One more important thing to consider: if you do quit, you should file your TWC claim immediately. In your separation explanation, be extremely specific about why you had good cause to quit. Include dates, names, and detailed descriptions of incidents. Also, be prepared for your employer to contest your claim - they almost always do for voluntary quits because it can affect their unemployment tax rate. If your initial claim is denied (which happens frequently even with good cause), don't give up! Appeal within the 14-day deadline and prepare thoroughly for your hearing. Many initial denials get reversed on appeal when claimants present their evidence properly. I'd suggest reviewing the TWC's Unemployment Insurance Law Manual section about voluntary quits before you make your decision.

I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago. My employer was cutting my hours drastically and ignored multiple safety violations I reported. I ended up quitting and filing for unemployment. Here's what I learned: The TWC will look at whether you had "good cause connected with the work" - but you need solid documentation. I kept a detailed log of every incident with dates, times, and witnesses. I also saved all my emails to management and took photos of the safety issues. When I filed my claim, I was very specific in my separation reason. Instead of just saying "toxic work environment," I wrote exactly what happened: "Employer reduced my hours by 35% without notice over 6 weeks, failed to address documented safety hazards after 3 written complaints, and refused to provide written explanation for schedule changes." My claim was initially approved, but my employer contested it (they almost always do). I had to do a phone hearing where I presented all my evidence. The hearing officer ruled in my favor because I could prove I tried to resolve the issues before quitting and that any reasonable person would have done the same. My advice: document everything, exhaust all internal remedies first, and be very detailed when filing your claim. Good luck!

Word of warning: be careful about giving out too much personal info over the phone. Make sure you're actually talking to the real customer service, not some scammer. Always double-check the number you're calling!

I went through this exact same situation last month! Here's what worked for me: I called early in the morning (around 8 AM) to avoid the worst hold times. When I got through, they were able to reset my PIN in about 5 minutes after verifying my identity with SSN, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of my bank account where they send payments. The new PIN was active immediately. Also, I'd recommend setting up text alerts if you haven't already - it helps you stay on top of important updates even if you get locked out again. Hope this helps!

I'm confused...so we don't report 401k withdrawals on payment requests? What about severance pay? My company gave me severance when they laid me off last month but I haven't received the check yet. Do I report that?

I went through a similar situation with TWC overpayment deductions a few months ago - it's really stressful when you're already struggling financially. The good news is that your 401K withdrawal won't affect your unemployment benefits at all. TWC only considers "earned income" (wages from actual work) when calculating benefit reductions, not retirement distributions. However, I learned the hard way that you should still mention the withdrawal when you speak to a TWC representative if you call about anything else, just to be transparent. They won't reduce your benefits for it, but it shows you're being honest about your financial situation. One thing that helped me was setting up a small emergency fund from part of my 401K withdrawal specifically for the weeks when the overpayment deduction hits hardest. Since you know they're taking 25% each week, you can at least plan around that reduction. The overpayment will eventually be paid off and you'll get your full benefits back. Also, start setting aside a little money each week for the tax bill you'll get next year from the withdrawal - don't let it catch you by surprise like I did! But for now, your unemployment benefits should continue as normal despite the 401K withdrawal.

One more important thing: When you appeal, mention that you're suffering 'partial unemployment' as defined by TWC rules. That's the official term they use for reduced hours situations. According to TWC guidelines, if you're earning less than 125% of your weekly benefit amount, you can receive partial benefits. Also, save any documentation showing your previous work schedule compared to your current one. This will be valuable evidence for your appeal. Email communications about the reduction, old vs. new schedules, and pay stubs showing the difference can all help your case. Once approved, you'll need to report your earnings each time you request payment. TWC will calculate your partial benefit amount using their formula. Good luck with your appeal!

Just wanted to add that I went through this exact situation last year when my manufacturing job cut everyone's hours from 40+ to just 8-12 hours weekly. The first TWC rep I talked to told me I wasn't eligible because I was "still employed" but that was completely wrong! What really helped me was being super specific in my appeal about the INVOLUNTARY nature of the hour reduction. I emphasized that this wasn't a voluntary move to part-time work, but rather my employer unilaterally cutting my schedule due to reduced business. I also calculated the exact percentage reduction (in my case it was 75%) and included that in my appeal letter. The whole process took about 3 weeks after filing the appeal, but I did get approved for partial benefits. The weekly amount wasn't huge but it definitely helped bridge the gap while I was looking for additional work. One tip: keep detailed records of your work search activities even while you're appealing. If you get approved, they'll want to see that you've been actively looking for work to supplement your reduced hours. Good luck with your appeal - you've got a strong case based on what you've described!

update us when u get ur $$$! i'm curious if things r moving faster now than when i applied in january. took me almost 3 weeks total from approval to first deposit 😭

Hey Giovanni! I just went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago. The bank verification process can be nerve-wracking when you're waiting on that first payment. In my experience, once TWC starts the bank verification, it typically takes 3-5 business days total before you see the money in your account. Since you entered your info on Friday, I'd expect to see something by Wednesday or Thursday of this week if everything goes smoothly. One thing that helped me was setting up account alerts with my bank so I'd get notified immediately when the deposit came through. Also, make sure you're checking your TWC correspondence inbox daily - they'll send you a message there if there are any issues with your banking info. Hang in there, you're almost at the finish line!