You can request your claim file through your eServices account. There should be an option for records request or contact us. If you can't find it there, call the main ESD number and specifically ask for your complete claim file for the overpayment period. Make sure to do this ASAP as it can take 1-2 weeks to receive.

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Got hit with a $6,200 overpayment notice last week and I'm still in shock. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though. I've already filed my appeal through eServices and requested the waiver - the online forms were actually pretty straightforward once I found them. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I called my state representative's office about this issue and they have a constituent services person who specifically handles ESD problems. They can't change the outcome but they helped me understand the process better and made sure my paperwork was filed correctly. Might be worth a shot if you're feeling overwhelmed by the bureaucracy. Also, start keeping detailed records of EVERYTHING from now on - every phone call, every document you submit, every deadline. This whole experience has taught me that documentation is absolutely everything when dealing with government agencies. Hang in there @Libby Hassan - it sounds like you have a good chance if you stay on top of the deadlines and gather your documentation like everyone suggested!

UPDATE: You all were right! It was a system error. After trying everything (calling repeatedly, messaging through the portal, contacting our state rep), we finally got through to someone at ESD by calling the governor's office. They had a liaison who escalated it to someone with higher access at ESD. They reversed the bogus $26K charge completely AND processed the refund for the money they'd been taking from his benefits! The money should be deposited next week. I'm incredibly relieved but also disturbed by how easy it would have been to just give up and accept their mistake. The ESD rep actually told us this has been happening to other people too after appeals - the system incorrectly doubles or triples overpayment amounts instead of removing them. For anyone else facing this nightmare: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING, be persistent, and don't be afraid to go straight to the governor's office if needed. Thank you all for your support and advice!

Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so relieved to see your update that everything got resolved. This whole situation is both inspiring and deeply troubling. Inspiring because it shows that persistence and knowing where to escalate can actually work, but troubling because of how broken the system clearly is. The fact that an ESD rep admitted this is happening to "other people too" after appeals is really concerning. It makes you wonder how many folks just accepted these inflated amounts because they didn't know how to fight back or gave up after hitting the usual dead ends. Your experience is going to be invaluable for others facing similar issues. The governor's office route seems like it should be more widely known - I never would have thought to try that approach. Thanks for sharing the whole journey and coming back with the resolution. Stories like this give people hope that these bureaucratic nightmares can actually be fixed with the right approach!

Bottom line for everyone asking - yes you pay federal taxes on unemployment, no state taxes in Washington. Set up 10% withholding if possible, keep good records, and don't panic if you haven't been planning for taxes. You can still get it sorted out.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The tax withholding option can be really hard to find sometimes. What worked for me was logging into the Washington ESD website on a desktop computer (not mobile) and looking carefully during the weekly claim process. It's usually after the work search questions but before you submit. If you still can't find it, you can also call and ask them to add the withholding to your account - though I know the phone system is frustrating. For what it's worth, even though 10% withholding might not cover everything depending on your tax bracket, it definitely helps avoid that huge surprise bill at tax time. Don't stress too much about the money you've already received without withholding - just start saving what you can going forward and consider setting aside maybe 15-20% of your weekly payments if possible.

My benefits ran out 3 weeks ago and I'm starting to panic. Applied for food stamps and Medicaid but everything takes forever to process. This is so stressful.

I'm in a similar situation and just went through this process. Unfortunately, Washington state doesn't currently have extended benefits available - they're only triggered when unemployment rates hit specific federal thresholds, which we haven't reached. However, I did find a few options that might help: 1) Training Benefits through WorkSource if you qualify for approved retraining programs, 2) checking with local community colleges for workforce development programs that might come with financial assistance, and 3) looking into emergency assistance programs through DSHS. The key is getting connected with an actual WorkSource counselor who can assess your specific situation. Don't give up - there are resources available even if they're not obvious at first glance.

To answer your follow-up question - you should continue filing weekly claims until your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount. When you report full-time work or earnings higher than your benefit amount, the system will automatically stop your claim. This is important because if your job doesn't work out during the first few weeks (which happens sometimes), you won't have to restart your claim from scratch. Once you're stable in your new job, your claim will just become inactive automatically.

Congratulations on the new job! Just to reinforce what others have said - yes, you absolutely must report those work hours even though you haven't been paid yet. The weekly claim asks about work PERFORMED during the claim week, not when payment is received. Since you worked 40 hours at $18/hour ($720 gross), that's definitely above your $624 weekly benefit amount, so you likely won't receive unemployment benefits for that week. But still file your claim and report everything accurately - this protects you from any potential overpayment issues later. For future reference, keep filing weekly claims until you're confident the job is stable. If something happens and you lose the job in the first few weeks, you'll be able to continue receiving benefits without having to restart your entire claim. Good luck with the new position!