Washington ESD sent overpayment notice - how to pay unemployment overpayment back?

Thanks! I see the phone number on the notice but was hoping to avoid calling since I know how hard it is to get through to Washington ESD.

The collections line is usually easier to reach than the regular Washington ESD customer service line. They're separate departments.

Did you set up a payment plan or pay it all at once? $2,800 is a lot to pay back all at once.

i did monthly payments of $150, they were pretty reasonable about it

The notice says it's because I didn't report some part-time work correctly, but I'm pretty sure I reported everything. Should I appeal first before trying to pay?

Yes, absolutely appeal if you believe you reported correctly. Once you start making payments, it's much harder to get your money back if the overpayment was determined incorrectly.

This is important advice. I paid an overpayment without appealing and later found out Washington ESD made an error, but getting my money back was a nightmare.

How does that work exactly? I've never heard of services that help you call government agencies.

They basically handle the waiting and callback process for you. You don't have to sit on hold for hours or keep getting disconnected. They get you connected to the right Washington ESD department.

Interesting, I might try this. I've been trying to call Washington ESD about my overpayment for 3 weeks with no luck.

While the system can be frustrating, overpayments do happen when there are reporting errors or other issues. The key is to address them promptly to avoid additional penalties.

Easy for you to say when you're not dealing with their incompetent staff and constantly changing rules!

Really? I didn't know waivers were possible. What kind of documentation do you need for that?

You need to show that the overpayment wasn't due to fraud or misrepresentation on your part, and that repayment would prevent you from meeting basic living expenses. Bank statements, bills, income documentation, etc.

Good advice. I've already started a folder with all the paperwork they sent me.

Yes! And take screenshots of your eServices account showing your claim history and any payments you make.

That's scary. How did you resolve that situation?

Had to go through their appeals process and provide my phone records to prove the calls happened. Eventually got it sorted but took months.

They can take your tax refund? I had no idea they had that power.

Yes, they can offset state and sometimes federal tax refunds for unpaid unemployment overpayments. It's called Treasury Offset Program.

Wage garnishment too? This is getting more serious than I thought.

yeah they can garnish up to 25% of your paycheck, its brutal

How long did the appeal process take? I'm worried about the 30-day deadline.

My appeal took about 6 weeks total. Don't worry about the 30-day deadline to FILE the appeal, that's just to get it submitted. The actual process takes longer.

Good point. My notice shows the base amount plus some additional fees. I'll ask about this when I call.

They typically add 1% interest per month plus a 15% penalty on the overpaid amount. Definitely worth negotiating.

I'm not currently on unemployment, but if I file again in the future would they automatically deduct from those benefits?

Yes, any future Washington ESD benefits would be reduced to pay back the overpayment until it's satisfied.

How quickly were you able to get through to someone using their service?

Got a callback within a few hours and was connected to the collections department same day. Night and day difference from trying to call myself.

How can you tell which type it is? My notice doesn't specifically say fraud but mentions incorrect reporting.

If they determined it was intentional misrepresentation, they'll usually use the word 'fraud' or 'willful misrepresentation' in the notice. Non-fraud is typically just called 'overpayment.

What's the difference between an appeal and requesting a hearing?

An appeal is reviewed by Washington ESD staff. A hearing is conducted by an independent administrative law judge. Hearings are more formal but offer better protection of your rights.

I had a hearing for my overpayment and won. The judge found that Washington ESD's documentation was insufficient to prove the overpayment was valid.

That's terrifying. How do you prove you made a payment if they lose it?

Bank records, canceled checks, money order receipts - anything that shows the payment was sent and cashed. Always use trackable payment methods.

How did you qualify for such a low payment? That would be much more manageable for me.

Had to provide detailed financial information showing my income and expenses. They calculated what I could reasonably afford to pay without causing hardship.

Thank you everyone for all this advice! I feel much more prepared to handle this situation now. I think I'll start with trying to call their collections line, and if that doesn't work I'll look into that Claimyr service.

Good plan. And remember, don't rush into paying if you have legitimate grounds to appeal. Take the time to review your records first.

This is really helpful! Did you have to provide specific financial documents when setting up your payment plan, or were they able to work something out just based on what you told them over the phone? I'm trying to prepare everything I might need before I call.

@76a129710797 They mostly worked with me based on what I told them over the phone about my monthly income and expenses, but they did ask me to email some basic documentation like recent pay stubs and a bank statement to verify what I was saying. Nothing too complicated - just enough to show I wasn't trying to game the system. The whole process was way less intimidating than I expected. They seemed more interested in getting a realistic payment plan set up than making it difficult for me.