What is overpayment unemployment - Washington ESD sent me a confusing notice

An overpayment happens when Washington ESD determines you received more unemployment benefits than you were eligible for. This can occur for several reasons - unreported work income, errors in your weekly claims, or if they later find you weren't eligible for certain weeks. The notice should specify exactly why they think you were overpaid and for which weeks.

Ugh, this happened to me too last year. Washington ESD said I was overpaid $2,100 because I supposedly didn't report some part-time work correctly. Even though I was sure I did everything right, it took months to sort out.

Before you panic, you should try calling Washington ESD to get clarification. I know their phone lines are always busy, but I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to ESD agents much faster. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It's way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Overpayments usually fall into two categories: fraud and non-fraud. Non-fraud overpayments are typically due to errors or misunderstandings, while fraud overpayments involve intentional misrepresentation. The penalties and repayment terms are different for each type.

Same thing happened to me but it was because I got a small severance payment that I forgot to report. They said I was overpaid for 3 weeks. The whole system is so confusing - how are we supposed to know every little detail?

whatever you do don't ignore it!! my friend ignored an overpayment notice and they ended up garnishing his wages later when he got a job. the amount kept growing with penalties too

You mentioned you reported your work hours correctly - double check that against your pay stubs. Sometimes there are discrepancies in reporting dates vs pay dates that can trigger overpayment determinations. ESD might have received wage information from your employer that doesn't match what you reported.

The Washington ESD website has a section about overpayments that explains the different types and your rights. You typically have 30 days to request a hearing if you disagree with the determination. Don't wait too long to respond.

I used to work for a company that handled unemployment claims and overpayments are super common. Most of the time it's just a misunderstanding or timing issue with wage reporting. The key is to respond quickly and provide documentation to support your case.

This is exactly why I hate the unemployment system - they make it so complicated and then blame you when something goes wrong. How are regular people supposed to navigate all this bureaucracy?

Make sure you keep copies of everything you send to Washington ESD. I had an overpayment case where they claimed I never submitted my appeal, but I had proof I faxed it. Document everything!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. Got an overpayment notice for $1,800 and I'm trying to use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through to ESD. The regular phone lines are impossible.

Check if you have any union resources or legal aid organizations in your area. Some offer free help with unemployment appeals and overpayment cases. Don't assume you have to handle this alone.

One thing that helped me was creating a timeline of exactly when I worked, when I got paid, and when I filed my weekly claims. Sometimes the dates don't line up the way you think they do.

just want to say hang in there. overpayment notices are scary but most of the time they can be resolved. worst case you'll have to pay some back but there are payment plans and options

If you do end up owing money, ask about waiver options. In some cases, Washington ESD will waive overpayments if you can prove it would cause financial hardship and the overpayment wasn't your fault.

Has anyone mentioned checking your employer's quarterly wage reports? Sometimes employers report wages incorrectly to ESD, which can trigger overpayment determinations. It might not be anything you did wrong.

I went through this whole overpayment nightmare last year. Turned out my employer had reported my wages under the wrong quarter, which made it look like I was working more than I actually was during certain weeks. Once we got that corrected, the overpayment was removed.

For what it's worth, I've used Claimyr twice now for different ESD issues and it's been worth it both times. Way less stressful than trying to get through on your own. Their video demo really shows you what to expect.