As someone who's been collecting unemployment in Texas for about 6 months now, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you definitely don't need to upload your work search logs during regular payment requests. Just keep detailed records for yourself! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that TWC also accepts volunteer work at certain organizations as a work search activity, as long as it's related to gaining job skills or networking in your field. For example, I volunteer at a local nonprofit doing their social media (I'm in marketing) and that counts toward my 3 weekly activities. Just make sure to document it the same way - date, organization, what you did, and how it relates to your job search. Also, if you're worried about getting audited, don't stress too much. From what I've experienced and heard from others, they're pretty reasonable as long as you're making genuine efforts and keeping good records. The key is just being consistent and honest about your activities. You've got this!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through the TWC audit process! I got selected for an audit about 8 weeks into my claim, and honestly it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. They sent me a message through my TWC inbox giving me 7 days to submit my work search logs. I had been keeping a simple Word document with all my activities listed by week, and that was perfectly acceptable. One thing that really helped me was that I had been taking screenshots of job application confirmation pages and saving them in a folder on my computer. When they audited me, I was able to attach those screenshots along with my log, which seemed to make the review process go smoothly. I got approval within about 10 days of submitting everything. For anyone just starting out - don't overthink it! Just be consistent about recording your activities right away, and make sure you're doing legitimate job search work. The system is set up to help people who are genuinely looking for work, not to trick you into losing benefits.

Great advice from everyone here! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago. One thing I'll add - when you do your final payment request and report your work, make sure you enter your GROSS earnings (before taxes), not your net pay. I made that mistake initially and had to call TWC to correct it. Also, if you worked any hours during your waiting week or have any vacation/PTO being paid out, make sure to report that too. TWC wants to know about ALL compensation related to work during the claim period. The key is being 100% transparent - it's much easier to get things right the first time than to deal with corrections later. Best of luck with the new position!

One more thing to keep in mind - if you're starting a new job but won't work a full week during your first claim period, you can still receive partial unemployment benefits for that week! For example, if you start work on Thursday but the claim week runs Sunday-Saturday, you'd report working 2 days and earning whatever you made those 2 days. TWC will calculate a partial benefit payment for the days you didn't work. This is totally legitimate and helps bridge that gap between unemployment and your first full paycheck. Just make sure to accurately report the days worked and gross earnings, and TWC will handle the math. Many people don't realize they can get partial benefits during transition periods like this!

Hi! Great question about RESEA follow-ups. After your initial RESEA appointment, the frequency of future meetings typically depends on your individual case and what your counselor determines during that first visit. Generally, you might be scheduled for follow-up appointments every 2-4 weeks, but this can vary based on factors like your job search progress, training needs, or specific requirements in your area. Your RESEA counselor should have given you information about when to return or how to schedule your next appointment during that initial visit. If you're unsure about your specific schedule, I'd recommend calling your local TWC office directly - they'll have your case details and can give you the exact timeline for your situation. Hope this helps!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been absolutely incredible to find! My TWC benefits just expired this past Tuesday and I was honestly having panic attacks about how I'm going to survive while still job searching. I'm a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and have been applying everywhere for the past few months - hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, home health agencies - but the competition is just brutal. I did work about 8 weeks doing registry shifts at different facilities during my benefit year, so based on all the amazing advice everyone has shared here, I'm definitely going to file a new claim today. For other LPNs out there, I wanted to add that insurance companies are hiring nurses for remote utilization review and case management positions. Companies like Humana, Anthem, and UnitedHealth are always posting openings. The work is different from bedside nursing but it's good experience and often has better work-life balance. Also don't overlook school districts - many are expanding their health services and need licensed nurses for student health centers and special needs support. The schedules usually align with school calendars which can be nice for work-life balance. I'm also going to apply for SNAP benefits while waiting for my new claim to process. This whole experience has been terrifying but finding this community has made me realize I'm not alone and there are still options available even when it feels hopeless. Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories and advice - this thread has literally been a lifesaver during the most stressful week of my life!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been such a godsend! My TWC benefits just expired yesterday and I was completely panicking about how I'm going to make ends meet while still actively job searching. I'm a pharmacy technician and have been applying everywhere - retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, specialty pharmacies - but the competition is incredibly fierce right now. I did work about 6 weeks at a Walgreens covering for someone on medical leave during my benefit year, so based on all the incredible advice everyone has shared here, I'm definitely going to file a new claim today. For fellow pharmacy techs, I wanted to add that mail-order pharmacies like Express Scripts, OptumRx, and Caremark are often hiring for remote positions doing prescription processing and prior authorization work. The pay is usually decent and you get to work from home while staying in the pharmaceutical field. Also don't overlook compounding pharmacies - they're always looking for experienced techs and often pay more than retail. Plus the work is usually more interesting than just counting pills all day! I'm also going to apply for SNAP benefits while my new claim processes. Reading through this entire thread has given me so much hope and shown me there are concrete steps I can take instead of just worrying. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and advice - this community has been incredible during what felt like the most hopeless time. It's amazing to know we're all navigating this together and that there are still options even when benefits expire!

I just completed this exact process 4 days ago and wanted to share my experience to help confirm what everyone is saying! I was working only 22 hours/week at a local pharmacy when I successfully got my waiting week payment approved. Here's my very recent timeline: - Final regular payment processed last Tuesday - Waited exactly 3 business days (Friday) for it to fully clear - The "Request Waiting Week Payment" option appeared in my TWC portal Friday evening - Completed the form Monday morning in about 10 minutes with basic employer info - Payment hit my account yesterday (Thursday) - exactly 6 business days later The form was super simple - just needed employer name, address, my start date, and hourly wage ($18.00/hour). No documentation upload required at all! Your 25-hour position will absolutely qualify! After reading all these consistent success stories from people working 18-30 hours/week, it's crystal clear that part-time employment is completely sufficient. That one conflicting experience mentioned earlier seems to be a rare exception or based on outdated information. Make sure your direct deposit details are current before submitting - that's really the only thing that could potentially cause delays. The whole process is honestly much smoother and faster than the TWC website makes it sound! Congrats on landing the new job! You're so close to wrapping up this whole unemployment chapter - just one more simple step to go! 🎉

I just successfully completed this process yesterday and wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I was working only 26 hours/week at a retail job when I got my waiting week payment approved. Here's my timeline to add to everyone else's experiences: - Final regular payment processed last Wednesday - Waited exactly 3 business days (following Monday) for it to fully clear - "Request Waiting Week Payment" option appeared in my TWC portal Monday evening - Submitted the request Tuesday morning around 8:30am with basic employer info - Payment arrived in my account this morning (Thursday) - exactly 5 business days later The form was really straightforward - just needed employer name, full address, my exact start date, and hourly rate ($16.25/hour). No documents needed to upload, and it took about 8 minutes total. Your 25-hour position will definitely qualify! This entire thread is proof that part-time work absolutely meets the requirements. With all these recent success stories from people working 18-30 hours/week, you can feel completely confident moving forward. Just double-check your direct deposit info is current before submitting to avoid any payment delays. The process is so much easier than the TWC website makes it seem! You're almost at the finish line - congrats on the new job! 🎊