anybody know if quitting for medical reasons affects the amount of benefits you get? like do you still get the full amount?

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago with a shoulder injury from my construction job. The key thing that helped me was getting my doctor to write a very specific letter explaining not just my restrictions, but WHY I couldn't do my specific job duties anymore. Don't just get a generic work note - ask your doctor to be detailed about how your back condition prevents you from doing warehouse work specifically. Also, when you request accommodations from your employer, be very specific about what you're asking for. Don't just say "I need light duty" - ask for specific things like "no lifting over 10 pounds" or "no bending/twisting" based on your doctor's restrictions. This makes it clearer when they can't accommodate you. One thing that really helped my case was documenting the timeline - when the injury got worse, when I got medical care, when I told my employer, when I requested accommodations, etc. TWC wants to see that you tried to work with your employer before leaving. Good luck with your claim! Medical separations can be approved, you just need to be thorough with your documentation.

UPDATE: I called TWC (finally got through!) and they confirmed I can't claim benefits based on 1099 work in any state. BUT they are looking at my W-2 wages from the short jobs in other states to see if I qualify for a Combined Wage Claim. The agent said it's borderline because the jobs were brief, but they're checking. Going to take about 10 days to hear back after they contact the other states. Fingers crossed!

Good luck with the Combined Wage Claim! Just wanted to add that while you're waiting for TWC's decision, you might want to check if you qualify for any local assistance programs in your area - food banks, rental assistance, utility help, etc. Many communities have emergency aid programs that can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for benefit determinations. Also, some staffing agencies pay weekly and can get you working quickly if you need immediate income. Hope it works out for you!

After reading all the comments, I'd say it's worth filing the Further Appeal if you have those text messages to your supervisor and doctor's notes. Make sure to emphasize: 1. The timeline of your injury 2. Exactly how your supervisor ignored medical restrictions 3. Any witnesses who saw how you were treated 4. Why you felt going to HR wouldn't help (any past examples?) Also, definitely try to speak with a TWC representative about your specific case. Sometimes they can give insights about what the Commission looks for in these cases. The 14-day deadline is strict, so don't wait too long to decide.

Good luck with your Further Appeal! You're making the right choice by fighting this. Make sure to organize your documentation chronologically and focus on the legal standard - that any reasonable person in your situation would have quit due to the work injury and your employer's failure to accommodate your medical restrictions. The text messages showing you tried to communicate with your supervisor about your limitations could be crucial evidence. Even if the Further Appeal doesn't succeed, you're building a stronger record for any future claims or potential legal action. Keep us updated on how it goes!

Update: I tried the early morning approach (5:30am) and was able to successfully submit my payment request! The website was much faster at that time. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm having the exact same issue! Started getting that error message yesterday when trying to request my payment. I've been unemployed for 2 months and this is so stressful. Based on what everyone is saying here, I'm going to try the early morning approach tomorrow around 5am. Really hoping this gets resolved soon because like you, I have bills due next week. Has anyone tried contacting their local workforce office directly instead of the main TWC line? Wondering if they might have more insight into what's causing this system glitch.

Great to hear! Make sure to keep detailed records of your work search activities going forward. They seem to be doing more random checks lately.

So glad you got through and it worked out! The 7am tip seems to be the golden advice here. I've been dealing with TWC issues on and off for months and that early morning call strategy has saved me so much frustration. For anyone else reading this - also try calling right after lunch around 1pm, that's another time when the call volume tends to be lower. And yes, definitely keep those work search records organized! I learned that the hard way when they audited me last year.