UPDATE: I finally got a callback from TWC today, about 48 hours after submitting the online callback request. The issue was exactly what we suspected - the system flagged my account for a work search verification. The agent reviewed my activities, added some notes to my file, and released my payment. It should be in my account within 2-3 business days. If you haven't heard back yet, I'd recommend trying again first thing tomorrow morning. The early call trick does work!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar last month. I also had my first two payments come through quickly, then hit a wall on week 3. Turned out TWC was doing a random audit of my work search activities - they never sent any notification, just silently held my payments. The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of all my work search activities with dates, company names, and contact methods. When I finally got through to them, having that information ready made the call go much smoother. They were able to verify everything on the spot and release my payment the same day. One tip: if you do get through and they say they need to "research" your claim, ask for a timeline and reference number. Sometimes they'll put you back in limbo without giving you any way to follow up. Good luck - you're definitely not alone in this frustrating situation!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Filed in December and my claim was pending for about 6 weeks. I was getting so anxious about bills piling up. When it finally got approved, I received ALL my back payments in one direct deposit - it was like $2,800 for 7 weeks all at once (minus that waiting week everyone mentioned). TWC doesn't stagger the payments, they release everything you're owed in a single lump sum. The key thing that helped me was keeping a detailed spreadsheet of every payment request I submitted with confirmation numbers and dates. Also kept screenshots of everything just in case. When I finally got through to an agent (took calling 50+ times over several days), they were able to see all my requests in their system and confirm everything was properly documented. Don't give up on calling - it's frustrating but it's really the only way to get answers about what's causing the delay. Good luck!

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Filed my claim on February 10th and have been submitting payment requests religiously every two weeks. Still showing as pending and it's driving me crazy not knowing when I'll see any money. From everything I've read here and other forums, it sounds like once TWC finally approves your claim, you'll get all your back payments in one lump sum deposit - not staggered over time. That's at least some good news in this frustrating process. I've been trying the early morning calling strategy that someone mentioned, and while I still can't get through most days, I did manage to stay on hold for about 45 minutes yesterday before getting disconnected. Progress, I guess? The waiting week thing was news to me too - seems like such a cruel policy when people are already stressed about money. But at least we know what to expect now. Keep hanging in there and don't stop submitting those payment requests!

Update: I want to thank everyone for all the helpful advice! I emailed my state representative yesterday with details about my hardship situation. I also tried Claimyr this morning and actually got through to a TWC agent! They found that my claim was delayed because of an employer response issue - my former employer hadn't confirmed the reason for separation. The agent expedited my claim review due to my hardship situation with documentation I provided about my car. They said I should see a determination within 3-5 business days! I'm still nervous but at least feeling hopeful now. I'll keep doing my work searches while I wait.

So glad to hear you got through and found the issue! That employer response delay is super common - happened to me too. My former employer took forever to respond about my layoff details. Once that was cleared up, everything moved fast. Really smart move contacting your state rep AND using Claimyr. Hope you get that approval soon and can keep your car! The backpay should help catch you up once it comes through. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I went through something similar a few years back. The harsh reality is that unemployment insurance is essentially a "pay to play" system - you have to have paid into it through W2 employment to get benefits out. It's frustrating when you've been working and earning income, just not in the "right" way according to the system. One thing worth trying: if you had ANY W2 employment in the past 18 months (even part-time, seasonal, or gig work that issued W2s), make sure TWC has those records. Sometimes wages from smaller employers don't show up immediately in their system. You can request a wage transcript to see exactly what they have on file. Also, while you're likely stuck on regular unemployment, Texas does have some workforce development programs that might help with retraining or job placement services. Not cash assistance, but could be useful while you're job hunting. The local workforce board might have resources specifically for people transitioning from self-employment back to traditional employment.

This is such a frustrating situation, and I feel for you. I went through something similar when I transitioned from freelance consulting to a regular job. The unemployment system really doesn't account for the modern gig economy and self-employment reality. One thing that might be worth exploring - and I'm not sure if this applies to your situation - but if you had any 1099 work during your base period where the company should have classified you as a W2 employee (like if you were working exclusively for one client with set hours), you might be able to challenge the classification. It's a long shot, but worker misclassification is a real issue. Also, definitely document everything about your self-employment income and business operations. Even though it won't help with this current claim, if there are any policy changes in the future or if you need to establish a work history for other purposes, having that documentation could be valuable. The whole system really needs to be updated to reflect how people actually work these days. Sorry you're dealing with this - it's genuinely unfair even if it's technically "by design.

Just went through this in February when my benefits ran out. Here's my experience - after my final payment request, I tried using the online portal to request the waiting week but there was no option for it. I called the TWC number for FOUR DAYS straight and couldn't get through - constant busy signals or disconnects. Finally used Claimyr.com which got me connected to a TWC agent in about 2 hours. The agent processed my waiting week payment request and I received the money (just one week's worth, so $377 in your case) about 3 days later. Totally worth it rather than spending days trying to get through on my own.

THE TWC SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE MISS OUT ON BENEFITS!!!! They don't tell you clearly about the waiting week payment process because they hope you'll forget about it! Then they keep YOUR MONEY that you're entitled to! I missed out on my waiting week because nobody told me I had to specifically request it after benefits exhaustion. CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY after your final payment!!!!