Based on what you're describing, this sounds like a wage reporting error. When you said "earnings exceed WBA" that's a very specific determination. It means TWC believes you earned more at a job than your weekly benefit amount allows. Here's what to do: 1. File an appeal for this NEW issue right away (separate from your existing appeal) 2. In the appeal, clearly state you have not worked or earned any wages during the claim period in question 3. Try calling the TWC Tele-Serv system at 800-558-8321 to see if there's more information about the specific earnings they think you received 4. Contact your previous employer to make sure they haven't accidentally reported you as still working 5. Keep requesting payments every two weeks even if it says you're ineligible - this preserves your claim If you win your appeal, you'll receive back payments for any weeks you were eligible. The key is to appeal within the 14-day window.

UPDATE: I finally got through to TWC this morning! Turns out my previous employer reported wages for me for last week (even though I haven't worked there since January). The agent said this happens sometimes when employers batch-report or make clerical errors. She put in a request to have the wages removed from my record, and said my payments should resume once that's processed. I also went ahead and filed the appeal just in case it takes them too long to fix it. Thanks everyone for your help!

I had same problem and fixed it by going to the TWC office in person! Waited about 2 hours but at least got it fixed same day instead of waiting forever on the phone

Just to add some helpful information for others: for seasonal school employees, TWC requires you to upload documentation showing your return-to-work date. This helps verify that you have "reasonable assurance" of returning after the break, which is required for eligibility. You'll want an official letter from your school stating your employment terms and specific return date. Also, remember that you still need to do the 3 work search activities each week, even though you have a job to return to. I've seen claims delayed because people think seasonal workers are exempt from work search - they're not!

Yes, always ask for a \

Just wanted to update - a friend of mine was in this exact situation last week. She used Claimyr to get through to TWC, and the agent she spoke with was able to see that her ID.me verification had actually completed successfully in their system, but there was a secondary review flag that was holding up the process. The agent removed that flag while she was on the phone, and her account was updated and money restored within 48 hours. Sometimes you just need to get to the right person who can see what's actually happening in their system.

So about that whole "using Spanish at work" thing - I'm really curious what happened there if you don't mind sharing. Was that seriously the reason they fired you and denied benefits? That sounds like potential discrimination depending on the circumstances, especially if non-Hispanic employees were specifically targeted for using Spanish while Hispanic employees weren't.

UPDATE: I finally got through this morning! Called exactly at 7:00am and still waited 45 minutes, but eventually spoke with someone. For anyone else stuck in the "must call in" loop after a seasonal job: 1. They confirmed my account was flagged for manual review due to previous appeal history 2. I had to verify identity again through ID.me even though I did this last year 3. The agent manually created my new claim 4. She said I should receive my determination letter within 7-10 business days 5. I CAN start requesting payments next week even before determination (this was news to me!) Thanks everyone for your help! That silent hold is still absolutely maddening though.

To answer your follow-up question about timing: Once your son's claim is approved (which typically takes 2-3 weeks if there are no issues), he'll be able to request his first payment. He won't get paid for the first week (the waiting week), but he still needs to request payment for it. After that, he'll request payment every two weeks on his assigned day. The money usually arrives 2-3 business days after a successful payment request via direct deposit, or 5-7 days if he's using the TWC debit card. Regarding work search documentation, a spreadsheet is perfect! He should record: - Date of activity - Employer name/contact information - Type of work search activity (application, interview, networking, WorkInTexas.com activity, etc.) - Position applied for - Method of contact (online, in person, email) - Results/follow-up TWC doesn't audit everyone, but when they do, having organized records makes it much easier.

For your last question about what counts as work search activities - it's more than just job applications. Here's what TWC accepts as valid work search activities: - Submitting job applications/resumes - Attending job interviews - Creating a profile on WorkInTexas.com - Attending job fairs - Participating in job search seminars or workshops - Taking skills assessment tests - Registering with a staffing agency - Networking events related to job search He needs at least 3 of these activities each week. And regarding the wage investigation deadline - he should request it within 14 days of receiving his Statement of Benefits letter. Also, once he starts receiving benefits, he should set a reminder to request payment every two weeks. Missing a payment request can create real headaches!