Andre, this is absolutely incredible news! 🎉 Congratulations on getting that reversal - what a victory after such a stressful journey! Your timeline of 6 weeks and 3 days is really helpful for everyone here who's wondering what to expect. I'm actually just starting to consider filing a Commission appeal myself after getting a disappointing Appeal Tribunal decision last week. Your success story really shows that these appeals aren't just a formality - they actually do thorough reviews and can correct mistakes when they have all the facts. The fact that your additional medical documentation made such a difference is encouraging too. I have some evidence that wasn't available during my original hearing, and now I feel more confident about including it with my appeal. Thank you so much for coming back to update everyone with the good news - it gives all of us hope that justice can still prevail at this level. Enjoy that well-deserved backpay! Stories like yours are exactly what this community needs to hear.

Andre, this is absolutely wonderful news! 🎉 Congratulations on getting that reversal - what an incredible relief that must be after over 6 weeks of stress and uncertainty. Your success story gives me so much hope as someone who's currently 2 weeks into my own Commission appeal process. I lost my Appeal Tribunal hearing last month and have been feeling pretty defeated about the whole situation. But seeing that they actually do thorough reviews and will reverse decisions when presented with proper evidence is exactly what I needed to hear today. The fact that your additional medical documentation made such a difference is really encouraging - I also submitted some extra evidence with my appeal that wasn't available during my original hearing. Your timeline of exactly 6 weeks and 3 days is incredibly helpful for managing expectations during this agonizing wait. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and update everyone with the good news - it means the world to those of us still fighting these battles. Stories like yours prove that persistence and having the right evidence really can pay off at the Commission level. Enjoy that well-deserved backpay and congratulations again on your victory!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just had my TWC phone interview this morning and got that same "responded with no response" message about my employer. I was completely confused and worried about what it meant until I found this thread. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief! It's incredible to see how consistently people with this situation get approved within just a few days. I was laid off 3 weeks ago when my company eliminated our entire HR department due to budget cuts, and my savings are getting pretty low at this point. I've been doing my weekly payment requests on Fridays and my 3 work searches each week, but I was honestly second-guessing whether I should continue before getting the official determination. Based on all the advice here, it sounds like I'm doing exactly what I should be doing. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking - I've probably checked my correspondence inbox about 10 times since the call ended this morning! I'm definitely going to set up those text notifications that everyone keeps mentioning so I can stop obsessively refreshing. It's so reassuring to learn that "no response" from an employer is actually good news rather than something negative. The fact that so many people in similar layoff situations got approved and received retroactive payments is giving me so much hope. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it really helps to know we're all going through this together!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and wanted to add my voice to all the reassuring experiences shared here! Just had my TWC phone interview yesterday and got that same confusing "responded with no response" message about my employer. I was completely baffled by what it meant and have been anxiously refreshing my correspondence inbox every few hours since then. Reading through everyone's stories has been incredibly comforting! It's amazing to see such a consistent pattern of people with this identical situation getting approved within 2-5 business days. I was laid off about 6 weeks ago when my company eliminated our entire digital marketing team due to budget restructuring, and my emergency savings are getting dangerously low. I've been continuing to request my weekly payments (my assigned day is Wednesday) and doing my 3 work searches each week, but I was honestly worried I might be doing something wrong by requesting payments before getting official approval. Based on all the advice shared here, it sounds like I'm on the right track. The waiting really is the most stressful part of this whole process! I think I've been making my anxiety worse by constantly checking that inbox. I'm definitely going to take everyone's suggestion and set up those text notifications right now so I can stop obsessively refreshing the page. It's such a relief to learn that "no response" from an employer is actually a positive indicator rather than something concerning. The fact that so many people in similar layoff situations got approved and received their full retroactive payments is giving me tremendous hope. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - knowing we're all going through this together makes it feel so much less isolating!

I'm really sorry you're facing this difficult situation. As someone who has worked with expecting mothers navigating similar challenges, I want to echo what others have said about TWC unemployment not covering maternity leave, but also offer some additional thoughts. One angle that hasn't been fully explored is whether your employer might be willing to work with you on a creative arrangement. Since they're a small business, they might be more flexible than larger corporations. Have you considered proposing a plan where you could do some remote work during your recovery period? Even a few hours a week of tasks like inventory management, scheduling, or customer service calls could provide some income while you heal. Also, I'd strongly recommend contacting your local United Way chapter (dial 211) - they often have emergency assistance funds specifically for situations like yours and can connect you with local resources that might not be widely advertised. Don't forget to check if you qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) - it's income-based and can help significantly with food costs during pregnancy and after birth. The system absolutely needs to change, but in the meantime, know that there are people and organizations who want to help you through this transition. You're being incredibly responsible by planning ahead, and that preparation will serve you well.

I'm going through a similar situation right now and wanted to share something that might help with the financial planning piece. I've been looking into gig work that I can do during pregnancy and potentially pick back up after recovery - things like online tutoring, freelance data entry, or even selling items I no longer need on Facebook Marketplace. It's not a huge income source, but every little bit helps when you're preparing for months without regular pay. I've also been meal prepping and freezing portions now to reduce food costs later when I'm too tired to cook but don't want to spend money on takeout. One thing I learned from a friend who went through this is to apply for all the assistance programs you mentioned (WIC, TANF, etc.) as early as possible since some have waiting periods or require multiple appointments. She said the paperwork was overwhelming when she was dealing with a newborn, so starting the process while you still have energy makes a big difference. The Texas system really does fail mothers, but I'm grateful for threads like this where we can share practical strategies to get through it. Wishing you the best with your planning!

Hey Ava, I'm in a similar boat - got laid off from my customer success role in December and the job market is absolutely brutal right now. What's helped me is setting up a simple tracking system to monitor my benefit burn rate. I calculate how many weeks I have left by dividing my remaining balance by my weekly benefit amount, then I plan my job search strategy around that timeline. One thing that's been working for me is applying to contract and temp roles in addition to permanent positions. Contract work often has a faster hiring process, and if you earn some income while on partial unemployment, it stretches your benefits further. I found a 20-hour/week contract role that pays $25/hour, which gives me partial UI benefits plus income, making my total remaining benefits last about 40% longer. Also, if you're in marketing, consider looking at roles with smaller companies or nonprofits. They often need marketing help but may not be posting on the major job boards where everyone else is looking. I've had better luck reaching out directly to companies I'm interested in, even if they don't have posted openings. Hang in there - this job market is temporary, but planning around your benefit timeline will help reduce the stress!

I'm dealing with this same situation right now! Got laid off from my retail management position in February and have been really stressed about the same thing. What's helped me understand it better is thinking of the "Benefits Remaining" as your bank account and the "Benefit Year End Date" as the expiration date to use that money. Once your bank account hits zero, you're done - even if the expiration date hasn't arrived yet. I've been tracking my weekly payments to see exactly how many weeks I have left, and it's actually less stressful when you know the exact timeline. One thing I learned is that even small part-time earnings can help stretch your benefits significantly. I picked up a weekend retail job that pays about $200/week, and now my unemployment lasts almost twice as long because I'm getting partial benefits instead of using up my full weekly amount. The job market is definitely tough right now, but having a clear picture of your benefit timeline helps you plan better. Don't panic - just use the time strategically and consider all your options, including part-time work to extend your runway. You've got this!

This entire thread is such a perfect example of why we need better transparency in TWC processes! I've been dealing with unemployment claims for over a decade (unfortunately had to navigate layoffs multiple times in my industry), and the inconsistency in how representatives handle identical situations is maddening. @ea99f97eb184 your experience perfectly illustrates how the first person you talk to can completely misinform you about your rights and options. The fact that you were told you have to be "free 100% of the time" is just wrong - that's not what the law says at all. What's really concerning is how many people probably just accept that first harsh response and either skip the training (losing benefits) or scramble to comply in ways that create real hardship. The accommodation process exists for exactly these situations, but TWC seems to train their front-line staff to discourage people from using it. For anyone reading this in the future: always ask about accommodations, always get a second opinion if the first rep seems unreasonable, and document everything in writing. The system works when you know how to work it, but it shouldn't be this hard to access basic protections that are already built into the program.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me as someone who just started receiving unemployment benefits last month. I had no idea TWC could spring mandatory training on you with such short notice, and honestly the inconsistency in how different representatives handle the same situation is really concerning. @ea99f97eb184 I'm so glad you were able to get the virtual option worked out! Your experience really shows the importance of advocating for yourself and not just accepting the first harsh response you get. The fact that the initial rep told you that you have to be "free 100% of the time" is completely wrong and probably scares a lot of people into just complying even when they have legitimate barriers. I'm definitely saving all the advice from this thread about using specific phrases like "reasonable accommodations" and being persistent with multiple calls if needed. It's frustrating that you have to know these insider tricks to get fair treatment, but I'm grateful this community exists to help newcomers like me understand how to navigate the system properly. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences!