Glad you found the determination letter! That's the first thing to check whenever there's a status change. For anyone reading this thread in the future - you can be out of state temporarily while collecting Texas unemployment as long as: 1. You maintain your Texas residency 2. You continue doing your work searches (3 per week) 3. You can return to Texas quickly if offered a job 4. You request payments on your regular schedule TWC doesn't track your physical location through their website or apps. They're concerned with your legal residence and ability to accept work, not your temporary whereabouts.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My payment request was approved on Monday but then switched to "ineligible" on Wednesday with no explanation. I've been unemployed for 2 months and this is the first time it's happened. Reading through these comments, it sounds like there's definitely something going on with TWC's system this week. I'm going to check my correspondence tab like Chloe suggested - I didn't even know that existed! Has anyone who had this issue earlier in the week gotten it resolved yet?

Good luck! Let us know if you get it Friday! 🤞

I've been on TWC unemployment for about 6 months now and can confirm what others are saying - Thursday requests almost always hit on Monday. The only time I've gotten Friday deposits is when I requested super early (like 6 AM) on a Tuesday or Wednesday. TWC's processing times are pretty consistent but not fast. Also make sure you screenshot your confirmation page after submitting your request - I've had a couple times where the system glitched and I needed proof that I submitted on time. Hope your first payment goes smoothly!

Quick tip: Once you start receiving regular deposits, set up account alerts in the ReliaCard app. You can get text messages whenever a deposit hits your account. Really helpful for planning bills and knowing exactly when funds are available.

I've been using ReliaCard for about 6 months now and can confirm what others are saying - that first payment really does take the longest! Mine took 3 full business days to show up initially, but now I typically see deposits within 24-48 hours max. One thing that helped me was calling the ReliaCard customer service number (on the back of your card) the day after TWC processed my payment. They could actually see that a deposit was "in transit" to my account even before it showed up in the app, which gave me peace of mind. Don't stress too much - sounds like everything is processing normally for you!

One more important thing: When you file your claim, TWC will contact your employer for their side of the story. Be prepared for them to potentially dispute your claim by saying payment was just delayed or that you're still employed. This is why documentation is crucial. Screenshot any bounced paychecks, keep records of work performed, save texts/emails about promised payments. Also, in Texas, you must meet the work search requirements while receiving benefits - currently 3 work search activities per week. Document these carefully as TWC may audit you.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and it was a nightmare, but I did get my unemployment benefits approved. Here's what I learned: First, file your TWC claim immediately - don't wait for them to maybe pay you. Choose "reduction in hours or wages" as your reason and explain the non-payment in detail. Second, send a formal email to your supervisor/HR TODAY asking for written confirmation of when you'll be paid - this creates the paper trail TWC needs to see that you tried to resolve it. Third, keep showing up to work until you get a response about your claim or find another job - abandoning your position without notice could hurt your case. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, and I had to do a phone interview where I explained everything. The key is having documentation that shows you made reasonable efforts to get paid before filing. Also definitely file that wage claim like others mentioned - I got my back pay through that process even though it took months.

Quick update on the evidence question - yes, you should provide whatever documentation you have. For my wage claim, I included: 1. A copy of my time card for the final week 2. Text messages with my manager about my last day 3. A calculation of exactly what I was owed (hours × rate) 4. Evidence that I attempted to collect my check (texts asking about it) TWC actually resolved my case pretty quickly (about 6 weeks total). The online submission is definitely faster than mail. The form will ask for very specific information about your employment, so have your start date, end date, job title, manager's name, etc. ready before you begin.

Just wanted to add that if you do decide to file for unemployment benefits alongside your wage claim, make sure to mention the excessive mandatory overtime when you fill out your application. Texas considers "working conditions that are so unreasonable that a person of ordinary prudence would have felt compelled to resign" as good cause for quitting. Working 12 days straight and consistently being scheduled for 50+ hours when you requested fewer hours could definitely fall under this category. Keep all those text messages and schedule copies - they'll be crucial evidence for both your wage claim and any potential unemployment case. Good luck getting your money back!