What happens if Washington ESD unemployment overpays you - worried about payback

30 days doesn't seem like much time to come up with the money. Can you set up payment plans with them?

Yes, you can request a payment plan. Call Washington ESD's overpayment division and explain your financial situation. They'll work with you on monthly payments if you can show you can't pay the full amount.

How did you finally get through to them? I'm dreading having to deal with their phone system.

I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Found it at claimyr.com - they have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration.

That sounds too good to be true. Did it actually work for getting your overpayment issue resolved?

I've been looking through my records but some of the weeks are confusing. How do you know if you reported wages vs hours correctly?

Washington ESD wants gross wages (before taxes) for the week you worked, not when you got paid. So if you worked Monday-Friday but got paid the following Monday, you report those wages for the week you actually worked. Hours don't matter as much as the dollar amount.

It depends on how much you were overpaid and for how many weeks. Could be a few hundred dollars or several thousand. The key is responding quickly if you get a notice rather than ignoring it.

what if you can't afford to pay it back? do they really garnish wages?

Yes, they can garnish up to 25% of your disposable income if you don't make payment arrangements. They'll also offset any future unemployment benefits and intercept tax refunds.

Interest and penalties too? This keeps getting worse. How much extra do they charge?

They charge 1% per month on the unpaid balance, plus a 15% penalty if they determine it was fraud (which they're quick to claim). It adds up fast.

How do you know if it's worth getting a lawyer involved? What would be considered a large amount?

I'd say anything over $5,000 or if they're claiming fraud. A lawyer can review your case and determine if Washington ESD made errors in their overpayment calculation. Sometimes they miscalculate wages or apply the wrong benefit amount.

How long did it take to get connected using that service?

Usually within a few hours during business days. Way better than spending all day on hold myself. They text you when they're about to connect you to an agent.

Good plan. And remember, if you do get an overpayment notice, don't ignore it. Even if you can't pay right away, responding shows good faith and gives you options.

Definitely won't ignore it. This thread has been really helpful in knowing what to expect.

What kind of documentation would you need for something like that?

Emails, letters, or call logs showing what information you were given. Screenshots of their website if there were confusing instructions. Anything that shows you followed their guidance.

I wish I had known that earlier. I did keep some records but not everything. Lesson learned for next time.

It's not too late - gather whatever records you do have. Bank deposits, emails about work, anything that shows your actual earnings. It can help if there's a discrepancy.

How much were they taking from his paychecks?

like 25% of his take home pay every week. it was brutal, he could barely pay his bills

That's a good point. Better to address it head-on rather than wait and worry.

Exactly. And if you do owe money, paying it back quickly (even in installments) looks better than fighting it if you're clearly in the wrong.

Yes, that's exactly what I used it for. You can specify that you need to reach the overpayment department when you set up the call. They know which numbers to try.

Thanks, I'll check it out. This is so stressful trying to resolve on my own.

How would you go about challenging their calculation?

Request a hearing and bring all your documentation. Pay stubs, bank records, work schedules - anything that shows what you actually earned versus what they think you earned.

Years later? That's terrifying. How are you supposed to have records from that long ago?

That's part of the problem. I didn't have all my records anymore and had to reconstruct everything from bank statements and old emails.

Good to know. Hopefully it won't come to that but I'll keep it in mind.

How do you request something like that? Is there a specific form?

You'd need to call their overpayment department and ask about compromise options. They'll want to see your financial information to determine if you qualify.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I was really worried I'd be in legal trouble or something.

Only if they think you committed fraud intentionally. Honest mistakes happen and they know that. The key is addressing it promptly when you find out.

That's actually a pretty good option. Better than having a monthly payment hanging over your head.

Right, and it ensures the debt gets paid without you having to worry about missing payments and facing additional penalties.

Agreed! I feel much better prepared now if I do end up getting an overpayment notice. At least I know what steps to take.

This is really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it recently. Three months to get through on the phone sounds awful though - did you try calling at specific times of day or just keep trying randomly?

@Zoe Papanikolaou Thanks for sharing your experience! That s'really reassuring to hear it worked out okay in the end. Did you have to pay any interest or penalties on top of the $3,200, or was that the total amount they wanted back?

@Zoe Papanikolaou I m'so glad to hear it worked out for you! $200/month sounds way more manageable than having to pay $3,200 all at once. I m'still going through my records to see if I actually made mistakes, but knowing that Washington ESD was reasonable about payment plans makes me feel a lot less anxious about this whole situation. Did they require any proof of your financial situation when you set up the payment plan, or did they just take your word for it?