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.

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 😅

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!

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!