Have you tried calling right when they open? I heard that's the best time to get through. Also, keep hitting 0 or # repeatedly - sometimes that'll bump you to a real person.

I totally get your frustration! I went through the same thing a few months back. What finally worked for me was calling around 2 PM on Wednesdays - seems like a weird time but I think it's when they have more staff available after lunch breaks. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number, last employer info, and exact dates of employment ready before you call. The reps move fast once you get through and they'll hang up if you take too long to find your paperwork. Don't lose hope - it took me 3 weeks but I eventually got everything sorted out!

After reading all the comments, I'd say it's worth filing the Further Appeal if you have those text messages to your supervisor and doctor's notes. Make sure to emphasize: 1. The timeline of your injury 2. Exactly how your supervisor ignored medical restrictions 3. Any witnesses who saw how you were treated 4. Why you felt going to HR wouldn't help (any past examples?) Also, definitely try to speak with a TWC representative about your specific case. Sometimes they can give insights about what the Commission looks for in these cases. The 14-day deadline is strict, so don't wait too long to decide.

Good luck with your Further Appeal! You're making the right choice by fighting this. Make sure to organize your documentation chronologically and focus on the legal standard - that any reasonable person in your situation would have quit due to the work injury and your employer's failure to accommodate your medical restrictions. The text messages showing you tried to communicate with your supervisor about your limitations could be crucial evidence. Even if the Further Appeal doesn't succeed, you're building a stronger record for any future claims or potential legal action. Keep us updated on how it goes!

UPDATE: The money just landed in my account this morning! So that was about 48 hours after the email. Thanks everyone for your help and keeping me from panicking!

Great to see it worked out for you! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic until at least day 3. The TWC system can be stressful when you're new to it, but once you go through it a few times you get used to the timing. For future reference, if you ever need to contact TWC and can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned is legit - saved me hours of frustration when I had an issue with my claim status last year.

Quick update for anyone reading this thread in the future: As of January 2025, TWC has made some improvements to the Tele-Serv system. It now explicitly states "Your payment request has been successfully processed" at the end of a successful call, rather than just saying to contact TWC. This should help reduce confusion for claimants like the original poster who switch between the website and phone system.

I'm glad you got this sorted out! Reading through everyone's responses, it's clear that the "too early to request payment" message is actually confirmation that your Tele-Serv request worked. I've been using both the website and Tele-Serv interchangeably for months without any issues - they're both connected to the same system, so switching between them doesn't cause problems. One tip for future reference: if you ever want to double-check that your payment request went through, you can call the Tele-Serv number again and just listen to your claim status without submitting a new request. It'll tell you when your last payment request was processed. The website's payment history section is also really helpful for tracking this stuff!

I'm in a similar situation - my restaurant got flooded out and we're looking at being closed for at least a month. I applied for regular unemployment on Monday and got the denial letter yesterday (not enough wage credits since I just started this job 3 months ago). Now I'm trying to figure out the DUA application process. One thing I'm confused about - do I need to wait for some kind of official notification that I can apply for disaster assistance, or do I just go back into the TWC portal and look for a DUA option? The website isn't super clear about the next steps after getting denied for regular benefits. Also, for anyone who's been through this - is there a separate application or does it automatically trigger once you're denied? I'm worried about missing some deadline or step in the process.

I'm also dealing with flood damage to my workplace and have been following this thread closely. Just wanted to add that I called TWC yesterday and the agent told me that disaster claims are currently taking 2-3 weeks longer than usual because of the high volume from the recent flooding. She said they're processing claims in the order they're received, so if you haven't applied yet, definitely don't delay. One thing that helped speed up my application was having all my documentation ready before I even started the DUA application. I had my last 3 pay stubs scanned, a letter from my employer about the closure, and photos of the flood damage to our building. The agent said having everything uploaded at once instead of submitting pieces later really helps avoid delays. Also, for anyone still waiting - make sure you're requesting payment every two weeks even if your claim is still pending. If you're approved, you'll get back pay for those weeks, but only if you actually requested payment during that time. I almost missed this detail and would have lost out on benefits for my first two weeks.