Congratulations Keisha! 🎉 That's absolutely wonderful news that your appeal was decided in your favor! I'm so relieved for you after all that waiting and stress, especially with rent being due. 17 days is actually pretty good timing based on what everyone mentioned about the typical 14-21 day window. I noticed your message got cut off though - you said the letter mentions your claim has been... what exactly? I'm really curious about what the next steps look like since I might find myself in a similar situation at some point. From all the helpful advice shared in this thread, it sounds like you'll need to log into your TWC account and actively request payment for all those back weeks that were held up during the appeal process. The money won't just automatically appear - you'll need to manually submit payment requests for each eligible week. And definitely make sure your direct deposit information is current before you start requesting payments so there aren't any delays! Thanks so much for keeping everyone updated throughout this whole ordeal. It's really encouraging to see someone actually get a positive outcome and know that persistence pays off. Hope you can get those payment requests submitted and processed quickly so you can finally catch up on everything! Please let us know how it goes! 💪

Congratulations Keisha! 🎉 That's amazing news that your appeal was decided in your favor! I can only imagine the relief you must be feeling after all that stress and waiting, especially with rent due. 17 days is actually right in that normal timeframe everyone mentioned. I see your message got cut off - you said the letter mentions your claim has been... what? Really curious to hear what the next steps are! From all the helpful advice in this thread, it sounds like you'll need to log into your TWC account and manually request payment for those back weeks. Make sure your direct deposit info is current before submitting those requests! Thanks for keeping us updated throughout this whole process - it's really encouraging to see a positive outcome. Hope you get those payments processed quickly and can finally catch up on everything! 💪

I'm so fed up with this whole system. Been out of work for 3 months, can't get through to TWC, bills piling up. Anyone know if there's a way to expedite claims for people in dire situations?

I've been dealing with TWC for weeks now and finally got through yesterday! Here's what worked for me: I called the main number (800-939-6631) at exactly 8:00 AM and kept hitting redial every time it said "call volume too high." Took about 45 minutes of constant redialing but I finally got into the queue. Once I was on hold, I waited about 2 hours but actually got a real person who was super helpful. Don't give up! The key is persistence and calling right when they open. Also, make sure you have your claim number, SSN, and recent work history ready to go. Good luck everyone! 🤞

Reading through this whole thread has been such a relief! I'm currently in my second week of benefits and was starting to stress about whether I was handling the work search requirements correctly. Like so many others here, I was getting confused by the difference between certifying that I completed my activities during payment requests versus keeping detailed records for audits. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you hear from people who've actually been through this process rather than trying to decode the official TWC website. I really appreciate everyone sharing their tracking systems - I think I'm going to implement that Google Sheets approach with columns for date, company, position, and application method. The key seems to be keeping it simple but consistent. @Isaiah Thompson - so glad you got this sorted out! Your original post probably helped way more people than just yourself. This community is incredible for providing real-world guidance on navigating these confusing systems. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences!

This entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who's been collecting benefits for about a month now, I was definitely overthinking the work search requirements and getting stressed about documentation. Reading through everyone's experiences really clarified that the main compliance piece is honestly completing your activities and certifying them during payment requests - the detailed record keeping is more about being prepared for potential audits. I love how this thread evolved from one person's panic into this comprehensive guide that's probably going to help dozens of future claimants. The Google Sheets tracking system with columns for date, company, position, and application method seems to be the gold standard based on everyone's feedback. I'm setting mine up tonight! @Isaiah Thompson thanks for asking the question that so many of us needed answered. And thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this community is such a lifeline for navigating the confusing TWC system. You've all saved me (and probably many others) from unnecessary stress and sleepless nights!

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! As someone who's been stressed about this exact situation all weekend, it's clear that being proactive with TWC is the key to success. What I'm taking away from all the advice: 1. Call TWC FIRST before declining the offer - don't wait for them to flag your account 2. Document everything: recent graduation date, active job search in your degree field, salary comparisons, and how the position would "impede reasonable career progression" 3. The 6-month grace period for recent graduates is huge - I had no idea this existed! 4. Emphasize that working two different positions for the same pay would actually hinder your ability to network and interview in accounting I'm calling TWC first thing Monday morning with all my documentation ready. It's so helpful to see that multiple people have successfully navigated this situation by being transparent and proactive rather than just hoping TWC won't notice. The fact that they actually want to help recent graduates transition into their career fields makes me feel much more confident about this call. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - this community is amazing!

I just went through this exact situation two months ago! My former employer offered me back my old restaurant job plus bartending duties (two positions) for the same $13/hour after I graduated with my finance degree. I was terrified about losing my benefits, but here's what I learned: TWC actually has specific provisions for recent graduates - you get a 6-month period where you can be more selective about what constitutes "suitable work" as long as you're actively job searching in your degree field. The key is being proactive and transparent with TWC. I called them the day I received the offer and explained my situation. The agent told me to document three things: 1) proof of active job searching in finance, 2) salary comparison showing the pay gap between my offered job and entry-level positions in my field, and 3) specific ways accepting would interfere with my career development (networking events, professional development, interview availability). My case was approved without any benefit interruption because I was upfront about everything. The agent specifically mentioned that working multiple positions for the same pre-graduation pay when you have new qualifications that qualify you for better opportunities is a textbook case of work that would "impede reasonable career progression." Don't stress too much - your situation is actually quite strong given your recent graduation and the unreasonable nature of the offer (two positions, same pay, different field than your degree). Just make sure to call TWC before declining and have all your documentation ready!

One more tip that really helped me - I created a simple template for tracking each work search activity that includes: Date, Company Name, Position Title, Method (online application/email/in-person), Contact Person (if applicable), and Notes. This way if I ever get audited, I have all the details TWC might ask for in one organized place. Also, don't forget that you can count time spent researching companies and positions as part of your job search activities. If you spend significant time on a company's website learning about their culture, values, and open positions before applying, that preparation work can strengthen your application and shows you're being thorough in your search. Best of luck with everything - you've got this!

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're doing freelance or gig work while collecting unemployment, those activities can sometimes count toward your work search requirements too! Things like updating your profile on freelance platforms, bidding on projects, or networking with potential clients can qualify. Just make sure any income you earn gets reported properly to TWC. Also, I've found that keeping a bookmark folder in my browser with all the job sites I use regularly makes it much easier to stay organized with applications. Sites like Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs, ZipRecruiter, and company career pages. The faster you can navigate between sites, the more efficient your job search becomes! One last thing - don't sleep on local job placement agencies and staffing firms. Registering with them and meeting with recruiters definitely counts as work search activities, and they often have access to jobs that aren't posted publicly.