Just wanted to add that when your husband files his initial claim, he should be very detailed about the reason for the reduction. TWC will ask for specific information about why his hours and pay were cut, so have him explain clearly that it was due to the employer's financial difficulties and not any fault of his own. Also, keep copies of everything - his old pay stubs showing the higher salary, the new ones showing the reduction, and any written communication from his employer about the changes. If TWC requests additional documentation later, you'll have it ready to go. One more tip: if he gets stuck in the online application process, try different browsers or clear your cache. The TWC website can be glitchy sometimes and switching browsers helped me get through when I had issues. Good luck with the application process! It sounds like he has a solid case for partial benefits given the significant reduction in both hours and pay.

I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago when my employer cut my hours from full-time to part-time due to budget constraints. Here's what I learned from the process: Texas partial unemployment is definitely possible, but there are a few key things to keep in mind: 1. He'll need to file his claim online at ui.texasworkforce.org - the system walks you through everything step by step 2. Make sure he has his Social Security card, driver's license, and recent pay stubs ready before starting 3. When they ask about separation reason, choose "reduction in hours/wages" not "laid off" or "fired" 4. Be prepared to wait - my claim took about 2-3 weeks to process initially The good news is that once it's approved, the bi-weekly payment process becomes pretty routine. I found it helpful to set a calendar reminder for my payment request days so I never missed the deadline. Also, don't let the negative stories scare you off completely. Yes, the system can be frustrating, but many people (myself included) do successfully get partial benefits. The key is being patient and persistent with the process. Hope this helps and that things improve for your family soon!

Congrats on getting your payment! This is actually a really helpful thread for future reference. For anyone else reading this - it's totally normal for first-time TWC payments to take longer, especially with bigger banks like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, etc. They tend to be more conservative with processing times compared to online banks like Chime or Capital One 360. The 2-3 business day window is pretty standard, but don't panic if it hits day 3 like it did for you. The important thing is that "processed" status - that means TWC has sent the money and it's just working its way through the banking system.

Just wanted to add that if anyone is still waiting on their first payment, you can also check your bank's mobile app for any "pending deposits" or "incoming transfers" that might not show in your main balance yet. Some banks will show these a day or two before they actually post to your account. Also, if you're really worried about timing for bills, many banks have overdraft protection or short-term loan features that can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for unemployment to hit. Better to use those than stress about rent! And once you get in the rhythm of the payment schedule, it becomes much more predictable.

Yes, for combined W-2 and 1099 income, you should submit the complete tax return including all schedules along with any W-2 forms. TWC will consider the total income when recalculating the DUA amount. Make sure the return is signed (even if e-filed) and includes all pages of Schedule C for any self-employment. If possible, also include a signed statement breaking down how much came from each source of income. This isn't strictly required, but it helps the claims examiner process things faster since they don't have to spend time figuring out which portions came from which source.

I went through this exact situation last month! Got approved for the minimum DUA amount and it was so frustrating trying to figure out what went wrong. Here's what I learned from my experience: First, don't panic about the minimum amount - it's actually normal when TWC can't immediately verify your income. They approve the minimum to get payments flowing while they wait for documentation. For getting through on the phone, I had success calling right at 8 AM when they open. Set multiple alarms and start dialing at exactly 8:00. I also tried calling around 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM when call volume sometimes drops. But honestly, going to a Workforce Solutions office in person (if you can) is probably your best bet. For the income verification, make sure you're uploading documents from the correct tax year. Since this is a disaster claim, they need proof of income from the tax year BEFORE the disaster occurred. I made the mistake of initially sending this year's pay stubs and had to resubmit everything. One tip that really helped me: when you upload documents, give each file a clear, descriptive name like "2024_Tax_Return_Complete" or "2024_W2_Forms" instead of just leaving the default file names. This seems to help the processors find and review your documents faster. My amount was adjusted within about 8 business days after I submitted the right paperwork. They also backdated the increase to cover all my previous payments. Hang in there - it's a frustrating process but it does get resolved!

I just went through this exact situation 3 months ago! Got denied for "misconduct" after being late due to my son's daycare having COVID closures. I was terrified about the appeal but decided to represent myself to save money. Here's what worked for me: - Made copies of ALL communication with my employer about the childcare issues (texts, emails, even wrote down verbal conversations with dates/times) - Created a simple one-page summary showing the 3 dates I was late, why each happened, and what I told my supervisor - Found the specific section in my employee handbook about progressive discipline (turns out they skipped steps!) The hearing was actually pretty straightforward - just a conference call with me, my former manager, and the hearing officer. My ex-boss tried to make it sound like I was constantly late, but I had my documentation ready to show it was only those 3 specific incidents tied to childcare emergencies. Won my case and got back pay for all the weeks I was denied! The hearing officer said the key was proving the tardiness was due to circumstances beyond my reasonable control, which childcare emergencies definitely qualify as. You've got this! Having those texts with your supervisor is huge. Just stay organized and factual during the hearing.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience from a few months back. I was in almost the exact same situation - denied for "misconduct" after being terminated for tardiness due to my daughter's medical appointments that couldn't be scheduled outside work hours. I decided to represent myself and it was honestly the best decision. The hearing officer was very fair and asked specific questions about whether I had communicated with my employer and if the tardiness was within my control. Having documentation was key - I had appointment confirmations, texts to my supervisor, and even a letter from my daughter's doctor explaining the medical necessity. What really helped was preparing a short statement (like 2-3 sentences) explaining that while I understood I violated attendance policy, it was due to unavoidable family circumstances that I communicated to my employer. I practiced saying it out loud so I wouldn't get flustered during the hearing. The whole process took about 6 weeks from appeal to decision, and I won! Got all my back benefits too. Don't let them intimidate you - Texas law recognizes that good cause exceptions exist for attendance issues when they're truly beyond your reasonable control. Based on what you've shared about having texts with your supervisor about childcare issues, you're in a strong position. Save your money and represent yourself - you've got this!

I'm dealing with a similar DUA denial right now - TWC seems to have really tightened up their review process lately. One thing that helped me was getting a notarized affidavit from my employer instead of just a regular letter. The notarization seemed to give it more legitimacy in their eyes. Also, if you haven't already, try to get documentation from the city/county about the official disaster declaration for your area. I found mine on the county emergency management website and it helped establish that there was indeed a qualifying disaster event. The appeals examiner specifically asked about this during my hearing. For the payment request issue while your claim is denied - you might need to look for a "weekly certification" or "payment request" link that's separate from your main claim status. It's not always obvious where to find it when the claim shows denied. The system is honestly terrible at explaining this stuff. Good luck with your appeal! The fact that you have all those emails and photos should really help your case.

I'm going through a DUA appeal right now too and wanted to share something that really helped my case. When I got my employer to write the updated letter, I had them include specific financial details about how the storm impacted their business - like "due to water damage totaling $X, we had to close for Y weeks and postpone all new hires until repairs are completed." The appeals examiner told me that showing the concrete business impact made it much clearer that this wasn't just an excuse to rescind job offers. Also, if your dental office filed any insurance claims for the storm damage, see if they can reference the claim number in their letter - that adds another layer of verification. One more tip: when you do your phone hearing, be prepared to walk through the exact timeline step by step. They'll want to hear "I was offered the job on [date], storm hit on [date], employer contacted me on [date] to postpone start date, etc." Having those specific dates ready made a huge difference in my case. The whole process is frustrating but don't give up! TWC seems to deny a lot of DUA claims initially just to see if people will appeal with better documentation.