I've helped several people with their TWC claims, and I can tell you that the timing of your termination (right before a bonus payout) is definitely something that TWC will look at closely. When TWC reviews termination cases, they look at several factors: 1. Were you given warnings about performance issues before termination? 2. Did the employer follow their own documented discipline process? 3. Was the termination timing suspicious (like right before a bonus)? 4. Can the employer document specific instances of misconduct? If your employer can't demonstrate that you were fired for actual misconduct (as opposed to just general performance claims), you should be approved eventually. The process is frustratingly slow, but I've seen people in similar situations get approved after 4-6 weeks. Be prepared for a phone interview with a TWC examiner. Have documentation ready about your performance, any positive feedback you received, and definitely mention the bonus timing.

UPDATE: I took several of your suggestions and finally got some answers! I used Claimyr to reach TWC (after 30+ failed attempts calling directly) and found out my employer is claiming I was fired for not meeting performance metrics. The TWC agent scheduled a fact-finding interview for next week. I also contacted my state rep's office and they said they'd follow up on my claim. Between these two actions, things are finally moving! The agent confirmed that if approved, I'll get backpay for all the weeks I've been requesting payment. I'll update again after my interview. Thank you all for the help and advice during this stressful time!

wat about disaster unemployment assistance? thats different from regular benefits i think

Update: I took everyone's advice and filed my appeal online yesterday. I also managed to get through to TWC this morning after using Claimyr (thanks for that tip!). The agent was actually really helpful - she said she couldn't reverse the determination, but after reviewing my documents, she put in a request to expedite my appeal hearing based on financial hardship and the strong documentation I have. She said I should get a hearing date within 2 weeks instead of the usual timeframe. She also suggested I look into hurricane relief assistance through FEMA since our county was declared a disaster area. I'm going to check that out today. Thank you all for the advice - I'll update once I get my hearing date!

Update: I just wanted to add something important - when you file, TWC will ask about the reason for your separation from employment. Make sure you accurately indicate you were laid off (not fired for cause or that you quit). This affects your eligibility. Since your employer is continuing to pay you, they might not have reported your separation to TWC yet, which could cause confusion. You might want to speak with your former employer to ensure you're both on the same page about how your separation is classified.

Just one more thing - make sure you setup direct deposit right away in the TWC system! The debit card option takes way longer to get your money and has all kinds of weird fees. The direct deposit option is buried deep in the account settings and easy to miss.

my cousin works at twc (not a claims person just admin) and she says they're SUPER backed up right now with all these disaster claims from that storm last month. might be part of why ur stuff is messed up, they're entering things manually and making mistakes

Just to clarify for everyone - under current TWC rules, you cannot receive both regular unemployment and disaster unemployment benefits simultaneously. When a disaster declaration affects your area, the system may automatically create a disaster claim, but a determination should be made about which program is appropriate for your situation. I'd recommend doing the following: 1. Continue requesting payment on whichever claim type you can access (if any) 2. Document all communications with TWC 3. Keep records of all work search activities 4. Contact a claims specialist who can review both claims 5. Ask them specifically which claim type you should be on and have them close the other one 6. Get them to remove any redundant ID verification requirements This needs to be fixed properly to avoid future overpayment issues.

my cousin had this same problem!!! she had to wait for appeal but they did pay her all the back money once they fixed it. took like a month tho

One more important thing - when you have your appeal hearing, if the TWC representative asks when you realized you made a mistake, be honest about the exact date. If you say you knew immediately but waited several days to try to fix it, that could hurt your case. Also, keep a log of all your work search activities during this time and be prepared to show you've been actively looking for work. This proves you really are available for full-time work despite the button error. Good luck with everything!