One other thing to keep in mind: when you receive paper checks, you still need to meet all the regular requirements like completing your work search activities (minimum 3 per week) and requesting payment on your assigned day. The payment method change doesn't affect any of your other unemployment obligations. Many people don't realize this and miss payments because they think the system works differently with checks.

Glad to hear you got it sorted out! For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, here are a few additional tips: 1) If you're switching from ReliaCard to paper checks, make sure to keep your old card until you receive your first paper check - sometimes there can be overlapping payments. 2) You can also check the status of mailed checks through the TWC correspondence section online, which helps track if there are any mail delivery issues. 3) If you ever need to switch back to electronic payments later, you can do that through the same process. The whole system is definitely confusing at first, but once you get connected with a real person at TWC they're usually pretty helpful with walking you through the options.

Has anyone had any luck getting an installment plan from TWC that doesn't completely drain your bank account every month? They want me to pay $275/month which I CANNOT afford right now with inflation and everything else going up!

I went through this exact situation last year and it was a nightmare to figure out! Here's what I learned after consulting with a CPA who specializes in these cases: You absolutely DO need to report the full $4,600 from the 1099-G as income - there's no way around that since TWC already reported it to the IRS. But you have options for getting relief on the repayments. Since you started repaying in 2024 (the same year you received the benefits), you can actually deduct the amount you repaid IN 2024 from your taxable income. So if you paid back $540 in 2024 ($180 x 3 months), you can reduce your reportable unemployment income to $4,060 for tax year 2024. For the payments you'll make in 2025, you'll handle those on your 2025 tax return. Since your total repayment will be over $3,000, definitely look into the Section 1341 credit calculation - it could save you more money than just taking the itemized deduction. Keep EVERY receipt and confirmation of your payments to TWC. The IRS may want to see proof of the repayments if they have questions. Also, consider hiring a tax professional for this year since the calculations can get tricky with partial repayments across multiple tax years. Don't stress too much - the tax code does have provisions for exactly this situation, even though TWC doesn't make it clear!

I'm dealing with a similar nightmare situation right now - my Commission Review has been pending for 14 months after winning at both lower levels. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the Appeals Department direct number and the Ombudsman office. What really caught my attention was @Amina Diop's update about the "system flag" and undisclosed employer documentation. This makes me wonder if there are other cases sitting in limbo due to similar administrative errors that claimants aren't being told about. @StarGazer101 - your situation is absolutely unacceptable and I hope calling the Appeals Department directly gives you the breakthrough you need. The fact that you've won twice already and they're still dragging this out is infuriating. Please keep us updated on what you find out when you call! Has anyone else discovered that their case was delayed due to TWC's internal mistakes rather than actual review processing time?

I'm a newer member here but have been lurking and reading posts like this for months while dealing with my own TWC nightmare. What strikes me about your situation @StarGazer101 is how similar it is to so many others - winning at multiple levels but then getting stuck in an endless Commission Review loop. I wanted to add something that might help: I recently learned from a legal aid organization that you can also file a complaint with the Texas State Auditor's office if you believe there's systemic delays or mismanagement. They investigate state agency operations and sometimes that external pressure can motivate TWC to act. The contact info is: StateAuditor@sao.texas.gov Also, document EVERYTHING - every call, every letter, every response (or lack thereof). If this ever goes to court or gets media attention, having a detailed timeline will be crucial. 18 months is beyond unacceptable and honestly feels like they're violating due process at this point. Don't give up! That $18,500 is rightfully yours and they're clearly hoping you'll just walk away. The fact that everyone here is sharing similar stories shows this is a systemic problem that needs more visibility.

Thank you everyone for the advice! I just submitted my payment request and made sure to report the exact wages I earned during the 2 weeks I worked. I also documented my 3 work search activities per week as required. The TWC website shows my payment is now pending, so hopefully it goes through without issues. Really appreciate all the help!

Glad to hear you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you ever have a gap between when your temp job ends and when you submit your next payment request, make sure you're still doing your work search activities during that gap too. TWC counts every week you're unemployed toward the requirement, even if you haven't submitted a payment request yet. I learned this the hard way when I had a similar situation and forgot to do work searches the week after my temp job ended.

UPDATE: Thank you all for the advice! I ended up using Claimyr to get through to TWC this morning (worked like a charm), and the agent confirmed there was a mistake in my file. Apparently my employer coded my separation incorrectly, making it look like I was receiving ongoing payments. The agent documented everything and said they'd be sending a new determination letter within 10 business days. She also suggested I contact my former employer's HR to ask them to submit a correction, which I did right after the call. I'll keep updating my payment requests and hopefully this will all be sorted soon. For anyone else facing similar issues - document EVERYTHING and be persistent!

This is such a frustrating situation but you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar last year where my employer told TWC I was still employed part-time when I had actually been completely laid off. A few things that helped me: 1. Keep detailed records of EVERY interaction - dates, times, names if you get them, reference numbers, etc. This becomes crucial if you need to escalate. 2. The appeal route mentioned by others is really effective. Even without an official determination letter, you can submit documentation contradicting your employer's claims through the portal. 3. Don't give up on the callbacks - I know it's maddening but sometimes they do come through. I waited 5 weeks for mine but it finally happened. 4. If you're comfortable doing so, definitely reach out to your former employer's HR. In many cases it's just a clerical error on their end and they can submit a correction quickly. Stay persistent and keep filing those payment requests! Once this gets resolved you should receive retroactive payments for all the weeks you were eligible. Sending you good vibes that this gets sorted out soon! 🤞