I'm really sorry you're going through such a stressful situation with the overpayment deductions on top of your financial struggles. I can definitely relate to that anxiety about whether accessing your 401K might mess up your benefits even more. The good news is that everyone here is giving you accurate information - your 401K withdrawal absolutely will NOT affect your TWC unemployment benefits! I had to do something similar last year when I was dealing with reduced payments due to an overpayment issue from 2019. TWC only counts "earned income" from actual work against your benefits. Since your 401K withdrawal is classified as a retirement distribution rather than earned income, it won't impact your weekly payments at all. Your $349 payments will continue exactly as they are now. A couple of things that really helped me get through a similar situation: - Get that written overpayment balance statement from TWC that others mentioned - it makes such a difference to have a concrete timeline instead of just wondering when the deductions will end - Set aside about 30% of your withdrawal amount right away for next year's taxes and early withdrawal penalty so you're not scrambling later - When you call TWC, feel free to mention the withdrawal - they actually appreciate transparency and will confirm it doesn't affect your benefits You're making responsible decisions to get through a temporary financial crisis. This is exactly what emergency funds are for, even when they come with tax consequences. Focus on the fact that your unemployment benefits are secure while you work through this rough patch!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly stressful situation - having overpayment deductions on top of needing to access your retirement savings is really tough. But I have some great news that should help ease your worries! Your 401K withdrawal will absolutely NOT affect your TWC unemployment benefits. I went through almost the exact same thing about 4 months ago - had overpayment deductions from a 2021 reporting issue and withdrew $7,500 from my 401K to stay afloat while my benefits were reduced. Here's what you can count on: - TWC only considers "earned income" from actual work when calculating benefit reductions - Your 401K withdrawal is classified as a retirement distribution, not earned income - Your $349 weekly payments will continue exactly as they are - You don't need to report the withdrawal on your payment request forms - The overpayment deduction timeline won't change at all When I called TWC about my overpayment balance, I mentioned the withdrawal upfront and the rep actually appreciated my transparency. She confirmed it wouldn't affect my benefits and said it showed I was being responsible by using my own funds during a tough time. Definitely call TWC to get a written statement of your remaining overpayment balance - knowing exactly when those deductions will end makes budgeting so much easier. And set aside about 30% of that $8,000 withdrawal right now for taxes and the early withdrawal penalty next year. You're doing exactly what you need to do to survive this temporary crisis. This is what retirement accounts are designed for during genuine emergencies. Your unemployment benefits are secure - focus on getting through these next few months until the overpayment is cleared and you're back to full payments!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for the past 2 weeks and it's been incredibly stressful! After reading through all the helpful advice here, I'm seeing a clear pattern - calling that technical support line at (800) 558-8321 right at 8am seems to be the golden solution that actually works. What really stands out to me is how many different root causes there can be: expired identity verification, address changes, browser issues, account flags for "suspicious activity," missed document deadlines, or even just system glitches. The fact that so many people got everything resolved in one phone call once they reached the right person gives me real hope! I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow with all my documents ready (SSN, ID, recent correspondence, bank info). It's frustrating that the online system is so broken, but this community support and shared experiences are invaluable. Thanks everyone for taking the time to share what worked for you - it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess! 🙏

I'm going through something very similar right now - been locked out for about a week and my payments are showing as "under review" which is terrifying since I really need that money! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful and honestly reassuring that I'm not the only one dealing with this mess. I'm definitely going to try that technical support line (800-558-8321) tomorrow morning right at 8am with all my documents ready. The fact that so many people have gotten their issues resolved in one phone call once they reach the right person gives me hope. It's crazy how many different things can cause these problems - from browser issues to identity verification to address changes. Thanks to everyone who shared their strategies and success stories - this community support means everything when you're dealing with such a broken system! Will update if I manage to get through 🤞

I went through a very similar situation last year and I want to give you some hope! I lost my initial hearing for a $5,200 overpayment when my employer claimed I abandoned my job, but I was actually dealing with a family emergency that required me to relocate suddenly to care for my elderly parent. The Commission Appeal was a completely different experience. What made the difference for me was: 1. **Detailed documentation of the emergency** - I gathered medical records showing my parent's condition, documentation of the timeline when I had to relocate, and evidence that I tried to work remotely or take leave but was denied. 2. **Communication records** - I found text messages and emails showing I attempted to communicate with my supervisor about the situation, even though they later claimed I just "disappeared." 3. **Legal framework** - I cited Texas Labor Code Section 207.045 and specifically argued that the family emergency constituted "good cause" for leaving work that was connected to my employment (since they refused reasonable accommodations). The Commission level really does give you a fair hearing. They overturned my case completely and I didn't have to repay anything. The key is showing that a reasonable person in your situation would have made the same choice. Your childcare situation sounds even stronger than mine was - you have clear documentation of the schedule conflict and evidence you tried to work it out. Don't give up! File that appeal and treat it like a brand new case with all the additional evidence people have suggested here. You've got this! 💪

I'm going through a similar nightmare right now - just lost my hearing last week over a $2,100 overpayment and I'm honestly terrified about having to pay it back. My situation is a bit different (employer claimed misconduct when I was actually dealing with workplace harassment) but reading through all these success stories is giving me so much hope! The advice about treating the Commission Appeal as a completely fresh case instead of just appealing the first decision is eye-opening. I was planning to just resubmit the same evidence, but now I understand I need to build a much stronger case with proper legal citations and additional documentation. @Fidel Carson - your breakdown of the legal framework is incredibly helpful. I had no idea about Section 207.045 of the Texas Labor Code or that I should be citing specific statutes in my appeal. @Isaiah Sanders - definitely trying Claimyr tomorrow! I've been on hold with TWC for hours every day this week with no luck. Getting actual guidance from a TWC agent before filing my appeal could make all the difference. The most encouraging thing I'm seeing is how many people have successfully overturned these decisions at the Commission level when they presented proper evidence and legal arguments. It really does seem like a more thorough and fair process than the initial hearings. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - this thread is literally keeping me sane right now! I'll update once I get my appeal filed. We've got this! 💪

I'm new to this community and dealing with this exact situation right now! I started receiving Social Security retirement benefits about 3 weeks ago while still on unemployment, and I've been so stressed about whether I'm handling everything correctly. After reading through all these responses, especially the detailed experiences from @Freya Pedersen, @Kaiya Rivera, and @Muhammad Hobbs, I feel much more confident about the right approach. It's incredibly helpful to see multiple people who have actually gone through this process and can confirm the same guidance from TWC agents. The consensus is crystal clear: Social Security retirement benefits don't get reported on biweekly payment requests (those are only for work income/earnings), but we should notify TWC through correspondence about starting benefits after our claims were established. I'm going to follow everyone's lead and send a notification through my UI portal correspondence system this week. Yes, I might face a benefit reduction like others have experienced, but transparency is definitely better than potential compliance issues down the road. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this discussion has been invaluable for understanding how to navigate this confusing situation properly! It's such a relief to find people who've actually been through this rather than just guessing about the rules.

I'm new to this community and just started dealing with this exact situation! I began receiving Social Security retirement benefits last week while still collecting unemployment, and I was really panicking about whether I needed to report it on my biweekly payment requests. After reading through this entire thread, I feel so much more informed and less anxious. The real experiences shared by @Freya Pedersen, @Kaiya Rivera, @Muhammad Hobbs, and others have been incredibly valuable. It's clear that there's a distinction between what gets reported during biweekly payment requests (work income only) versus what should be communicated to TWC for their records (major changes like starting retirement benefits). I'm planning to follow the same approach everyone has recommended: continue only reporting work income on my biweekly requests, but send a notification through the correspondence system about starting Social Security benefits. While a potential benefit reduction isn't ideal, the peace of mind from being transparent and following the proper process is worth it. Thank you all for creating such a helpful discussion! It's amazing how much clearer this becomes when you hear from people who've actually navigated the process successfully rather than trying to decipher the confusing TWC website alone.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my claim about 10 days ago after being laid off, got approved, but no payments yet. I also received a severance package that I reported on my application. This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I had absolutely no clue that severance gets divided by your weekly benefit amount to create a disqualification period. No wonder I haven't received any payments yet! I was starting to think there was some kind of system error or that I had filled something out wrong on my application. I'm going to log into my TWC account right now and check that correspondence inbox for my determination letter. Based on what everyone's saying, that should tell me exactly when my disqualification period ends so I can stop wondering and actually have a timeline to work with. Really grateful to have found this community - it's such a relief to know this confusion is completely normal and that so many others have successfully navigated through it. TWC definitely needs to be way more upfront about explaining how severance affects your payment timeline instead of leaving people stressed and in the dark about what's happening with their claims!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The severance disqualification period is honestly one of the most confusing aspects of the whole TWC system, and they really don't explain it well upfront. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. **Check your determination letter** - Like others mentioned, this will be in your correspondence inbox and will show your exact disqualification dates. Mine was buried pretty deep in there, so don't give up if you don't see it immediately. 2. **Keep requesting payments religiously** - Even though you won't get paid during the disqualification period, you MUST continue submitting your biweekly payment requests. Missing even one can mess up your entire claim. 3. **The phone system confusion is normal** - The automated line and live reps really do access different systems. I got different answers constantly until I learned to just focus on what the determination letter said. 4. **Document everything** - Keep track of your work search activities, payment request dates, and any calls you make. I used a simple notebook and it saved me later when I had questions. The good news is once your severance period ends, payments typically start within 2-3 business days of your next payment request. The system is actually pretty reliable once you get past this initial hurdle. Hang in there - this waiting period is definitely the most stressful part, but you're handling it exactly right by asking questions and staying informed!