I just wanted to say how incredible this community discussion has been! As someone who works in workforce development, I'm really impressed by the quality of advice and support everyone has provided here. A few additional points that might be helpful: 1. When you visit Workforce Solutions tomorrow, ask about their "Individual Training Accounts" (ITAs) - these can fund training programs at local colleges and trade schools, not just their in-house programs. 2. Look into whether you qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was related to foreign competition or trade - this program provides extended benefits and training funding that many people don't know about. 3. Some local nonprofits partner with Workforce Solutions to provide wrap-around services like childcare assistance during training, transportation help, and even emergency financial assistance. The fact that you're going into this appointment with documentation of your job search activities and a clear understanding of what to ask for puts you in a really strong position. The staff there will appreciate working with someone who's prepared and proactive. One last thought - don't be afraid to ask about multiple programs at once. Sometimes you can combine different funding sources to create a more comprehensive support package while you're transitioning back to work. Wishing you the best at your appointment tomorrow! This thread shows there are definitely paths forward even when UI benefits end.

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress - I know how terrifying it feels when your safety net is about to disappear. I went through the exact same thing about 4 months ago and the panic was overwhelming. Unfortunately, what everyone has said is correct - there are no automatic extensions available in Texas right now like there were during COVID. Those federal programs (PEUC, PUA, etc.) ended years ago, and state Extended Benefits only kick in when unemployment rates reach certain thresholds, which hasn't happened recently. However, I want to echo what others have said about not giving up hope. The Workforce Solutions office really can be a game-changer. When I was in your shoes, I discovered they had a healthcare certification program that included a weekly stipend. It wasn't as much as my UI benefits, but it covered my basic expenses while I got trained in a field that actually had job openings. A couple of things that helped me: 1. I applied for emergency rental assistance through my county's Community Action Agency while waiting for the training program to start 2. I picked up some gig work (Instacart) during my last few weeks of UI, which helped stretch those benefits a little longer 3. The training program I entered had partnerships with local employers who were specifically looking to hire their graduates Your situation with 3 interviews is actually really encouraging - that shows employers are interested in you. Sometimes the hiring process just takes longer than we'd like, especially these days. Keep us posted on how your Workforce appointment goes tomorrow. You're handling this the right way by being proactive and seeking out information. You're going to get through this!

I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I learned from calling TWC directly. After reading through all these helpful responses, I managed to get through to an agent yesterday (took about 2 hours of calling) and got some clarity on the process. The agent confirmed that Texas does currently have Extended Benefits available, but eligibility depends on your individual circumstances and work history. She emphasized that you MUST continue filing your payment requests every two weeks even when it shows $0 - this maintains your claim continuity which is crucial for extension approval. One thing she mentioned that I haven't seen discussed here is that they're being stricter about work search verification for extensions. She recommended keeping detailed records including company names, contact information, dates, and method of application for each of your 3 weekly work search activities. Screenshots of online applications are especially helpful as proof. The good news is that if you qualify for EB, the payments should be retroactive to when your regular benefits exhausted, so you won't lose money during the gap period. The agent said most determinations are being processed within 10-14 days right now. Hope this helps others in the same boat! The waiting and uncertainty is definitely stressful but it sounds like many people are successfully getting extensions if they follow all the requirements.

I'm also approaching the end of my regular UI benefits and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I had no idea about so many of these details. A few things I wanted to add from my own research: I called my local workforce center yesterday and they mentioned that you can also visit in person if you're having trouble getting through on the phone. Sometimes they can check your account status and help resolve minor issues that might delay your extension approval. Also, for anyone worried about the work search requirements being stricter - I've been using the WorkInTexas.com website for most of my job applications, and it automatically tracks your applications which can serve as good documentation. You can print out your activity history from there. One question for those who have gotten EB - did you have to do anything different for your work search activities once you were on extended benefits, or is it still the same 3 activities per week? I want to make sure I'm prepared for any changes in requirements. This community has been so helpful during this stressful time. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when people share their actual experiences versus trying to decode the TWC website!

I'm currently in the exact same situation - my status just changed to processing 2 days ago after being under review for almost 2 weeks, and I've already fallen into the obsessive portal-checking trap! Also got hit by tech layoffs (front-end developer) and the financial anxiety is making every hour feel like a day. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - finally getting real timelines and experiences from people who've actually been through this rather than vague official information. Based on what everyone's sharing, it sounds like we're looking at 3-10 days typically, which gives me some hope since I'm just at the beginning of that window. I just set up text notifications after reading the suggestions here and I'm going to try limiting my checks to morning and evening only. The tech industry bloodbath this year has been unprecedented, but it's strangely comforting to know so many of us are navigating this unemployment process together. Thanks for creating this discussion - it's provided more clarity and support than anything I could find through official channels!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My status changed to processing 4 days ago and I've been refreshing the portal way too often - it's become almost compulsive when you're this anxious about the outcome. Also got caught in the tech layoffs (cloud infrastructure engineer) and the financial stress is making every day drag on forever. This thread has been incredibly helpful though - seeing the consistent 3-10 day timeline from everyone's experiences has really helped manage my expectations. I just set up those text notifications after reading the suggestions here and I'm going to force myself to only check twice daily instead of constantly refreshing. It's amazing how much more practical information this community has provided compared to the official TWC resources. The solidarity around these tech industry cuts is really comforting too - it's been such a brutal year but knowing we're all navigating this together makes it feel less overwhelming. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's created such a valuable resource for everyone dealing with this stressful waiting period!

Hey CosmicCowboy! Congrats on getting your first payment so quickly - that's honestly incredible timing given what most people are experiencing right now. Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this about 6 months ago. The one-week first payment is definitely normal due to the waiting week policy that others have explained. Going forward, you'll get two weeks' worth when you request on 1/25 and every two weeks after that. One thing I learned that might help - when you do get that part-time job (fingers crossed!), you can still receive partial unemployment benefits as long as you're working less than full-time hours and earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. Also, since this is your first time navigating the system, I'd recommend joining some of the Texas unemployment Facebook groups if you're on social media. They're really helpful for getting quick answers to questions and staying updated on any policy changes or system issues. The community support there is amazing, and people share real-time updates about things like website outages or processing delays. Best of luck with everything, and great job staying on top of the work search requirements from the start!

Just wanted to chime in as another newcomer to this whole unemployment process! I filed my claim about 2 weeks ago after getting laid off right before New Year's, so reading about your quick first payment gives me so much hope that mine might come through soon too. The waiting week explanation makes perfect sense now - I was also confused about why everyone kept mentioning that first payments are "different" but nobody really explained why. It's frustrating that TWC doesn't make this clearer when you're filing, but at least now I know what to expect! One thing I've been doing while waiting is getting ahead on my work search activities. I've been treating it like a part-time job - spending about 4 hours a day on applications, networking, and skill-building activities. That way when my payments start, I'll already have a solid routine established and won't be scrambling to meet the requirements. Also wanted to say how awesome this community is! I've learned more practical information from this thread than from hours of reading the official TWC website. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's been incredibly helpful for all of us navigating this for the first time!

Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - if you have the TWC mobile app, you can actually request expedited delivery of your ReliaCard for a small fee (I think it was around $25). I was in a similar bind with rent due and couldn't wait for the regular mail delivery. The expedited card arrived in 2 business days via FedEx. You can request this through the app under "Payment Method" settings. It's more expensive than the emergency transfer fee, but faster if you absolutely need the physical card for some reason.

I went through this same nightmare just two months ago! Here's what I learned: You have THREE main options to get your money before the card arrives. 1) Call US Bank ReliaCard at 1-800-657-6343 and request your card number after identity verification (takes 30-45 mins total but works), 2) Request emergency transfer for $15 fee (also through that same number), or 3) Use the TWC app to expedite card delivery for $25 (arrives in 2 days). The emergency transfer was fastest for me - had the money in my regular bank account within 24 hours. Don't let them tell you that you HAVE to wait for the physical card - that's not true! You just need to be persistent and know which options to ask for.