This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm about 8 weeks into my first unemployment claim and when my payment didn't show up today (also processed on the 9th), I immediately thought I must have screwed something up. Reading everyone's experiences has calmed me down so much - I had no idea these system delays were so normal with TWC. I've been that person obsessively refreshing my bank app every 20 minutes all day! Definitely going to follow TWC on Twitter and set up those bank alerts everyone mentioned. It's amazing how supportive this community is - makes dealing with unemployment anxiety so much more manageable when you know other people understand exactly what you're going through. Fingers crossed all our delayed payments come through soon!

I've been receiving TWC benefits for about 10 months now and can totally understand the stress when payments don't arrive on schedule! My payment was also processed on the 9th and didn't get my usual Thursday deposit either. What I've learned over time is to always check TWC's Twitter account first when there's a delay - they're actually pretty good about posting updates there when there are system-wide processing issues. I also keep a simple spreadsheet tracking my payment request dates vs actual deposit dates, which has helped me notice patterns (like delays often happening mid-month or around holidays). One thing that really helps with the anxiety is setting up multiple bank alerts - not just for deposits, but also for low balance warnings so you know when you're getting close to needing that payment. Based on the updates in this thread, it sounds like this batch of delays is already resolving, but for future reference, I've found that most TWC processing delays resolve within 48-72 hours max. Hang in there everyone!

Hey Ethan! I totally get the panic - I was in your exact situation when I first started collecting unemployment last year. The work search requirements seem so overwhelming at first! The good news is you're actually in much better shape than you think. Based on what you've described, you likely already have your 3 activities covered: 1. Your first job application (keep that confirmation email!) 2. Your second job application (keep that one too!) 3. All that time you spent researching companies and learning WorkInTexas absolutely counts as job search preparation! I made the same mistake thinking WorkInTexas was the only place to apply. The hours I spent figuring out that system and setting up my profile all counted when I documented them properly. For documentation, just write something like "3/28/25: Spent 2+ hours researching employers and setting up WorkInTexas profile - created account, uploaded resume, learned search functions." Don't worry about your claim being rejected - TWC is generally understanding with first-time filers who show genuine effort. Just submit what you have and make sure to hit 3 activities consistently going forward. The first week is always the scariest, but you've got this!

Hey Ethan! I can completely relate to your panic - I went through this exact same stress when I first filed for unemployment last year. That first work search log feels so intimidating when you're not sure what actually counts as a valid activity! The great news is that you're in much better shape than you think. From what you've described, you actually already have your 3 required activities: 1. Your first job application (keep that confirmation email!) 2. Your second job application (keep that one too!) 3. All that time you spent researching companies and learning how to use WorkInTexas - this absolutely counts as job search preparation! I made the exact same mistake thinking WorkInTexas was the only acceptable place to apply. All those hours I spent figuring out the system, setting up my profile, and researching potential employers definitely counted when I documented them properly. For your documentation, just write down what you did with specific dates - something like "3/28/25: Spent 2-3 hours researching potential employers in my field and setting up WorkInTexas profile - created account, uploaded resume, learned search functions and job alerts." Don't stress about your entire claim being rejected - TWC is generally pretty understanding with first-time filers as long as you're showing genuine effort. Just submit what you have documented and make sure to consistently hit 3 activities each week going forward. The first week is always the hardest because you're learning the system, but it gets so much easier once you establish a routine. You've totally got this!

To address your specific question about wages needed: You need to have earned at least $2,500 in total during your base period AND have wages in at least 2 of the 4 base period quarters. If your seasonal job spans across 2 quarters (like Nov-Jan), you MIGHT qualify if you earn enough. For example, if you make $15/hr and work 30 hours/week for 12 weeks, that's about $5,400 which exceeds the minimum amount, but it needs to be properly distributed across quarters. I'd suggest applying regardless - TWC will calculate your eligibility based on the specific quarters that apply to you.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you do apply for unemployment after your seasonal job ends, make sure you have all your documentation ready. Save your hiring paperwork that shows it was designated as seasonal/temporary work, keep your paystubs, and if possible get something in writing from your employer when they lay you off that confirms it was a seasonal separation. Also, Texas allows you to file your claim the Sunday of the week your employment ends, so don't wait too long after your last day. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. And definitely keep track of your work search activities from day one - you'll need to report 3 per week once you start receiving benefits. Good luck with your seasonal job! Sounds like you have a good chance of qualifying based on your hours and pay rate.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Just filed my claim 3 days ago and I'm already checking that status page obsessively hoping to see literally anything other than "claim received." The financial anxiety is killing me when rent is due in two weeks and I have no clue if help is coming. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I had absolutely NO idea about requesting payment before approval! That seems so counterintuitive but after reading everyone's experiences, I definitely don't want to miss out on benefit weeks. My SSN ends in 5 so Monday filing for me. Also just realized I should start my work search activities immediately instead of waiting for approval. Creating a spreadsheet today to track job applications, networking, profile updates, etc. Can't believe TWC doesn't make these requirements clearer upfront! One small thing I found that might help others: under "Payment Request History" it actually shows your potential weekly benefit amount even before approval, which helps with financial planning while we're all stuck in limbo. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're already stressed about unemployment. But honestly, seeing so many people here dealing with the identical situation makes me feel way less alone. This community has taught me more about navigating TWC than their entire official website! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips. Hoping we all get some positive news soon - the uncertainty really is the worst part of this whole process.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim 11 days ago and still stuck on that frustrating "claim received" status. The financial stress is unreal when you don't know if benefits are coming and bills keep piling up. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no clue about requesting payment before getting approved! That seems so backwards but I definitely don't want to lose benefit weeks while waiting. My SSN ends in 8 so Tuesday is my filing day too. Also just started documenting my work search activities after reading everyone's advice here. I was planning to wait for approval first but now I see that could cost me benefits later. Better to be over-prepared! One thing that's helped my sanity is setting specific times to check my account (morning and evening) instead of refreshing constantly throughout the day. The compulsive checking was making my anxiety worse without actually changing anything. The uncertainty is absolutely brutal when rent is due and you have no idea if help is coming. But it's so reassuring to see I'm not alone in this waiting game. This community has taught me more about TWC's actual process than their entire website! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips. Hoping we all start seeing some movement on our claims soon - the waiting really is the hardest part of an already stressful situation.

also don't 4get to do your work searches!! my friend got approved but then got her benefits cancelled bc she forgot to do the 3 searches every week. you gotta do them even while waiting for approval

Hey Diego! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. "Potentially eligible" is actually a good sign - it means you meet the basic requirements and TWC is just doing their standard investigation before making the final decision. Since you were fired for performance issues without any written warnings, you're likely in good shape. TWC distinguishes between "misconduct" (like stealing, fighting, or willfully violating policies) and just not meeting performance standards. Struggling with unrealistic sales targets that kept increasing is definitely not misconduct. A few tips based on my experience: - Keep requesting your weekly payments even while waiting for final approval - Start your work search activities immediately (3 per week minimum) and log them in the TWC system - Check your correspondence inbox daily for any questionnaires about your job separation - If your employer contests the claim, you might get a phone interview from TWC - just be honest about what happened The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from filing to getting my first payment. The ID.me verification was the longest part - took about 6 days. Hang in there, it sounds like you have a solid case!