wat about disaster unemployment assistance? thats different from regular benefits i think

Update: I took everyone's advice and filed my appeal online yesterday. I also managed to get through to TWC this morning after using Claimyr (thanks for that tip!). The agent was actually really helpful - she said she couldn't reverse the determination, but after reviewing my documents, she put in a request to expedite my appeal hearing based on financial hardship and the strong documentation I have. She said I should get a hearing date within 2 weeks instead of the usual timeframe. She also suggested I look into hurricane relief assistance through FEMA since our county was declared a disaster area. I'm going to check that out today. Thank you all for the advice - I'll update once I get my hearing date!

One important thing to remember: even after your benefits exhaust, continue to request payment every two weeks as scheduled until your benefit year ends. Sometimes TWC releases additional funds or makes retroactive adjustments, and you won't receive those if you've stopped requesting payment. Also, triple-check that you've provided ALL employment from your base period. Sometimes people forget about a part-time job or short-term position that could add to their total benefit amount. If you left anything out, contact TWC immediately to have your monetary determination recalculated. Lastly, make sure you're documenting all your work search activities correctly. If TWC finds additional wages or determines you were eligible for more than initially calculated, you'll want to ensure you've met all requirements to receive those funds.

Yes, absolutely continue requesting payment until your benefit year expires (usually 12 months from when you first filed). The system will show you have $0 remaining, but still complete the process. One other thing to check - log into your TWC account and make sure your previous employer didn't contest your unemployment claim. Sometimes they do this at the last minute, and if TWC sides with you, they might add additional weeks to your claim. Also verify that your work search activities are all being properly recorded - sometimes a technical glitch can cause benefits to stop prematurely. I'd also recommend updating your resume on WorkInTexas.com weekly - this makes it appear at the top of employer searches and counts as a work search activity. The holiday season actually has decent hiring for temporary positions that sometimes convert to permanent.

I've helped several people with their TWC claims, and I can tell you that the timing of your termination (right before a bonus payout) is definitely something that TWC will look at closely. When TWC reviews termination cases, they look at several factors: 1. Were you given warnings about performance issues before termination? 2. Did the employer follow their own documented discipline process? 3. Was the termination timing suspicious (like right before a bonus)? 4. Can the employer document specific instances of misconduct? If your employer can't demonstrate that you were fired for actual misconduct (as opposed to just general performance claims), you should be approved eventually. The process is frustratingly slow, but I've seen people in similar situations get approved after 4-6 weeks. Be prepared for a phone interview with a TWC examiner. Have documentation ready about your performance, any positive feedback you received, and definitely mention the bonus timing.

UPDATE: I took several of your suggestions and finally got some answers! I used Claimyr to reach TWC (after 30+ failed attempts calling directly) and found out my employer is claiming I was fired for not meeting performance metrics. The TWC agent scheduled a fact-finding interview for next week. I also contacted my state rep's office and they said they'd follow up on my claim. Between these two actions, things are finally moving! The agent confirmed that if approved, I'll get backpay for all the weeks I've been requesting payment. I'll update again after my interview. Thank you all for the help and advice during this stressful time!

Update: I just wanted to add something important - when you file, TWC will ask about the reason for your separation from employment. Make sure you accurately indicate you were laid off (not fired for cause or that you quit). This affects your eligibility. Since your employer is continuing to pay you, they might not have reported your separation to TWC yet, which could cause confusion. You might want to speak with your former employer to ensure you're both on the same page about how your separation is classified.

Just one more thing - make sure you setup direct deposit right away in the TWC system! The debit card option takes way longer to get your money and has all kinds of weird fees. The direct deposit option is buried deep in the account settings and easy to miss.

This happened to my brother-in-law and the worst part was that the IRS tried to make him pay taxes on "benefits" he never received or applied for! Fight this aggressively and document EVERYTHING. The burden of proof somehow falls on the victim which is completely backwards. The system is broken.

Final update: I've reported the fraud to West Virginia, filed an FTC report, put freezes on my credit, and my bank is helping return the money. West Virginia said they're seeing a lot of these cases and promised to send me something in writing confirming this was fraud for my tax records. Thanks everyone for your help! This community has been amazing with advice during a stressful situation.