Washington ESD demanding unemployment compensation repaid - what are my options?

The notice is dated last Thursday so I still have time. Do I need a lawyer for the appeal or can I do it myself?

You can definitely appeal yourself. The key is gathering all your documentation - pay stubs, work schedules, anything showing what you reported vs what you actually earned.

Oh no, that's terrifying. What happened with her case? Did she ever figure out why they said she owed money?

Something about her employer reporting wages differently than what she told Washington ESD. It was a mess and took months to sort out.

Really? How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD all morning and just keep getting the busy signal.

They basically monitor the phone lines and call you back when they can get through. Way better than sitting on hold for hours. I was able to get clarification on my overpayment and start the appeal process the same day.

How would I know if it's a mistake? The letter just has a bunch of numbers and dates that don't make sense to me.

You'd need to compare their calculations with your actual work records. If you kept good records of what you reported each week, that's your best defense.

This is why I always screenshot everything when I file my weekly claims. Washington ESD's system glitches all the time.

Totally agree. And the worst part is when you do finally get someone on the phone, half the time they don't even know what they're talking about.

Look, I get the frustration but complaining doesn't solve the problem. OP needs to focus on the appeal process right now.

Yes! I had two part-time jobs. Maybe that's where the confusion came from? Did you appeal yours?

Still working on gathering documents for my appeal. Multiple employers definitely makes it more complicated - Washington ESD sometimes gets wage reports that don't match what you reported.

Just regular unemployment. I lost my main job in early 2023 and filed right away. Never had any other type of benefits.

Okay, so it's definitely a wage reporting issue then. Make sure you have all your pay stubs from both jobs during that time period.

That gives me hope! How long did your appeal take to get resolved?

About 3 months from start to finish. The hearing was actually pretty straightforward once I had all my paperwork in order.

Three months?? That seems like forever when you're stressed about owing thousands of dollars.

So it might not even be something I did wrong? Could just be my employer reporting things late or incorrectly?

Exactly. That's why the appeal process exists. You need to show what you actually earned and reported versus what Washington ESD thinks you should have reported.

Good to know about payment plans. I was worried they'd want everything at once if I do end up owing something.

Yeah they're usually reasonable about payment plans, but you have to be proactive about setting it up.

Seems like a few people have mentioned this service. I might try it if I can't get through the regular way.

I'm usually skeptical of these third-party services but honestly Washington ESD's phone system is so broken that anything that works is worth it.

It says benefit year 2023, but the specific weeks aren't clear. The whole notice is pretty confusing tbh.

You should be able to log into your Washington ESD account and see a breakdown by week. That'll help you figure out exactly where the discrepancy is.

Any specific tips for the appeal? Like what documents were most important for your case?

Pay stubs for sure, but also any text messages or emails with your supervisors about schedule changes. Anything that shows your actual work situation during the claim period.

Thanks. It's definitely stressful but at least now I know I have options with the appeal process.

The system definitely has problems but appeals do work when you have the right documentation. Don't give up!

How can I tell the difference? The notice doesn't say anything about fraud specifically.

If they don't mention fraud or intentional misrepresentation, it's probably just a non-fraud overpayment. Much easier to deal with.

Will do! Thanks everyone for all the advice. Feeling much better about this now that I know what steps to take.

Definitely try that Claimyr service if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD quickly. Made all the difference for me when I was dealing with my overpayment issue.