I'm so glad I found this thread! My TWC benefits just expired yesterday and I was feeling completely overwhelmed about what to do next. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring and helpful. I'm a dental hygienist and have been job searching for about 3 months with limited success. The dental field seems really competitive right now, especially for full-time positions with benefits. I did work about 10 weeks doing temp coverage at various dental offices during my benefit year, so based on all the advice shared here, I'm definitely going to file a new claim today. For other dental professionals reading this - don't overlook corporate dental chains like Aspen Dental, Heartland Dental, or Pacific Dental Services. They're always expanding and often have faster hiring processes than private practices. Also consider specialty offices like periodontics, oral surgery, or pediatric dentistry - they sometimes have openings that don't get as much competition. I'm also going to apply for SNAP benefits while my new claim processes. This whole situation has been so stressful, but this thread has shown me there are concrete steps I can take and that I'm definitely not alone in dealing with this. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences - this community support has been incredible during such a difficult time. We're all going to get through this!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been absolutely incredible to find! My TWC benefits just expired this past Tuesday and I was honestly having panic attacks about how I'm going to survive while still job searching. I'm a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and have been applying everywhere for the past few months - hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, home health agencies - but the competition is just brutal. I did work about 8 weeks doing registry shifts at different facilities during my benefit year, so based on all the amazing advice everyone has shared here, I'm definitely going to file a new claim today. For other LPNs out there, I wanted to add that insurance companies are hiring nurses for remote utilization review and case management positions. Companies like Humana, Anthem, and UnitedHealth are always posting openings. The work is different from bedside nursing but it's good experience and often has better work-life balance. Also don't overlook school districts - many are expanding their health services and need licensed nurses for student health centers and special needs support. The schedules usually align with school calendars which can be nice for work-life balance. I'm also going to apply for SNAP benefits while waiting for my new claim to process. This whole experience has been terrifying but finding this community has made me realize I'm not alone and there are still options available even when it feels hopeless. Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories and advice - this thread has literally been a lifesaver during the most stressful week of my life!

I went through something very similar and want to offer some encouragement! I had 4 years with my company, consistently good reviews, then a new manager came in and suddenly I was "failing to meet expectations" despite doing the exact same work that had earned praise before. Got put on a 2-week PIP (yes, 2 weeks!) and then terminated. Initially I was devastated and thought I had no chance, but I appealed and WON. The key things that helped my case were: 1. **Timeline documentation** - I created a detailed timeline showing when the new manager started vs when my "performance issues" began. The correlation was undeniable. 2. **Previous positive reviews** - I had 8 quarterly reviews that were all "meets" or "exceeds expectations" which directly contradicted the sudden performance concerns. 3. **The absurdly short PIP timeline** - The hearing officer specifically commented that 2 weeks (like your 3 weeks) is not reasonable time for genuine improvement, especially for someone with years of good performance. Your situation actually sounds stronger than mine was - you have 3 full years of clean history with zero disciplinary actions. That's incredibly powerful evidence that this was about the new manager, not your actual performance. One practical tip: Start a detailed written timeline now while everything is fresh in your memory. Include dates for when the new manager arrived, when their attitude toward you changed, when the PIP started, specific examples of how expectations suddenly shifted, etc. This timeline will be your roadmap during any hearing. Don't lose hope - the pattern you're describing is exactly what TWC is trained to recognize as retaliation rather than legitimate performance management. You've got a much stronger case than you realize!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! 2.5 years with my company, consistently positive reviews, then we got a new director who seemed to target me from week one. After 6 weeks of sudden criticism for work that had been praised before, I was put on a 3-week PIP and then terminated. What's giving me the most hope from reading everyone's experiences is how the SHORT PIP timeline actually works in our favor. Multiple people have mentioned that TWC hearing officers see 3-4 week PIPs as clear evidence that the company wasn't genuinely trying to help - they were just building a paper trail for termination. The advice about documenting the timeline correlation has been invaluable. I went back through my emails and found that the new director's negative feedback started literally in her second week, for processes and work quality that had earned me commendations under previous management. That pattern is so obvious it's almost laughable. I'm still waiting for my determination letter, but I'm already preparing for a potential appeal by gathering all my positive reviews, client feedback emails, and documentation showing our company's progressive discipline policy was completely ignored (they skipped verbal and written warnings entirely). To everyone sharing their stories here - THANK YOU. Knowing this is a recognized pattern that TWC specifically looks for is giving me so much confidence. We're not crazy for thinking something fishy was going on - these really are textbook retaliation cases disguised as performance issues!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and your story is giving me so much hope! My employer is also trying to claim "misconduct" for what were legitimate sick days with proper documentation. What really strikes me about your case is how obviously wrong their "call avoidance" claim is - you literally weren't even at work those days! That's such a clear misrepresentation of the facts that it makes me wonder if they're banking on you not showing up to defend yourself. I've been reading through all the advice here and it's incredibly valuable. The key points I'm taking away are: stay organized with your documentation, focus on facts not emotions during the hearing, and remember that the employer has to prove "willful misconduct" - which is impossible when you followed proper procedures. Your text message evidence sounds rock solid. Combined with medical documentation, you should be able to easily prove you did everything right. These big companies often try to intimidate people out of appealing, but it sounds like TWC hearing officers are good at spotting these tactics. Keep us updated on how your hearing goes! Stories like yours are helping so many of us feel confident about fighting back instead of just accepting unfair denials.

I just wanted to add my voice to everyone encouraging you to fight this appeal! I won a similar case about 6 months ago where my employer tried to claim "insubordination" for what was actually me following safety protocols they had trained me on. The thing that really helped me was understanding that TWC hearing officers hear these bogus "misconduct" claims all day long. They know the difference between real misconduct and employers just trying to avoid paying unemployment. When you have documentation showing you followed proper procedures (like your text messages proving you called in sick), it becomes really obvious who's telling the truth. Your employer's "call avoidance" claim for days you weren't even at work is so contradictory that it actually strengthens your case. It shows they're either completely confused about the facts or deliberately misrepresenting what happened. Either way, it makes them look unreliable to the hearing officer. One thing I learned during my process: these hearings move pretty quickly, so having your evidence organized and your timeline clear in your head really helps. It sounds like you're already doing that preparation work, which puts you way ahead of most people who go into these hearings unprepared. Best of luck on March 16th - you've definitely got this!

I'm also going through this nightmare right now and it's so frustrating to see how the system is rigged in favor of employers! My former boss missed the initial deadline, didn't show up to the first appeal hearing, and now somehow TWC has granted him yet another appeal at the Commission level. It's absolutely maddening. What really bothers me is that TWC always tells us claimants that deadlines are strict and missing them has consequences, but employers seem to get unlimited chances no matter how many times they fail to follow basic procedures. I've been on hold for hours trying to get answers from TWC about why this keeps happening. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both validating and helpful. I'm definitely going to create that timeline document showing all my employer's missed deadlines and procedural failures. It sounds like being prepared with documentation is key to winning these Commission Appeals, even when employers show up with lawyers. To the original poster - you absolutely need to show up Tuesday! Don't let this petty employer win by default after putting you through all this harassment. You were legitimately entitled to those benefits and have already won twice. The vindictive nature of continuing to appeal after benefits are exhausted shows this is purely about trying to force you to repay money you rightfully earned. Stay strong and don't let them wear you down - that's exactly what they're counting on. We need to fight back against these intimidation tactics!

I went through something very similar and it's absolutely infuriating how the system works! My employer also missed the initial deadline, then got multiple appeals despite not showing up to hearings. What helped me was realizing this is a deliberate strategy - they're hoping you'll get exhausted and just give up. Here's what I learned: even though your benefits are exhausted, you MUST attend that Commission Appeal hearing. If you don't show up, they win by default and TWC will likely issue an overpayment determination requiring you to repay everything. I know it's frustrating after already winning twice, but this is your final chance to protect yourself from having to pay back those benefits. Document everything chronologically - every missed deadline, every hearing they skipped, every time TWC gave them another chance despite their non-compliance. I created a simple timeline that showed the clear pattern of their procedural failures. When I presented this at my Commission Appeal, it really helped the hearing officer understand how many opportunities they'd already been given. The good news is you're in a strong position - you've already been found eligible twice, so the burden is entirely on them to prove misconduct. Stay calm, stick to the facts, and don't let their vindictive tactics intimidate you. You collected those benefits in good faith based on official TWC determinations. Good luck on Tuesday!

This thread is absolutely incredible - it's like a masterclass in navigating TWC delays! I'm currently on week 2 of waiting for my claim to be processed, and after reading through everyone's experiences, I'm pretty sure I know what the issue is. I also worked out of state (had a contract position in Louisiana for about 3 months last year), which based on all the patterns here is almost certainly causing my delay. What's really striking is how consistent the out-of-state wage verification issue is across so many cases - TWC really should make this information available upfront instead of leaving people in the dark for weeks! I'm definitely going to follow the proven strategy that's emerged from this thread: calling that wage verification line (512-463-2824) right at 8 AM tomorrow, submitting a written inquiry through the TWC website, and keeping Claimyr as a backup option if needed. Omar's success story and all the detailed advice from people like Diego, Zainab, and Destiny gives me so much hope. Thank you to everyone who took the time to not just share their frustrations but actually follow up with what worked - this community-driven troubleshooting is exactly what people need when dealing with such an opaque system!

This thread has been such a lifesaver for me! I just filed my TWC claim last week and was starting to worry when I saw no movement after a few days, but reading through everyone's experiences has really prepared me for what to expect. I also have out-of-state work history (worked in Kansas for about 6 months last year), so based on all the patterns shared here, I'm expecting potential delays due to interstate wage verification. It's really eye-opening how consistent this issue is across so many cases! I'm going to be proactive and bookmark that wage verification number (512-463-2824) to call if my claim doesn't move within the next week or two. The strategy that's emerged from this community - calling at 8 AM sharp, submitting written inquiries, keeping detailed documentation, and having services like Claimyr as a backup - gives me so much more confidence than just waiting and hoping. Thank you especially to Omar for starting this discussion and to everyone who followed up with their results. It's amazing how this thread has evolved from one person's frustration into a comprehensive guide that's helping so many people navigate the TWC system more effectively!