What happens if you don't pay Washington ESD unemployment overpayment - consequences?

I didn't know about the payment plan option. How do I set that up? The notice didn't mention anything about payment plans.

You need to call Washington ESD directly to discuss payment arrangements. They're usually willing to work with you if you're proactive about it.

Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Did he ever get it resolved or did he have to pay the full amount?

He ended up having to pay it all back plus interest and penalties. Should have dealt with it upfront instead of hiding from it.

Thanks for this! I've been trying to call for weeks and keep getting disconnected. How much does this service cost?

I'm not sure about the cost, but it was worth it for me to actually talk to someone instead of wasting hours on hold. The video explains everything pretty clearly.

I was skeptical about using a service like this but honestly Washington ESD's phone system is so broken that sometimes you need help just to reach a human being.

Can they garnish wages even if I'm barely making minimum wage? That would literally put me in the hole financially.

There are federal limits on wage garnishment that protect a portion of your income, but yes, they can still garnish even low wages. That's why setting up a payment plan is so important.

The interest rate they charge is no joke either - I think it's like 12% annually or something ridiculous.

How did you figure out their calculations were wrong? I've been going through my old records but the math is confusing.

I compared their weekly breakdown to my actual work hours and pay stubs. Found several weeks where they had the wrong earnings amounts. Worth double-checking everything before you accept their numbers.

That's my biggest fear right now. Did you try to set up a payment plan after they took your refund?

yeah but by then i owed even more because of the interest and penalties. should have called them right away

So if I need to file for unemployment again next year, they'd just take money out of those benefits to pay this back?

Exactly. They can intercept benefits to recover overpayments, which is another reason to try to resolve this now rather than let it sit.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it's designed to help with that exact problem of reaching ESD agents when you need to discuss important stuff like overpayments.

I might have to try that because this is ridiculous. I'm willing to pay but I can't even get someone on the phone to set up a plan.

That's encouraging to hear. I'm definitely willing to pay, just need it to be manageable. What kind of payment plans do they typically offer?

Usually they'll let you spread it out over 12-24 months depending on the amount. Key is to suggest a payment you can actually stick to - don't promise more than you can afford.

I had no idea hardship waivers were even a thing. Do you know where I can find more information about the requirements?

It's probably on their website somewhere but honestly your best bet is to ask directly when you call. They don't advertise these options much.

Good point. I still have all my pay stubs from that time period. Should I organize them in a specific way?

Chronological order by week, and match them up with your weekly claim certifications if you still have those. Makes it easier to spot discrepancies.

The stress is definitely real. I've been losing sleep over this thinking about what could happen.

Just remember that thousands of people deal with this every year and most work it out. Don't let it consume you - just take action.

How would I know if it was their error versus mine? The notice isn't very clear about what exactly happened.

That's something you'd need to discuss with an ESD agent to figure out. They should be able to explain exactly why the overpayment occurred.

This is another good reason to use something like Claimyr to actually get through to someone who can explain the details of your specific case.

My notice is dated about 3 weeks ago, so I'm cutting it close. Can I appeal and also ask for a payment plan at the same time?

Yes, you can do both. Appeal if you think the amount is wrong, and also discuss payment options for whatever amount you might end up owing.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm definitely going to call them tomorrow and try to work something out. Better to face it head-on than hide from it.

Smart move. Most people who handle these situations proactively end up with manageable outcomes. Good luck!

That's a really good point. I need to be realistic about what I can afford monthly rather than promising too much.

Exactly. Better to ask for smaller payments over a longer period than to set yourself up for failure.

How much more did you end up owing because of the interest and penalties?

original overpayment was like $1800 and by the time they garnished my wages I owed over $2500. not worth it to avoid dealing with it

That gives me hope! What kind of documentation did you use to prove they were wrong?

Pay stubs, work schedule from my employer, and emails showing my actual hours worked. The key was having everything organized and documented clearly.

I think I have most of that stuff. Going to dig through my files tonight and get everything together before I call.

I didn't know wage garnishment could affect my credit or future jobs. That's definitely another reason to handle this proactively.

Yep, it's considered a judgment against you. Much better to work out voluntary payments if at all possible.

That's really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through it! $150/month sounds way more manageable than trying to come up with $2,800 all at once. Did you have to provide any financial documentation to prove your situation, or did they just take your word for what you could afford? I'm hoping they'll be understanding about my circumstances too.