I'm so glad I found this thread! I filed my TWC claim almost 4 weeks ago and have been completely stuck in pending status with no communication whatsoever. Like so many others here, I also worked out of state (had a job in Colorado for about 7 months last year) and had no idea this could cause such massive delays. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - especially learning about the interstate wage verification process that apparently happens behind the scenes. I've been calling the main TWC line daily with zero success, but now I have a real action plan thanks to all the detailed advice shared here. Tomorrow morning I'm going to try calling that wage verification line (512-463-2824) right at 8 AM as Destiny suggested, and I'll also submit a written inquiry through the TWC website like Zainab recommended. If those approaches don't work, I'll definitely look into Claimyr since it clearly worked so well for Omar. The financial stress has been overwhelming, but reading Omar's success story and knowing that people like Zainab eventually got all their backpay gives me hope. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and especially those who followed up with what actually worked - this community support is invaluable when dealing with such a frustrating and opaque system!

This thread has become such an incredible resource for anyone dealing with TWC delays! Reading through all these experiences, it's clear that out-of-state work history is one of the biggest causes of processing delays that TWC doesn't adequately warn people about upfront. The pattern is so consistent - almost everyone who's waited 4+ weeks has interstate wage verification issues. I love how this community has turned what started as Omar's frustrated question into a comprehensive guide with actionable solutions. The key takeaways seem to be: 1) Call the wage verification line (512-463-2824) at 8 AM sharp, 2) Submit written inquiries through the TWC website for documentation, 3) Use services like Claimyr if you can't get through on your own, and 4) Always keep doing payment requests and document everything. It's amazing to see Omar's success story and how people like Zainab, Diego, and Destiny have shared such detailed advice. For anyone new to this thread - don't lose hope! The delays are frustrating but people ARE getting their claims resolved and receiving all their backpay.

Julia, I've been exactly where you are! Just went through my first TWC payment cycle last month and the stress was unreal. Here's what actually happened for me: requested on a Wednesday morning, saw "Payment Issued" status in my TWC account Thursday morning, and the money hit my ReliaCard Friday around 3pm - so right at that 2-3 business day mark. What really helped my anxiety was doing three things the day BEFORE I requested: 1) Called all my bill companies to explain I was waiting on unemployment benefits (they were surprisingly understanding and most gave me grace periods), 2) Downloaded the ReliaCard app and set up instant deposit notifications, and 3) Made a "minimum payment" list so I knew exactly what I could pay to avoid shutoffs if the deposit took longer than expected. The ReliaCard app notification was a total lifesaver - getting that instant alert when the money actually hit eliminated hours of obsessive balance checking! Also, your first payment might take an extra day or two while the system processes everything, so don't panic if it's not super fast. After reading everyone's advice here, it sounds like you have a really solid plan. The waiting is definitely the worst part, but you're being so smart by planning ahead! Keep us posted on how it goes! 🤞

Julia, I've been on TWC for about 5 months now and totally understand that first payment stress! Here's what I wish I'd known: the ReliaCard timing is usually 2-3 business days like everyone said, but I always tell people to plan for 4 just in case. My pattern has been pretty consistent - if I request on Monday, I get it Wednesday afternoon; Tuesday request = Thursday afternoon deposit. One thing that made a HUGE difference for me was calling my landlord and utility companies before my first payment request (not after) and explaining I was waiting on unemployment benefits. They were way more understanding than I expected and several gave me automatic grace periods. Also, definitely set up those ReliaCard app push notifications - that instant "deposit received" alert will save you from refreshing your balance 50 times a day like I did at first! 😅 The first payment is always the most nerve-wracking because you don't know your personal timeline yet, but I promise it becomes so much more predictable. You're being really smart by planning ahead and asking these questions. Most people just cross their fingers and hope for the best! You've got this! 💙

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - got laid off in January but didn't file until February (kicking myself for waiting). My claim just got approved yesterday and I'm also looking at several weeks of back pay. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is making sure you submit those payment requests for all the prior weeks, which I honestly had no idea about. The TWC system definitely doesn't make it obvious that you need to do this step. Going to log in right now and look for that "Prior Claim Weeks" option. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's so much better than trying to navigate this alone!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this process recently. Like others have mentioned, TWC does typically pay back weeks as a lump sum, but the key thing is making sure you've actually requested payment for each period. I made the mistake of assuming it would be automatic once my claim was approved - it's not! You have to go in and manually request each two-week period you're eligible for. Also, a heads up - when you get that lump sum payment, make sure to set aside money for taxes if you didn't have them withheld. I got hit with a surprise tax bill because I forgot that unemployment benefits are taxable income. The larger the back pay amount, the bigger potential tax impact. But overall, once you get through the payment request process correctly, TWC is usually pretty reliable about getting the money to you within a few business days. Sounds like you're on the right track now!

I've been lurking on this thread for days because I'm having the exact same nightmare with TWC's website! Just wanted to add my experience - I finally got through this morning using a combination of tips from here. What worked for me: 5:50am filing time, Chrome in incognito mode, disconnected from my work VPN (huge difference!), used ethernet cable instead of WiFi, and completely closed my password manager. The game changer was actually clearing my browser cache AND cookies before starting - not just cache like some sites suggest. Also discovered that my browser's translate extension was somehow interfering even though the site is in English. Once I disabled all extensions, the connection was much more stable. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - I noticed the site works better if you don't use the browser's zoom function at all. I usually zoom to 110% for better readability but keeping it at exactly 100% seemed to help with stability. It's absolutely insane that we need this many workarounds for a basic government service, but this thread has been a lifesaver. Thanks to everyone for sharing your solutions - you've basically created the TWC troubleshooting guide that should exist but doesn't!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for the past month and this thread has been absolutely incredible! After trying probably every combination of browsers, times, and devices, I finally got through yesterday using what I'm calling the "nuclear option" approach based on all the tips here. My winning combination: 5:30am filing on Wednesday, completely fresh browser install (uninstalled and reinstalled Chrome), used my neighbor's WiFi instead of my own (with permission!), disabled literally every extension and plugin, cleared all browsing data, used my phone's mobile data as backup, and had everything pre-written in a physical notebook so I could type it all manually. The most important discovery for me was that my home internet provider (Spectrum) seems to have some kind of conflict with TWC's system during peak hours. Switching to a different network made a huge difference in connection stability. Also want to add something I haven't seen mentioned - if you're using Windows, try temporarily disabling Windows Defender's real-time protection while filing. I know it sounds risky, but like the antivirus suggestions others made, it seemed to help with the connection issues. This thread should honestly be sent to TWC administrators as evidence of how broken their system is. The fact that dozens of people need to share this many technical workarounds just to access basic unemployment services is completely unacceptable. But thank you all for creating this amazing troubleshooting community - you've saved my sanity!

To directly answer your question: Yes, TWC can potentially backdate your claim, but it's not automatic and not guaranteed. Here's what you need to know: 1. Call TWC as soon as possible and specifically request backdating. Explain why you delayed filing (they'll need a good reason) 2. If approved for backdating, you'll need to certify for those missed weeks by requesting payment for each week individually 3. You must have been eligible during those weeks, including meeting the work search requirement (3 work search activities per week) 4. Document whatever job search activities you can remember doing during those weeks (applications, interviews, resume submissions, networking) 5. Be prepared that they might only approve partial backdating or none at all depending on your circumstances The most important thing now is to start requesting payments on your current claim according to your payment request schedule and continue meeting work search requirements going forward.

Just want to add that when you do call TWC about backdating, be prepared to wait on hold for a really long time - sometimes hours. I'd recommend calling right when they open (usually 8am) for the best chance of getting through. Also, have your termination paperwork ready and any documentation of job search activities you did during those 3 weeks, even if it's just a rough list of companies you applied to. The agent will likely ask for specific details about why you waited to file, so think through your explanation beforehand. Being overwhelmed and focusing on job searching isn't always considered "good cause" by TWC standards, but it's worth trying. Good luck!