What happens if you have an overpayment of unemployment benefits in Washington?

Don't panic! You have rights when it comes to overpayments. First, you should have received a determination letter explaining exactly why Washington ESD thinks you were overpaid. This could be due to unreported work, incorrect benefit calculations, or other issues. You have 30 days from the date of the overpayment notice to file an appeal if you disagree with their decision.

I went through this last year. The overpayment process can be stressful but it's manageable. If you don't appeal or if your appeal is denied, Washington ESD will set up a repayment plan. They usually start by offsetting any future benefits you might receive, then they can garnish wages or tax refunds if necessary.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to discuss your overpayment, you might want to check out Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help people get connected to actual ESD agents instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I used them when I had questions about my overpayment and finally got some real answers.

UGH this happened to me too!! Washington ESD is so confusing with their overpayment notices. Mine was for $1,900 and I SWEAR I reported everything correctly. The whole system is a mess and they make it impossible to get answers.

Here's what you need to know about the overpayment process: 1) You can request a waiver if the overpayment wasn't your fault, 2) You can set up a payment plan if you can't pay the full amount, 3) The overpayment will accrue interest if not paid, and 4) Washington ESD can collect through various methods including tax intercepts.

same thing happened to my cousin last year, took forever to sort out

One important thing to remember - don't ignore the overpayment notice! Even if you think it's wrong, you need to respond within the timeframe they give you. Washington ESD will start collection proceedings if you don't communicate with them.

If you're struggling to reach Washington ESD about your overpayment, I had success using Claimyr recently. The service got me through to an actual person who could explain my overpayment notice in detail. Check out their website at claimyr.com - they have a demo video that shows exactly how it works.

Check your online account on the Washington ESD website. Sometimes there are additional documents or explanations there that weren't included in the mailed notice. Also, look for any quarterly wage reports from your employers - discrepancies there often cause overpayment determinations.

I'm dealing with an overpayment too but mine is way smaller - only $340. Still annoying though because I know I didn't do anything wrong. The worst part is trying to get someone on the phone to explain it.

The overpayment interest rate is pretty high, so if you do owe the money, it's better to pay it back sooner rather than later. Washington ESD charges 1% per month on unpaid overpayments, which adds up quickly.

Whatever you do, don't let this stress you out too much. Overpayments are super common and Washington ESD deals with them all the time. There are processes in place to help you figure it out, even if it takes some persistence.

Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING - your weekly claim confirmations, pay stubs, the overpayment notice, any correspondence with Washington ESD. If you end up appealing, you'll need documentation to support your case.

Has anyone here had luck with the overpayment waiver process? I've heard it's really hard to get approved unless the mistake was clearly Washington ESD's fault.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. The wait times are usually shorter then. Or like others mentioned, there are services like Claimyr that can help you get connected faster.

remember that even if you appeal, you might still need to pay back some of the overpayment if it turns out you were partially at fault. but at least you'll understand exactly why and how much

The whole overpayment thing is such a headache. I went through it two years ago and it took months to resolve. Washington ESD really needs to improve their communication about these issues.

Just want to add that if you're currently receiving any Washington ESD benefits, they'll automatically deduct overpayment amounts from your weekly payments. So you might see reduced benefit amounts until the overpayment is satisfied.

One more tip - if you do owe the overpayment and can't afford to pay it all at once, be proactive about setting up a payment plan. Washington ESD is usually willing to work with you if you communicate with them instead of ignoring the notices.

Update us on how this goes! I'm sure other people reading this thread will want to know how overpayment situations typically get resolved.

I went through a similar overpayment situation last year and want to share what worked for me. First, gather all your documentation - weekly claim forms, pay stubs, and any correspondence with Washington ESD. Then log into your online account and review the "determination" section carefully - it should show exactly what weeks they think you were overpaid and why. In my case, there was a discrepancy between what I reported for part-time work and what my employer reported to them. The key is to act quickly within that 30-day appeal window if you disagree with their finding. Don't let the $2,800 amount scare you - focus on understanding whether their calculation is actually correct first. If you do end up owing something, they're usually reasonable about payment plans as long as you communicate proactively with them.