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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!
Great advice about calling early! I'm new to this whole unemployment process and wasn't sure about the timing. Do you know if there's a specific phone number that works better than others for getting through to TWC? I've seen different numbers mentioned and want to make sure I'm calling the right one when I try tomorrow morning.
I went through this exact same situation about 2 months ago! The waiting week payment definitely processes on its own timeline, completely separate from your regular Monday request schedule. When I submitted mine on a Friday (my regular day was Wednesday), it still processed within 4 business days and showed up in my payment history about 16 hours before hitting my bank account. Since you submitted yesterday, you should see it appear in your TWC portal by Monday or Tuesday at the latest, then deposit 1-2 days after that. Just remember it'll only be 50% of your regular weekly benefit amount. The good news is you won't have to wait until your next Monday request - the independent processing actually works in your favor here! I'd recommend checking your portal twice daily during this period so you can catch the status update as soon as it appears. Hope this helps with your budgeting timeline!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who submitted on a different day than their regular schedule too. The 4-day timeline and the 16-hour window between showing up in payment history and actually depositing gives me a good sense of what to expect. Since I submitted yesterday, Monday/Tuesday for the portal update sounds very reasonable based on your experience. I'm definitely going to start checking twice daily like you suggested - seems like the best way to stay on top of it without missing the update. The 50% amount is what I anticipated after reading everyone's comments here, so no surprises there. Really appreciate you taking the time to share such specific details - it helps so much with planning when you're trying to budget tight!
I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! Just submitted my waiting week request this afternoon and my regular request day is Monday too. After reading through all these detailed experiences, I feel so much more confident about the timeline. It's really reassuring to see how consistent the 3-5 business day processing window is for everyone, regardless of when their regular request day falls. I was initially panicking thinking I'd have to wait until next Monday, but now I understand the waiting week processes completely independently. Based on everyone's shared timelines, I should see it show up in my TWC portal by Wednesday or Thursday, then hit my account 1-2 days after that. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about checking the portal twice daily - seems like that's the most reliable way to catch the update quickly. The 50% benefit amount is disappointing but totally expected after reading all these comments. This community has been such a huge help in understanding what to realistically expect instead of just stressing about the unknown!
I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I was in the exact same situation about a month ago and the uncertainty was killing me. The community here really came through with all the detailed timelines. Since you just submitted this afternoon, Wednesday/Thursday for the portal update sounds about right based on everyone's experiences. I found it super helpful to set a reminder on my phone to check twice daily - once around 8am and once around 6pm - so I wouldn't obsess over it but also wouldn't miss the update. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but at least now you know what to expect! Fingers crossed you see yours show up right on schedule.
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might be searching this thread later - I got my expedited ReliaCard last week via UPS and it DID require a signature, but the driver waited about 30 seconds and then just left it anyway (which technically they're not supposed to do). So even if signature is "required," you might still get it if you're not home. Also, pro tip: you can create a free UPS My Choice or FedEx Delivery Manager account and sometimes see tracking info even if TWC didn't give you the number directly - just use your address and phone number to search for incoming packages. Saved me a lot of anxiety!
That's a great tip about creating the delivery manager accounts! I wish I had known about that when I was frantically waiting for mine. The tracking visibility would have saved me so much stress. It's also good to know that even with signature requirements, drivers sometimes use their discretion - though I guess that's a bit of a gamble if you really need to be sure it gets delivered. Thanks for sharing your experience!
This entire thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I'm waiting for my expedited ReliaCard and the inconsistency in delivery methods had me confused. Reading everyone's experiences, it seems like the key takeaways are: 1) It could be FedEx, UPS, or even USPS depending on your location, 2) Signature requirements vary wildly, 3) Check ALL mail including plain envelopes, and 4) Set up those delivery manager accounts to potentially track packages even without a tracking number. For future folks dealing with this stress - sounds like expedited usually does work within 1-2 days, just be prepared for any delivery scenario. Also definitely setting up direct deposit immediately after getting the card seems like the smartest move to avoid this whole ordeal again!
This is exactly the kind of comprehensive summary this thread needed! As someone new to the Texas unemployment system, I was getting overwhelmed by all the conflicting information online about ReliaCard delivery. Your breakdown makes it so much clearer - basically expect anything and be prepared for everything, haha. The direct deposit tip seems crucial too. I'm curious though - does anyone know if there are any fees associated with the ReliaCard that make direct deposit even more worthwhile? I keep hearing mixed things about ATM fees and such.
I'm on day 5 business days waiting for my ReliaCard and this thread has been such a huge relief! Like everyone else, I was counting regular days and starting to panic thinking something was wrong. It's amazing how much clearer the timeline becomes when you understand it's business days only - suddenly I'm not behind schedule at all! I've saved that US Bank number (1-855-282-6161) to call around day 10 for a status check. The hardest part is definitely seeing that "payment issued" status knowing the money is just sitting there waiting for me to access it. Bills don't stop coming just because we're waiting for a piece of plastic to arrive in the mail! But reading all these timelines from 10-17 business days gives me so much confidence that it's coming soon. I'm already planning to switch to direct deposit the instant I get this card - never putting myself through this waiting stress again. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and phone numbers - this community really helps make these frustrating government processes feel less overwhelming!
You're actually in great shape at day 5 business days! I remember being in your exact position a few weeks ago and feeling that same panic when I was counting weekends. The business days realization is such a game changer - it completely shifts your perspective from "something's wrong" to "everything's normal." That US Bank number has been so helpful for everyone here, and day 10 is the perfect time to call for peace of mind. I totally get the frustration of seeing "payment issued" while bills keep coming - it's like having money in a locked safe! But based on all the experiences shared here, you've got plenty of time before you need to worry. Setting up direct deposit immediately is definitely the smart move - I did the same thing and it's such a relief knowing future payments go straight to your account. You're going to get through this!
I'm on day 3 business days waiting for my ReliaCard and honestly this thread is already making me feel so much better! I was starting to get worried because I kept seeing "7-10 business days" online but wasn't sure if that was accurate. Reading everyone's real experiences with timelines from 10-17 business days helps set realistic expectations. I definitely made the mistake of counting weekends at first too - it's wild how much that changes things! Already bookmarked that US Bank number (1-855-282-6161) for around day 10, and I'm absolutely going to set up direct deposit the moment this card arrives. The waiting is tough when you can see the payment sitting there, but knowing so many others went through the exact same thing and eventually got their cards gives me confidence. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories - this community really helps navigate these stressful situations!
You're super early in the process at just day 3 business days! I remember that exact feeling when I was waiting for mine - seeing those "7-10 business days" estimates online but then reading here that the reality is usually longer. This thread was a total game changer for me too in understanding what to actually expect. You're so smart to bookmark that US Bank number early and plan for direct deposit - I wish I had been that organized when I was going through this! The waiting definitely gets easier once you realize you're still well within the normal timeframe. Based on everyone's experiences here, you've got at least another week before you even need to think about checking status. Hang in there - you're just getting started and you're going to be fine!
Caesar Grant
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!
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Jackson Carter
•The browser zoom tip is fantastic! I never would have thought that zoom level could affect stability, but it makes sense that TWC's ancient system might be sensitive to display scaling. I've been using 125% zoom for months and constantly getting kicked out - that could definitely be part of my problem. Also really glad you mentioned the translate extension interference - I have Google Translate running all the time and didn't realize it might be causing issues even on English sites. The VPN disconnect tip has come up several times in this thread and seems to be crucial. Your combination of 5:50am + incognito + ethernet + cleared cache/cookies + disabled extensions + 100% zoom sounds like another winning formula. It's honestly ridiculous that accessing unemployment benefits requires this level of technical expertise, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing these discoveries. Going to try your approach next week - this thread has become the most comprehensive TWC troubleshooting resource on the internet!
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Julian Paolo
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!
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