This thread is absolutely golden! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed in October, worked for about 6 weeks in December/January, and just got laid off again last Friday. I was completely lost about whether I needed to file a new claim or what. Joy's update about the "additional claim" process is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm definitely going to try calling at 8 AM tomorrow armed with all the info from this thread. It's honestly ridiculous that TWC's website doesn't make any of this clear - you shouldn't need to hunt through community forums to understand basic processes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who came back with updates after getting things resolved!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently in a similar situation - filed my claim last November, worked from January through March, and just got laid off again two weeks ago. I was completely panicking thinking I'd have to start over with a whole new application. Joy's update about the "additional claim" process and everyone's advice about calling at 8 AM has given me so much confidence going into this. It's honestly shocking how poorly TWC explains these processes on their website. You'd think something as common as "work for a while then get laid off again" would have clear instructions somewhere! I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning with all the info from this thread. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - this community knowledge is invaluable when the official resources fall short!

This is exactly why I always recommend people call TWC within the first week or two if they don't hear anything, even though it's a nightmare to get through. Address errors are way more common than people think - I've seen it happen with apartment numbers getting dropped, zip codes being wrong, or even just typos in street names. For anyone reading this thread who's in a similar situation: if you're not getting ANY correspondence from TWC after 2-3 weeks, it's probably not because they're ignoring you - there's likely a technical issue like this address problem. Don't wait 4+ weeks like Ava did (though I totally understand why she did). Also, pro tip: when you do get through to TWC, ask them to read back your full address on file to make sure it's correct. And if you move at any point during your claim, update your address IMMEDIATELY both online and by calling them. Great job persisting through this mess, Ava! Your story is going to help a lot of people.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - laid off 3 weeks ago with a severance package coming next month, and my TWC claim has been radio silent too. Reading through Ava's experience and everyone's advice gives me so much hope that there's actually progress happening behind the scenes even when it feels like nothing is moving. The address error revelation is both reassuring and terrifying - reassuring because it explains the silence, but terrifying because it's such a simple mistake that could happen to anyone. I'm definitely going to double-check my address info first thing tomorrow and try to get through to speak with someone sooner rather than later. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise here, especially about the severance calculation method and the importance of keeping up with payment requests even during the waiting period. This community is a lifesaver for navigating TWC's confusing system!

I'm going through this EXACT situation right now too! Just got my approval letter on Thursday but my online status is still showing "TWC is reviewing my claim" - it's been 3 days and I was getting so worried that something was wrong. Reading through all these comments is such a huge relief because now I realize this is just how TWC's broken system works. It's honestly insane that a state agency in 2024 can't sync their own databases. Like, when they hit print on that approval letter, how hard would it be to also update the online status at the same time? But apparently that's asking too much from TWC's Stone Age technology. I was really hesitant about submitting my payment request while the status still says "under review" because I didn't want to mess anything up, but based on everyone's advice here I'm definitely going to go ahead with it this week. That approval letter seems to be the real proof that matters, not whatever their website says. Going to keep multiple copies of that letter just in case! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing this is "normal" TWC chaos really helps ease the anxiety.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm literally going through this exact same situation right now - got my approval letter on Tuesday but my online status has been stuck on "under review" for 5 days now. I was starting to think there was some kind of error with my claim, but seeing everyone's experiences here is such a relief. It's absolutely ridiculous that TWC can't get their systems to sync up properly in 2024. You'd think when they mail out an approval letter, they could at least update the online status at the same time, but apparently that's too much to ask from their ancient technology. I've been nervous about submitting my payment request while the website still says "under review," but based on all the advice here, I'm definitely going to go ahead with it this week. That approval letter seems to be the real deal regardless of what their broken online system shows. Going to keep that letter safe and document everything just in case. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community is a lifesaver for navigating TWC's confusing processes!

I'm going through this right now too and it's so frustrating how TWC initially treats hour reductions like they're the same as voluntary part-time work! Reading all these responses gives me hope though - sounds like appeals work if you use the right language. Just want to add one thing I learned from my own research: when you file your appeal, make sure to mention the specific TWC rule about "partial unemployment." According to their own guidelines, you qualify if your weekly earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. So if you would normally get $250/week in benefits, but your 9 hours only pays you $150, you should definitely qualify. Also, I've been documenting everything - screenshots of my work schedule before vs after the cuts, emails from management about the reduction, etc. Having that paper trail ready seems important for the appeal process. Hope your appeal goes smoothly! The system is confusing but it sounds like people in your exact situation do get approved once they get past the initial denial. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I just went through this exact situation 3 months ago and successfully got partial benefits after appealing! Your case sounds very strong - an 80% income reduction definitely qualifies for partial unemployment benefits in Texas. A few things that really helped my appeal: 1) I calculated my exact percentage reduction and put it right in the subject line of my appeal: "Appeal for Involuntary 75% Hour Reduction" 2) I included a simple before/after chart showing my previous weekly schedule vs current schedule 3) I emphasized that my employer made this decision unilaterally due to business conditions - not my choice The magic phrase that seemed to work was "involuntary partial unemployment due to employer-initiated hour reduction." TWC has specific provisions for this exact situation, but their initial screening process often misses it. Make sure you appeal within 14 days of your determination letter date! Once approved, you'll report your part-time wages weekly and they'll calculate your partial benefit amount. In my case, I was getting about $180/week in partial benefits which made a huge difference. One heads up - you'll still need to do the 3 work search activities weekly even though you're already working. It's annoying but required for partial benefits too. Your situation is textbook partial unemployment - don't let that initial denial discourage you! The appeal process works if you frame it correctly.

Just wanted to add another success story to encourage anyone still dealing with this! I was in almost the exact same boat - filed my claim in early July, got approved 3.5 weeks later, and panicked when I realized I hadn't requested any payments during the waiting period. After reading through all the helpful advice in this thread, I called TWC at exactly 7:02 AM yesterday morning and got through to a representative in about 45 minutes (which felt like a miracle!). She was super understanding and said this happens all the time - apparently it's one of the most common issues they help with. She was able to process all my backdated payment requests right over the phone and confirmed that the payments should appear in my account within 2-3 business days. The whole call took maybe 15 minutes once I got through. For anyone still trying - don't lose hope! Those benefits are yours and TWC will help you get them. The early morning calling strategy really does work. Having your work search documentation ready also speeds up the process significantly. This community has been so helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice!

This entire thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my claim approval and after reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to start requesting payments now rather than wait. It seems like such a common mistake to assume you need approval first. One question for those who successfully got their backdated payments - did any of you have issues with the payments actually showing up in your bank account on time? I'm wondering if there are any delays in processing retroactive payments versus regular weekly payments. Also, for the work search requirements during those backdated weeks, did TWC accept basic documentation like just the company name and date you applied, or did they need more detailed information? Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - you're literally saving people thousands of dollars in benefits they might otherwise lose!