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.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! My claim has been stuck in ID verification limbo for 6 weeks after completing ID.me twice. What's really frustrating is that TWC's own website says verification should take 5-7 business days, but clearly that's not happening. I've been documenting everything - screenshot every submission, save confirmation emails, write down the names and badge numbers of anyone you talk to. Also, if your husband is a veteran, there's supposedly a separate expedited line for veterans' claims that might move faster. The whole system is a mess, but don't give up! Keep fighting for what you're owed.

I'm going through this nightmare right now too! Been waiting 2 months since my ID.me verification and still nothing. What's really helped me is creating a daily call log with times, who I spoke to, and what they said - it's helped me track which reps actually know what they're talking about vs the ones who just put you on hold forever. Also found out that if you get disconnected during a call, you can reference your previous call within 24 hours and they can pull up the notes, so always ask for a reference number before hanging up. The whole system is absolutely broken but we can't let them wear us down! Keep pushing and definitely try that new *#0 trick that Carmen mentioned - fingers crossed it works for all of us dealing with this mess.

Update: I finally got through to TWC! The rep confirmed I should definitely be filing in Texas and started a wage investigation. They said it could take 4-6 weeks to resolve but I should keep requesting payment every two weeks. Also confirmed the work search requirements still apply (3 per week). Thanks everyone for your help - I'll post again when this gets resolved in case it helps someone else!

Glad you got through to TWC and got the wage investigation started! That's the hardest part. Just wanted to add - while you're waiting for the investigation to complete, keep copies of EVERYTHING. Screenshot your payment requests showing you did them on time, save all your work search records in a spreadsheet or document, and keep any correspondence from TWC. Also, if your former employer's HR is helpful in getting the wage reporting corrected quickly, that could potentially speed up the whole process. Some companies have dealt with this so many times they know exactly who to contact at the state agencies to get it fixed fast. Fingers crossed it resolves faster than the 4-6 weeks estimate!

Had similar problem but with my appeal being ignored after they said I quit (was actually laid off). Anyways my sister works for state government and she told me to also include my full address and claim filing date when emailing representatives, apparently helps them look up your information faster. Also if you're really desperate the TWC ombudsman office can sometimes help - 800-628-5115. You'll still wait but they specialize in helping with stuck claims.

I went through this exact same nightmare last year and want to share what actually worked for me. First, definitely contact your state representative - they have dedicated staff for constituent services and TWC issues specifically. When you email them, include your full claim number, the date you filed, your address, and a timeline of what's happened so far. But here's what really made the difference for me: I also filed a complaint with the Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO) online. They track systemic issues with state agencies and will forward your complaint to TWC's management. It took about a week, but I got a call from a TWC supervisor who apologized and had my payments released within 48 hours. The SAO complaint form is at sao.texas.gov - look for "Report Fraud, Waste & Abuse" and select "State Agency Service Issues." Make sure to mention how long you've been waiting and that regular customer service hasn't been able to help. Good luck - don't give up!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! Your experience is a perfect example of why persistence pays off with TWC. The fact that your employer had already responded but it was just sitting in a processing queue shows how important it is to get someone who can actually look deeper into your case rather than just the surface-level status. Thanks for updating us - it gives hope to others dealing with similar situations. Enjoy those back payments!

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed my claim in early February and have been stuck on "separation verification" for 3 weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the key is getting to an actual claims examiner rather than the general customer service reps. I'm definitely going to try calling my former employer's HR first to confirm they responded, then use Claimyr if needed. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get our rightful benefits, but at least there are strategies that work. Mary, thanks for coming back to update us with your success - that gives me hope that persistence really does pay off with TWC!