I'm currently going through a similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned about timing. If you haven't received your first payment yet, you might still have time to set up the payment plan before they automatically start taking 100%. In my case, I called TWC the day after I got my determination letter (before my first payment request date) and was able to get a 40% recovery rate set up. The key is acting fast - once that first payment processes at 100% recovery, it becomes much harder to get them to adjust it retroactively. Also, keep detailed records of all your communications with TWC agents including dates, times, and what was discussed. This has been helpful when I've had to call back to clarify things about my payment plan.

Just want to echo what others have said about acting quickly - I went through this same situation about 8 months ago with a $1,200 overpayment from 2022. The difference between calling TWC immediately versus waiting even a few days can literally mean the difference between getting some money to live on versus having $0 for weeks. I was able to negotiate down to a 35% recovery rate by showing them my monthly budget breakdown and explaining that I'm a single parent with childcare costs. One thing I didn't see mentioned here is that you should also ask about the appeals process for the original overpayment determination if you think there was an error - sometimes the overpayment amount itself is wrong and you can get it reduced or eliminated entirely through an appeal, even if it's from a previous year.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My process date was today (Friday) and I'm also with Chase. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to worry when I didn't see anything by this evening, but now I understand it's because weekends don't count as business days. So I should expect to see it Monday or Tuesday at the latest. I've already set up the mobile notifications that everyone recommended and I'm going to stop obsessively checking my balance every hour! It's amazing how much stress this waiting period adds when you're already dealing with unemployment. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines - this thread should honestly be pinned for newcomers like me who have no idea what to expect with their first payment.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My process date was yesterday and I'm banking with Chase as well. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - I had no idea what timeline to expect for my first TWC deposit. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like Chase is pretty reliable with next-day deposits after the process date. I'm definitely going to set up those mobile notifications that multiple people mentioned rather than constantly refreshing my account balance. It's such a relief to read real experiences from people who've been through this process, especially the clarification about business days vs weekends. The TWC website really doesn't give you much detail about actual timing! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Just lost my TWC hearing two weeks ago and they're demanding I pay back $4,200. My employer claimed I quit without notice, but the reality is they kept cutting my hours until I couldn't afford to stay - classic constructive discharge. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so incredibly helpful and given me hope that I'm not totally screwed. I had no idea I could submit new evidence at the Commission Appeals level or that I should be citing specific legal codes. I was planning to just rehash the same arguments from my first hearing, but now I understand I need to approach this completely differently. @Fidel Carson - your legal breakdown is exactly what I needed to see. I think I can prove constructive discharge since they cut my hours from 40/week to 15/week over two months, making it impossible to pay my rent. I have pay stubs showing the hour reduction and texts with my manager where I asked for more hours and was told "business is slow." @Isaiah Sanders - definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow. I've been trying to reach TWC for over a week and it's impossible. Getting insight into why the hearing officer ruled against me before I file my Commission Appeal could be crucial. The most encouraging thing I'm seeing from everyone is that the Commission Appeals process seems much more thorough and fair than the initial hearings. I'm going to spend this week gathering all the additional documentation people have suggested and organizing everything chronologically. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - this community support means everything when you're facing thousands in overpayment demands! I'll definitely update once I file my appeal. 🙏

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I lost my TWC hearing three weeks ago over a $3,400 overpayment. My employer claimed I was terminated for attendance issues, but I was actually missing work due to a chronic medical condition that they refused to accommodate properly. Reading through everyone's advice about treating the Commission Appeal as a fresh case and citing specific legal standards has completely changed my approach. I was just going to resubmit the same medical documentation from my first hearing, but now I realize I need to build a much stronger case around their failure to provide reasonable accommodations. @Charlotte Jones - your point about medical accommodation cases having strong legal protections really resonates with me. I have documentation of my condition from my doctor and emails where I requested accommodations (flexible scheduling for medical appointments), but my employer just kept writing me up for the absences instead of working with me. @Fidel Carson - your framework for proving constructive discharge seems like it applies to medical situations too. I can show that continuing employment would have seriously compromised my health since I couldn't get the medical care I needed. The most encouraging thing I'm seeing is that multiple people have successfully won their Commission Appeals with proper documentation and legal citations. I'm going to spend this week organizing my medical records, accommodation requests, and employer responses chronologically. Has anyone here specifically dealt with a medical accommodation case at the Commission level? I'm wondering if there are additional disability rights laws I should be citing beyond the general unemployment statutes everyone's been mentioning. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's given me so much hope and practical guidance! 🙏

I just had my TWC appeal hearing two weeks ago and can confirm everything everyone's saying - yes, your employer will definitely be on the same call! I was super nervous too, but it really wasn't as intimidating as I expected. A few things that really helped me during the hearing: • I had all my documents printed out and numbered so I could reference them easily • I kept a glass of water nearby (you'll be talking a lot and nerves make your mouth dry) • I wrote down 3-4 key points I absolutely wanted to make so I wouldn't forget them • I found a quiet room with strong cell signal and tested it the day before Those emails where your boss threatened you with a bad reference if you didn't resign are EXACTLY what the hearing officer needs to see. That's textbook constructive discharge right there. When you reference them during your testimony, be specific - mention the date and quote directly from them. My employer tried to paint a completely different picture of what happened, but I just stayed calm and stuck to my timeline with evidence to back it up. The hearing officer asked really good follow-up questions that helped clarify things. I got my approval decision about 9 days later. You've got solid documentation and a legitimate case - that puts you way ahead of most people in these hearings. Just breathe, be honest, and let those threatening emails speak for themselves!

I went through my TWC appeal hearing about 3 months ago and can relate to your nervousness! Yes, your employer will definitely be on the same call - it's set up as a three-way conference with you, them, and the hearing officer. The hearing officer really does keep everything professional though. They'll explain the rules at the start, swear everyone in, and usually have your employer present their side first, then you get your turn. After that, there's usually some back-and-forth questioning. A couple tips that helped me: • Have a backup phone ready in case of technical issues • Keep your evidence organized in the order you want to reference it • Don't let their version of events rattle you - focus on presenting your facts clearly • The hearing officer will ask you directly about any claims your employer makes Those threatening emails you mentioned are going to be crucial evidence. Make sure you can quickly find and reference the specific dates and quotes when you're speaking. That kind of documentation showing you were pressured to resign is exactly what TWC looks for in constructive discharge cases. I was approved about 10 days after my hearing. Having actual written proof like you do puts you in a really strong position. Good luck!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress, Victoria. What you're experiencing is unfortunately very common - employers often add extra reasons after the fact to try to strengthen their case against unemployment benefits. The good news is that TWC investigators are trained to spot this pattern. The fact that TWC called you for a fact-finding interview is actually neutral to positive - it means they're not just accepting your employer's claims at face value and want to hear your side. Since you can document your approved time off and were genuinely surprised by the additional allegations (which likely came across as authentic during the interview), you're in a better position than you might think. Make sure to keep requesting your weekly payments regardless of what happens with the initial determination. If you do get denied and need to appeal, you'll only receive retroactive payments for weeks you actually requested. Document everything while it's fresh - the timeline of your termination, the approved time off screenshots, and especially your reaction to hearing the new allegations for the first time. That genuine surprise is actually evidence in your favor that these weren't real ongoing issues. Hang in there - from what you've shared, it sounds like you handled the interview well and have good documentation to support your case!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this situation, Victoria! What you're experiencing is actually a really common tactic that employers use when they want to contest unemployment claims. They often add extra reasons after the fact because they know that their original reason alone might not be strong enough to disqualify you from benefits. The TWC calling you for a fact-finding interview is actually a GOOD thing - it means they're not just automatically accepting whatever your employer told them and they want to hear your side of the story. This is standard procedure when there are conflicting accounts between you and your employer. A few important things to keep in mind: - Your genuine surprise at hearing the new allegations during the call probably came across as very authentic to the investigator - The fact that you can document your approved time off puts you in a strong position - TWC investigators see this "kitchen sink" approach from employers all the time and are trained to spot it Make sure you gather all your documentation (those scheduling app screenshots showing approved time off are gold!) and write down everything you remember about the termination conversation while it's still fresh. The inconsistency between what they told you in person vs. what they're now telling TWC actually works in your favor. Keep requesting your weekly payments no matter what happens - if you end up winning later, you'll only get paid retroactively for weeks you actually requested. Hang in there, it sounds like you handled that interview really well!