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One additional thing to check - log into your TWC account and look at your claim and payment status. Check the "Maximum Benefit Amount" and how much you've already received. It's possible you didn't use much of your benefits during your first unemployment period, so the "exhausted" message after just two payments seems unusual unless your Maximum Benefit Amount was very low to begin with. If the numbers don't add up, there could be an error worth investigating. Sometimes TWC systems show "exhausted" when there's actually another issue with your claim that needs addressing.
Just checked and you're right - something does look off. My original Maximum Benefit Amount was $4,225, and I only used about $2,600 during my first unemployment period. So there should be around $1,625 left, which is more than just two payments worth. Maybe there IS an error! I'm definitely going to try to reach a TWC agent now. This gives me some hope at least.
That's definitely worth investigating! When TWC shows "exhausted" but the math doesn't add up, it could be a system glitch or they might have applied some kind of penalty or overpayment deduction that you're not aware of. When you get through to an agent, ask them to walk through your payment history line by line and explain any deductions. Sometimes they'll also find that wages were misreported or miscalculated. Good luck getting through - hopefully you'll get this sorted out!
I'm a benefits specialist and this situation is unfortunately more common than it should be. Based on what you've described, there are actually two separate issues at play: 1. **The benefit year continuation**: Since you filed in January 2024, you're still within that same 52-week benefit year until January 2025. Any new unemployment during this period continues the existing claim rather than starting fresh. 2. **The "exhausted" status after only 2 payments**: This is the red flag. If your Maximum Benefit Amount was $4,225 and you only used $2,600 previously, you should have remaining benefits available. The fact that it shows exhausted after just two payments suggests either a system error or there's an unreported issue (like an overpayment, disqualification, or wage dispute). My advice: Focus on getting through to TWC to resolve the "exhausted" issue first. Use the callback services others mentioned, or try calling right when they open at 8 AM. Once you get through, ask them to: - Review your payment history and explain any deductions - Verify your remaining benefit balance - Check if there are any holds or issues on your account Even though you can't get the higher wage calculation until your benefit year ends, you should still be able to access your remaining benefits from the original claim if the math is correct.
I just tried the Claimyr service that someone mentioned, and it actually worked! I got through to TWC after trying for days. The agent I spoke with recommended I submit a statement explaining exactly why I couldn't request accommodation (the rigid shift schedule and mandatory overtime). She also suggested getting a written statement from one of my former coworkers confirming the company's inflexible scheduling policy. I'm feeling much more hopeful about my appeal now. Thanks everyone for all your advice!
That's great news! Getting specific advice directly from TWC is invaluable. Make sure you get that coworker statement and include it with your appeal. Keep us posted on how your hearing goes - your experience could help others in similar situations!
This is such a stressful situation, but it sounds like you're getting good advice here! I went through something similar when I had to quit my job to care for my disabled sister. The key thing that helped my case was documenting everything about WHY accommodation wasn't possible at my workplace. Since you mentioned it was a warehouse job with fixed shifts, that actually works in your favor - those types of jobs are notoriously inflexible. When you write your appeal, be very specific about the job requirements (10-hour shifts, mandatory overtime, etc.) and explain how those directly conflicted with your nephew's school schedule and your legal custody responsibilities. Also, don't beat yourself up about not formally requesting accommodation. If you can show that the nature of the work made accommodation impossible or highly unlikely, that strengthens your case. The fact that you already spoke to a TWC agent who gave you specific guidance is huge! Make sure to file that appeal ASAP and include everything everyone has mentioned - custody docs, school records, and especially that coworker statement about company policy. You've got this!
Thank you so much for the encouragement and practical advice! It really helps to hear from someone who went through something similar and came out successful. You're absolutely right about warehouse jobs being inflexible - I should emphasize that in my appeal. I'm feeling much more confident now that I have a clear plan of action. I'll make sure to file the appeal tomorrow and gather all the documentation everyone has suggested. This community has been incredibly helpful during such a stressful time!
I'm in week 4 of waiting and reading through this thread gives me both hope and anxiety! It sounds like most people eventually get through, but the lack of communication from TWC is just brutal. @Arnav Bengali thanks so much for sharing your journey and especially that update about getting through with Claimyr - that's really encouraging! I'm definitely going to try that service this week. Quick question for anyone who's been through this: when you finally got approved, did you get the full backpay automatically or did you have to request it separately? I've been doing my biweekly requests like suggested but want to make sure I don't miss any steps. This whole process is such a nightmare but at least this community helps us feel less alone in dealing with it!
@Oliver Schulz From what I ve'seen in other threads and talking to people who ve'been through this, the backpay usually gets processed automatically once your claim is approved, as long as you ve'been doing those biweekly payment requests consistently. The key is making sure you don t'miss any of those requests even while your claim is stuck - that s'what qualifies you for each week of benefits. I d'definitely recommend trying Claimyr like others have suggested, especially since you re'already at 4 weeks. The sooner you can get through to someone and figure out what s'holding up your claim, the better. It s'really frustrating how opaque this whole system is, but at least there seem to be ways to get answers if you re'persistent enough!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same issue - my claim has been stuck in review for 5 weeks now and I was starting to think I was the only one. Reading everyone's experiences here is both frustrating (that this is happening to so many people) but also reassuring that I'm not alone. The tip about continuing to request payments even while in review status is huge - I had no idea I was supposed to keep doing that! I've been documenting my job searches but not submitting payment requests because I thought I had to wait for approval first. Going to fix that immediately. Also definitely going to try the Claimyr service this week after seeing multiple people say it worked for them. It's ridiculous that we have to pay a third party to get basic information about our own claims, but at this point I'm willing to try anything. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with TWC's terrible communication!
I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My former employer told TWC I was "unreliable" and missed too many days, but I have detailed records showing I only used 3 sick days in 8 months and always followed proper procedures. It's so frustrating when companies just make stuff up! One thing that's helped me is organizing all my evidence into a binder with tabs - time records, emails, performance reviews, etc. I also printed out the company's official attendance policy from their employee handbook to show I never violated it. The advice about continuing to request payments is spot on - I almost stopped doing that thinking it was pointless while appealing. Also, when you do get your hearing notice, they'll tell you if it's phone or in-person. Mine is scheduled for phone, which actually works better for me since I can have all my documents spread out in front of me. Stay strong! From what I've read, when employees have solid documentation like you do, they usually win these appeals. The employers are just hoping we'll give up and not fight back.
This is so helpful to hear from someone going through the same thing! The binder idea is brilliant - I'm definitely going to organize everything that way. It's awful that employers think they can just lie and get away with it, but reading all these success stories gives me hope. Thank you for sharing your experience and good luck with your phone hearing! I hope we both get justice and our benefits restored.
I just went through this exact situation a few months ago - employer claimed I had "excessive absences" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The key thing that helped me win was having EVERYTHING documented and organized chronologically. Since you have those time punch records, make sure you also grab any emails between you and your supervisor about work schedules, any company communications about remote work policies, and especially any emails from around the time you were terminated that mention "restructuring" or layoffs. One thing I learned during my appeal - the hearing officer really appreciated when I could point to specific company policies that contradicted what my employer claimed. If your company had an official remote work policy or attendance policy, get a copy of that too. Also, don't be surprised if your employer tries to change their story during the hearing. Mine suddenly claimed I was "insubordinate" when their original claim to TWC was about attendance. Just stick to your evidence and stay calm. The appeals process is stressful but you clearly have a strong case with those time records. Document everything, stay organized, and don't let them intimidate you!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually won their appeal. I definitely need to look for any emails mentioning the restructuring - I think I have a few from my manager talking about "company-wide layoffs" right around when I was terminated. The point about employers changing their story during the hearing is really important - I hadn't thought about that possibility. I'll make sure to stick to the facts and not get thrown off if they suddenly bring up new claims. Did your employer actually show up to the hearing or did they just submit written evidence? I'm curious what to expect in terms of who will be there representing the company.
Evelyn Rivera
I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! My check took 11 business days to process and show up in my account balance. The key thing is that TWC processes payments in batches, so even though they physically received your check 5 days ago, it might not get processed until their next batch run. I found that checking on Fridays was when I'd usually see updates since that seems to be when they do a lot of their processing. Don't panic yet - 8 days is still within the normal range. Just keep that tracking info handy and try to be patient for another week or so before calling.
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Ryan Andre
•That's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this! The batch processing explanation makes a lot of sense - I was wondering why it would take so long when they clearly received it. I'll definitely check on Fridays like you suggested. Thanks for sharing your timeline, it helps knowing 11 days is normal and I'm not in some weird limbo situation.
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TommyKapitz
I'm currently dealing with a TWC overpayment situation too and this thread is super helpful! I've been putting off sending my check because I was worried about exactly this kind of processing delay. Sounds like 10-15 business days is pretty standard from what everyone's saying. Quick question for those who've been through this - did any of you get any kind of confirmation email or notice when TWC actually processed your payment, or did you just have to keep checking the online balance until it updated? I'm trying to figure out if I should expect any kind of notification or if it's just a "check daily and hope for the best" situation.
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