Unexpected ESD refund 3 years after claim closed - should I be concerned?

I had somthing similar happen but it was only 1 year after my claim!! They sent me about $750 and a letter saying they 'recalculated' my benefits. Apparently they do audits or reviews of old claims sometimes and if they find they shorchanged you, they have to pay it back. Did the letters mention anything about a review or audit? If they sent u letters saying u dont owe anything, its probably legit but definitely hang onto those letters!!!!

take the money and run lol

This is likely due to an ESD internal audit or a class action settlement. During the pandemic years (2020-2022), there were several issues with how certain claims were processed, particularly around job search requirements and benefit calculations. In late 2024, ESD finalized reviews of thousands of claims from that period. Some things to check: 1. The payment amount - does it match roughly 10-15% of what you received during your claim period? 2. Look carefully at the ESD letters - there should be a reference or case number somewhere (often in the header or footer) 3. Check if the letters mention "settlement adjustment" or "claim review" anywhere I'd recommend calling ESD directly rather than waiting for an email response. The ESD call center can actually check your specific case notes.

You NEED to call ESD and get this resolved asap!!!! DO NOT SPEND THE MONEY yet until you get clarification. I had something similar happen in 2024 where I got a random deposit of $865 and then THREE MONTHS LATER they sent me a letter saying it was an error and I had to pay it all back plus a $75 processing fee!!! Their system is so messed up. When I finally got through to them, they admitted it was their mistake but still made me pay it back. The whole thing was a nightmare.

If you're having trouble getting through to ESD on the phone (which is super common), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last month with an unexpected benefits adjustment and spent days trying to reach someone. A friend told me about claimyr.com and it got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. Definitely worth it for peace of mind on unexpected money showing up!

This is most likely related to the Benton v. ESD settlement that was finalized in November 2024. ESD was found to have incorrectly applied overpayment rules to thousands of claimants between 2020-2023. If you previously had an overpayment that you repaid, they may be refunding you plus interest. The three identical letters is typical ESD inefficiency, but actually works in your favor as documentation. Save all three letters and take screenshots of the deposit in your account. The money is legitimately yours, but I'd recommend waiting 30 days before spending it just to be safe. You can also check the ESD website under "Important Announcements" as they posted information about this settlement refund process last month.

I'm going through somthing COMPLETELY different with ESD right now (trying to get approved for training benefits) but wanted to say their communication is TERRIBLE across the board. I got 4 identical letters in one week telling me the same thing. Their systems are so messed up. But I will say that when money randomly shows up it's usually because you're actually owed it. They don't typically give out money by mistake, they're much more likely to claim you owe THEM money by mistake!!

Just to update everyone on this thread: The comment about the Benton v. ESD settlement is correct. ESD is processing refunds to approximately 32,000 claimants who had overpayments during the 2020-2023 period. The total settlement amount is around $84 million. The refunds include the original overpayment amount plus 12% interest, which is why the amount may be higher than expected. The three letters are actually standard for this process: one is the initial notification, one is the payment confirmation, and one is the interest calculation statement (though they may appear identical at first glance). You can find details about the settlement on the ESD website under Legal Settlements. The money is legitimately yours to keep.