search logs but I DID submit them! took 3 months to fix and nearly got evicted waiting

The system is designed to process thousands of claims efficiently, not to provide personalized service. This means communications often lag behind automated processes like deposits or adjustments. It's frustrating but it's a limitation of a high-volume system rather than deliberate confusion.

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD! For anyone with similar issues - I called right when they opened at 8:00 AM and got through after only a 35-minute wait. The agent confirmed it was indeed a redetermination refund from my previous overpayment. Apparently, they reviewed my original claim and found that I had properly reported some earnings that were initially flagged as unreported. The letter explaining this is supposedly in the mail. The agent added detailed notes to my account documenting our conversation, so I feel much better now. Thanks everyone for your help!

congrats! always nice when the govt actually gives u money back for once lol

That's great news! Smart move getting the conversation documented in your account notes. For future reference, always try calling right at opening time (8:00 AM) or during the mid-afternoon lull (2:00-3:00 PM) for the shortest wait times.