Will ESD overpayment waiver reimbursement be intercepted by child support like my UI payments?

Congrats on the waiver! From what I know child support garnishment applies to ANY money from ESD. My cousin got backpay and they took the same % from that too.

yea pretty sure its gonna get hit with the garnishment. they take from tax refunds too so same deal i think

This is a case where you really need to speak directly with both ESD and DSHS Division of Child Support. The treatment of overpayment reimbursements can be handled differently than regular UI payments. In some cases, since you've already had the garnishment applied to the original benefits, the reimbursement might not be subject to additional garnishment. However, this depends on how the payment is coded in their system and whether it's flagged as income. I would recommend calling ESD to ask specifically about this situation. They can tell you whether the payment will be coded as a "reimbursement" or as "benefits." Then contact DSHS to confirm how they'll treat it.

Experienced the EXACT same issue last year with my overpayment. They ended up taking the SAME percentage for child support that they were taking from my regular benefits. I argued with them about it being double-dipping basically since the money already HAD child support taken out when i originally got it, but they didnt care. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

I went through something similar with an overpayment reimbursement in 2024. The answer is somewhat complicated - it depends on how ESD processes the reimbursement. In my case, they coded it as a "corrective payment" rather than as "benefits," which meant different garnishment rules applied. The key is getting to an ESD representative who can specifically note in your account how the payment should be processed and flagged. For actually reaching someone at ESD, I was struggling with the same problem of constant disconnections until I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an ESD agent without waiting for hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. I was skeptical but it actually got me through to a real person who was able to help make sure my reimbursement was properly coded. Once you get through, specifically ask them to note that this payment represents funds that have already been subject to garnishment once. You might need to speak to a supervisor as regular agents sometimes don't have the authority to make these determinations.

Uggh the child support system is so messed up! They take and take and take! They already got their cut once, why should they get it again? This is why I hate dealing with all these government agencies. ESD messes up, makes you pay money you shouldn't have to, then when they admit they were wrong, they let child support take half of your reimbursement?? Complete BS if you ask me.

I work as a benefits counselor, and this is a nuanced situation. The treatment of overpayment reimbursements regarding child support garnishments varies based on several factors: 1. If the original benefits were already garnished for child support, you may have grounds to request an exemption from duplicate garnishment on the reimbursement. 2. ESD's payment coding system determines how the funds are classified. A reimbursement coded as a "refund" or "corrective payment" may be treated differently than one coded as "benefits." 3. You should request a written explanation from both ESD and DSHS about how this payment will be treated. This documentation will be crucial if you need to dispute anything. 4. In some cases, you can file for a modification of the withholding amount for special circumstances like this reimbursement. I recommend documenting all communications and being very specific about the nature of this payment when speaking with representatives.

Just curious - how long did your overpayment waiver process take? I'm still waiting on mine and it's been 9 weeks already with no updates.

To answer your follow-up question about speaking with a supervisor - start with the regular agent but be prepared to escalate. Ask them specifically: "How will this overpayment reimbursement be coded in the system and will it be subject to child support withholding?" If they seem unsure or give a generic response, that's when you should politely ask to speak with a supervisor who has experience with overpayment reimbursements. Also, make sure to have your case numbers ready for both ESD and DSHS child support when you call. Document the names of everyone you speak with and the date/time. This paper trail can be invaluable if there's any dispute later.