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

They definitely will come after you for it. Washington ESD has several collection methods including wage garnishment, intercepting tax refunds, and they can even put liens on property. The longer you wait, the more interest and penalties they add on top of the original amount.

Don't panic yet! You have options. You can set up a payment plan with Washington ESD instead of paying it all at once. I had a $1,900 overpayment and they let me pay $150 per month. You just need to contact them and explain your situation.

You should also look into whether you can appeal the overpayment decision. Sometimes they make mistakes or don't have all the information. If you have documentation showing you reported everything correctly, you might be able to get it reduced or eliminated entirely.

Whatever you do, DON'T ignore it! I made that mistake and they ended up garnishing 25% of my wages. It was a nightmare trying to live on what was left.

Check if you qualify for a hardship waiver too. If you're below certain income thresholds or have other financial hardships, Washington ESD might waive part or all of the overpayment. It's worth asking about when you contact them.

ugh this is exactly what I'm dealing with right now except mine is $3,400!! I've been avoiding opening the mail because I'm so stressed about it. Reading these responses is actually helpful though - at least I know I have some options.

They can also intercept your state tax refund to pay the overpayment. Happened to me last year - was expecting a $800 refund and it all went to pay down my overpayment balance instead.

One more thing - if you're currently receiving any benefits, they can also offset those to pay back the overpayment. So if you're getting food stamps or other assistance, they might reduce those payments too.

I'm going through something similar. Got an overpayment notice for $1,600 and I'm trying to figure out if I should just pay it off all at once or set up payments. What are the pros and cons of each approach?

Has anyone had success getting an overpayment reduced through an appeal? I'm wondering if it's worth the effort or if they usually just deny them.

Whatever you do, make sure you get everything in writing. When I tried to set up my payment plan over the phone, there was confusion about the terms and I ended up having to start over. Get written confirmation of any agreements.

The most important thing is to not let this stress you out to the point where you don't take action. I know it's overwhelming but there are solutions. You just need to pick up the phone and start the conversation with Washington ESD.

I'm in a similar boat with a $2,100 overpayment. Been putting it off for weeks but this thread is motivating me to finally call them tomorrow. We can do this!

One thing I learned is that they typically won't negotiate the amount down unless you appeal or qualify for hardship relief. So don't go in expecting them to just reduce it because you ask nicely. You need to have a valid reason.

Check your credit report too. Sometimes overpayments that go to collections can show up there and hurt your credit score. Mine didn't but I've heard of it happening to others.

Just want to circle back and emphasize - getting through to Washington ESD by phone is really the key to resolving this. Whether you use Claimyr or just keep calling, you need to talk to an actual person to understand your options and set up a plan.

Final thought - document everything! Keep records of every phone call, every letter, every payment. If there are any disputes later, you'll be glad you have the paper trail.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice and encouragement. I feel much better about tackling this now that I know what my options are. I'm going to try to get through to Washington ESD this week and see about setting up a payment plan or possibly appealing if I think I have grounds. Will update you all on how it goes!