This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with unemployment for the first time! I'm currently going through my own claim process and had no idea about how severance pay impacts benefits. Emma, thanks for being so transparent about your mistake and the resolution - it really helps to see the whole process play out. For others who might be reading this: it seems like the key takeaway is that honest mistakes happen, but self-reporting quickly makes a huge difference in how TWC handles the situation. I'm bookmarking this thread in case I run into any issues with my own claim. It's reassuring to know that the system, while frustrating, does seem to work with people who are upfront about errors. Hope your waiting period goes by quickly and you can get back to receiving benefits soon!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually in a similar situation - I just filed my first unemployment claim last week after getting laid off from my tech job, and I received a small severance package too. Reading through Emma's experience and everyone's advice has been incredibly valuable. I was planning to report my severance on my first payment request, but now I'm second-guessing myself about how to calculate the weekly allocation. My severance was $4,200 and my previous weekly salary was $1,200. Based on what Ava explained, it sounds like TWC would allocate this over about 3-4 weeks? Should I try to do the math myself when I fill out the payment request, or just report the lump sum amount and let them calculate the allocation? I want to make sure I get this right from the start rather than having to go through the correction process like Emma did (though it's reassuring to know they handle honest mistakes fairly). Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating this confusing system!

Wow, this thread has been a lifesaver! I'm currently filling out my TWC application and ran into the exact same issue with TriNet vs my actual employer. I was about to spend hours trying to figure out which one to use, but after reading everyone's experiences here, it's crystal clear - go with what's on the W-2 (TriNet in my case). The stories about 6+ week delays are honestly nightmare fuel, so I'm really grateful everyone shared their experiences. It's frustrating that TWC doesn't have any guidance about this PEO situation on their website, especially since it seems to affect so many people now. This community discussion probably just saved me weeks of headaches. Quick question though - when they ask about reason for separation, do I explain the circumstances at my actual workplace (not TriNet), right? That part still seems a bit unclear to me.

This whole thread has been incredibly educational! I'm a newcomer to this community and just went through a similar PEO situation with my unemployment claim about 2 months ago. I used ADP as my employer (per my W-2) instead of my actual company name, and thankfully everything went smoothly - claim was approved within 2 weeks. Reading all these horror stories about 6+ week delays makes me realize how lucky I was to get it right the first time! What really strikes me is how this seems to be such a universal problem across all the major PEOs (TriNet, ADP, Insperity, Paychex, Justworks, etc.) but there's zero guidance from TWC about it. You'd think they would at least put a FAQ section on their website about PEO situations since it's clearly affecting thousands of workers. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone whose company uses a PEO service. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you're definitely helping people avoid major headaches!

I'm going through something similar right now - just started a new job last week and won't get my first check for another 10 days. What's been helping me is creating a detailed budget for exactly what I need to survive these next couple weeks vs what can wait. I also called my credit card company and they gave me a small temporary credit limit increase since I could show proof of employment. Another thing - if you have any items you can sell quickly (old electronics, clothes, etc.), now might be the time. Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp have been decent for quick cash. The financial stress is real but remember this is just temporary - once you get that first paycheck and get on the regular pay cycle, you'll be so much better off than you were on unemployment. You've got this!

I'm a former TWC employee and want to clarify something important that might help with your planning. While it's true that benefits stop on your work start date, there's one detail that sometimes gets overlooked: if you're starting work mid-week during your benefit week, you can still claim partial benefits for the days you didn't work in that week. For example, if your benefit week runs Sunday-Saturday and you start work on Wednesday, you can claim benefits for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of that week. This won't solve the whole 3-week gap, but it might give you a few extra days of coverage. Also, make sure you understand exactly when your benefit week starts and ends - this timing could make a difference in maximizing your final payment. Best of luck with the new job!

This is absolutely amazing news - congratulations! 🎉 Your story is such a perfect example of why preparation and documentation are so crucial in these hearings. Having those 5 years of performance reviews to counter their performance claims was incredibly smart, and it's clear that being able to demonstrate the lack of proper progressive discipline really helped your case. I'm relatively new to this community and the whole unemployment process, so seeing your success gives me so much confidence that the system can actually work fairly when you have solid evidence and tell the truth. It's also really encouraging that TWC processed your decision in just 5 days instead of the 7-10 they quoted, and that they specifically mentioned your credible testimony in the decision letter - shows they were really paying attention to the facts! Thanks for taking the time to come back and share your victory with everyone here. These positive outcomes mean everything to those of us who are feeling anxious about our own situations. Hope that backpay hits your account super quickly!

Congratulations on your successful appeal! This is such encouraging news for everyone in this community. Your case really demonstrates several key points that could help others: having solid documentation like those performance reviews was crucial, being able to articulate the lack of proper progressive discipline made a strong case, and yes - employer no-shows do tend to work in your favor when you have credible testimony. It's also great to see that TWC processed your decision faster than their estimate and specifically acknowledged your credibility in writing. That gives me confidence that they do actually evaluate cases fairly when presented with clear evidence. Thanks for taking the time to update us with the positive outcome - these success stories are invaluable for people who are still navigating their own appeals and feeling anxious about the process. Hope your backpay comes through quickly!

I just want to add that having a support person with you during the hearing can really help with nerves! They can't speak for you, but they can be there for moral support and to help you stay organized with your documents. Also, if you have any medical documentation related to the times you were late (like doctor appointments that conflicted with the sudden schedule changes), make sure to include that too. The hearing officers really do try to be fair, and they understand that employers sometimes change their story or exaggerate claims to avoid paying unemployment. Your evidence is going to speak louder than their accusations. I've seen so many people in similar situations win when they came prepared like you're doing. One more thing - if you win your appeal, make sure to ask about getting your back payments processed quickly. Sometimes there can be delays even after you win. You've clearly done your homework here and you're taking all the right steps. Best of luck with your hearing!

I went through a TWC appeal hearing about 8 months ago and won! Reading your situation brings back all the stress I felt, but you're already doing everything right by gathering evidence and asking questions. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple "fact sheet" with bullet points of my strongest evidence. During the hearing, when I got nervous or the employer was making false claims, I could just glance down at my key points to stay focused. Also, don't underestimate the power of your clean work record before the new manager. I had a similar situation where problems only started after a management change, and the hearing officer specifically asked about that timeline. It really strengthened my case when I could show 2+ years of good performance reviews versus suddenly having issues when leadership changed. For the phone hearing, I recommend using a landline if possible - the connection is usually more reliable than cell phones. And definitely submit your evidence 2-3 days early like others suggested. I submitted mine the day before and was stressed the whole time wondering if it went through properly. You've got solid evidence and you're preparing thoroughly. That puts you way ahead of people who just wing it. The hearing officers deal with restaurant scheduling issues all the time - they know how common last-minute changes are in that industry. Stay calm, stick to the facts, and you have a real shot at winning this!