Yes, work search reporting deadlines will also be extended. When the system comes back online, you'll have at least 3 business days to submit any work search activities that were due during the outage. This is standard procedure during system outages. One tip: prepare your work search information on paper or in a document so you're ready to enter it quickly when the system is back up. And as always, make sure you're completing at least 3 qualified work search activities each week regardless of the system status.

Just wanted to update everyone - I was finally able to get through using the Tele-Serv number that Lauren mentioned! It took about 20 minutes of trying different times, but I successfully submitted my payment request through the automated system. The key was calling around 2pm when call volume seemed lighter. For anyone still struggling, definitely try the 800-558-8321 number and be patient with the automated prompts. My payment request went through even though the website is still down. Hope this helps others who are in the same boat!

I've been through this exact same situation! The combination of reporting part-time earnings and it being your second payment request is definitely why you're seeing the delay. When I first started collecting benefits, my initial payment was super fast (came with the card), but then my second payment took almost a full week because I had also reported some freelance work I did. The "pending review" status is totally normal when you report earnings - they have to manually verify everything matches up. Since you earned $180 and assuming your weekly benefit is around $400 (just guessing), you should still get a decent payment once it processes. The waiting is the worst part, but it sounds like you're doing everything right by reporting honestly and keeping up with work searches. Hang in there - it should show up early next week if the timeline follows what most of us have experienced!

I went through something very similar when I started collecting benefits! The first payment comes loaded on the ReliaCard when they mail it to you, but after that, regular payment requests follow TWC's normal processing timeline. When you report part-time earnings like you did, it triggers a manual review process that adds several extra days. The good news is that "pending review" for reported earnings is completely routine - they just need to verify your work hours and calculate the correct benefit reduction. Since you earned $180, depending on your weekly benefit amount, you should still receive a partial payment once the review is complete. I'd expect to see movement in your claim status by Monday or Tuesday of next week. The waiting is stressful when bills are due, but you're doing everything correctly by reporting your earnings honestly. That's actually going to work in your favor long-term with TWC!

I went through this exact same situation last month! Here's what worked for me: I called early in the morning (around 8 AM) to avoid the worst hold times. When I got through, they were able to reset my PIN in about 5 minutes after verifying my identity with SSN, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of my bank account where they send payments. The new PIN was active immediately. Also, I'd recommend setting up text alerts if you haven't already - it helps you stay on top of important updates even if you get locked out again. Hope this helps!

I had the same issue a few weeks ago and it was so stressful! What worked for me was calling right at 8 AM when they open - way shorter hold times. Also, have all your info ready before you call: SSN, DOB, address, and if possible the last unemployment payment amount. They asked me all of these to verify my identity. The whole process took about 10 minutes once I got through to someone. And definitely write that new PIN down in multiple places this time! I learned my lesson the hard way too 😅

Thanks everybody for all this helpful info! I'm going to: 1. Reapply today and make sure I list the return date in March 2. Keep my employer's recall letter ready if they request it 3. Start doing my 3 weekly work searches right away until told otherwise 4. Request payments on schedule even while waiting for the new determination It sounds like I should expect 3-5 weeks of processing time, which is going to be tight financially but at least I know to plan for it. I'll update here if I run into any other issues or once my claim gets approved with the new benefit amount. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly!

One more tip that saved me a lot of stress - if you have any side income or freelance work during your unemployment, make sure to report it accurately on your payment requests. Even small amounts like $50 from odd jobs need to be reported. TWC will reduce your weekly benefit by the amount you earned, but failing to report it can cause overpayment issues later. Also, since you're in construction, be aware that if you get any temporary or day labor work while waiting for your seasonal recall, you still need to report those wages even if it's just a one-day gig. The construction industry has a lot of informal work arrangements that people sometimes forget to report. Good luck with your reapplication! The waiting period is the worst part, but once it's processed you should be in much better shape financially through the winter.

One last piece of advice for your hearing - be very careful what you say about your availability for work during that period. The school might try to trip you up by asking if you were "ready and available" to return to work at any point. The correct answer is "Yes, I was available to return when the school reopened for normal operations and I was called back." Don't fall into the trap of saying you wouldn't have returned under certain conditions (unless you had legitimate health concerns that are protected). Remember that to qualify for unemployment, you needed to be ready and available for suitable work. Good luck with your hearing! Please let us know how it goes - your experience could help others in the same situation.

I'm dealing with something similar right now with my district! They're claiming I "abandoned" my position as a bus driver even though I was laid off due to reduced routes during COVID. It's so frustrating how they wait months to challenge these claims hoping we won't fight back. One thing that really helped me was getting a copy of my personnel file from HR (you have a right to this in Texas). It showed there was NO resignation letter or termination paperwork on file - just notes about the layoff. This was crucial evidence that I never quit. Also, if you have any coworkers who were in similar situations, see if they'd be willing to provide a statement about the school's communications during that time. Sometimes having witness testimony about what management was telling everyone can really strengthen your case. You've got this! Don't let them intimidate you with their fancy lawyers - the facts are on your side.