That gives me some hope! I definitely applied in good faith and provided all documentation honestly. I'll prepare my financial information ahead of time in case I need to request this waiver. Thank you both for this advice!

I went through almost the identical situation two years ago - $18,000 overpayment demand after 14 months of appeal silence! Here's what saved me: I requested my complete case file through a Public Information Act request before the interview. This revealed they had flagged my case due to a "wage discrepancy" that turned out to be THEIR data entry error from when my employer reported my separation. During the interview, I had documentation proving the correct information was submitted initially. The key was staying calm and methodical - I asked them to walk through exactly which form or document contained the "incorrect" information they were basing their decision on. Turns out they had misread my employer's response about my separation reason. The whole thing got reversed and I didn't owe anything. The lesson: demand specifics about what triggered their review and have your original documentation ready to prove you submitted accurate information. Don't let them make vague accusations - make them show you exactly what they think was wrong.

Update: I was finally able to get through to TWC this morning after using Claimyr! The agent I spoke with was actually really helpful and said they've expedited my case because I had all the documentation ready (police report, FTC report). She said it would still take 7-10 business days to complete their investigation, but at least now I have a case number and a direct extension to call back if needed. Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Will update again when it's resolved.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago. The identity theft form submission was just the first step - they also required me to fax additional documents including a notarized affidavit and copies of my driver's license front and back. The fax number should be in the confirmation email you received after submitting the form. Without those extra docs, my case sat in limbo for weeks. Also, if you haven't already, try calling the fraud hotline directly at 800-252-3642 instead of the main TWC number - sometimes it's less busy. Hang in there, it's incredibly frustrating but they do eventually get it sorted out!

To summarize what everyone has said: 1. Railroad workers file ONLY with the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), not with TWC 2. RRB benefits are typically higher than TWC benefits 3. For the "mutual termination" issue - if he was given the choice to quit or be fired, that's generally considered a discharge, not a voluntary quit 4. Document everything about the separation, especially if safety concerns were involved 5. Be prepared for long wait times when contacting the RRB The RRB website has forms and instructions at rrb.gov - I suggest starting there and then calling them if you have questions.

Just wanted to add - when filing with RRB, make sure your husband has his Social Security number, railroad service records, and any documentation about his last day of work ready. The RRB application asks for specific details about his railroad employment history and the reason for separation. Also, if he worked for multiple railroad companies during his career, he'll need to provide information about all of them. The RRB considers all creditable railroad service when determining benefit amounts. Good luck with the process!

Does anyone know if they ever call with the decision or is it always by mail/online? I'm in a similar situation waiting on an appeal decision and jumping every time my phone rings lol

Just wanted to add that the hearing officer calling out your employer's lies is actually HUGE! I've been to three different TWC hearings over the years (unfortunately had some bad luck with employers) and the officers are usually very neutral and professional. For them to actively challenge your employer's statements means they clearly spotted inconsistencies or outright falsehoods. Combined with your text message evidence and witness testimony, this sounds like a really strong case. I know the waiting is torture, but try to stay positive - everything you've described points to a favorable outcome. And definitely get those payment requests caught up ASAP like others mentioned!

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.

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.