This thread has become an absolute goldmine of TWC navigation strategies! I've been quietly dealing with my own claim issues for the past few weeks and honestly feeling pretty defeated by that awful phone system. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me so much hope and actual actionable steps to try. I'm particularly intrigued by the Technical Support line approach (800-939-6631) - that's such smart lateral thinking since most people probably don't think to call specialized departments for general claim issues. The exact 7:00 AM timing strategy also keeps coming up from multiple people, so that must really work. And I definitely need to do a thorough check of my Correspondence Inbox tonight - sounds like that's where critical information goes to hide! It's simultaneously inspiring and infuriating how we've all had to become these system-hacking experts just to access benefits we're entitled to. The fact that calling random department numbers works better than the actual claims line is peak bureaucracy logic. But I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share real solutions that actually work instead of just generic advice. Bookmarking this entire thread as my TWC survival manual. Thanks everyone for turning a frustration vent into the most comprehensive help guide I've seen anywhere!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm dealing with a similar TWC nightmare right now - my claim status suddenly changed to "under review" three weeks ago with no explanation, and I've been getting that same infuriating hangup message every time I try to call. Reading through all these creative workarounds has given me actual hope instead of just more frustration. I'm definitely going to check my Correspondence Inbox tonight (honestly embarrassed I haven't done a thorough check already), and I'm writing down all these alternative numbers. The Technical Support line at 800-939-6631 is such a brilliant approach - it makes perfect sense that specialized departments would have shorter wait times since most people don't think to call them for general claim issues. The exact 7:00 AM timing strategy seems to be mentioned by so many people that it must really work. I've been calling randomly throughout the day but clearly need to be more strategic about it. Also love the redial technique tip - I always gave up after a few tries but doing it 15-20 times in a row is genius. It's both amazing and sad that we've had to collectively reverse-engineer better customer service than TWC provides officially. This thread should honestly be pinned somewhere as the unofficial TWC survival guide! Thanks everyone for sharing what actually works instead of just complaining (though the complaining is totally justified too). Will definitely report back on what ends up working for me!

This thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm currently waiting for my claim determination (filed 3 weeks ago) but have been requesting payments every two weeks after reading similar advice online. One thing I wanted to add for future readers: if you're like me and get anxious about whether you're doing everything correctly, the TWC website has a "View Payment Request History" section where you can confirm your requests went through successfully. It shows the date you requested and the status (like "Payment Request Received"). This gave me so much peace of mind when I was second-guessing myself. Also, I discovered that your local workforce center often offers free workshops on navigating the unemployment system - mine had a "TWC 101" session that covered all these details that aren't obvious from the website. It might be worth calling your local center to see if they offer something similar. The staff there were way more helpful and easier to reach than the main TWC phone lines!

This thread is a goldmine of information! I'm about to file my first unemployment claim after being laid off from my retail job last week, and reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. I had absolutely no idea that you need to request payments immediately regardless of approval status - I definitely would have made that same mistake of waiting for the determination letter first. The tip about calling right at 8am or 4:30pm is something I'm writing down, and I love the idea of marking payment request dates in red on a printed calendar. I'm also going to look into that Claimyr service in case I can't get through to TWC directly. One quick question for the group: when you're doing the 3 work search activities per week, do they all have to be actual job applications or can you mix in things like networking events, career fairs, or informational interviews? I want to make sure I'm diversifying my approach while still meeting the requirements properly. Thank you all for sharing your hard-earned wisdom - this thread is going to save me so much stress and confusion!

just wondering, have u talked to ur commander about this? maybe they could write u a letter explaining why u cant work nights because of army stuff? that might help ur case with TWC

I went through something very similar with TWC about 18 months ago. My employer suddenly changed my schedule from M-F days to rotating shifts including weekends, which conflicted with my Guard duties. Here's what worked for me: 1. I immediately sent an email to my supervisor AND HR explaining that the new schedule conflicted with my military obligations and requesting accommodation 2. I included my drill schedule and mentioned USERRA protections 3. When they refused, I forwarded everything to my unit's readiness NCO who helped me document the conflict 4. I applied for TWC benefits the day after I quit, selecting "substantial change to employment terms" as my reason TWC approved my claim after about 3 weeks of investigation. The key was having everything documented in writing. Don't just rely on verbal conversations - they won't help you with TWC. Also, make sure you mention your military service obligations specifically in your resignation letter. Good luck!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation and it's been incredibly frustrating! Filed my appeal on January 5th after they wrongly classified my separation as "voluntary quit" when I was actually laid off from my hotel job due to seasonal downsizing. It's now been over 8 weeks with absolutely zero communication. What finally helped me make some progress was following the advice I've seen throughout this thread: **Called 512-463-2826 (Appeals Department) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday** - After weeks of getting nowhere with the main TWC line, I actually got through to someone who confirmed my appeal is in their system. They warned me processing times are currently 10-12 weeks due to massive backlogs. **Sent a fax to 512-475-2044** with my claim ID, appeal date, and status request - Got a callback within 4 business days which was way faster than any phone attempts. **Double-checked addresses in BOTH systems** - This was huge! Found out my appeals system address was outdated even though I'd updated my regular TWC account multiple times. They really don't sync automatically. The financial stress while waiting has been brutal. I've been doing Instacart and odd jobs just to survive, but reading everyone's success stories here keeps me motivated to stick it out. Hotel/restaurant layoffs seem to have decent success rates when you have proper documentation of the downsizing. For anyone else waiting, the real timeline seems to be 8-12 weeks minimum right now, not the fake "10 days" on their website. Keep requesting those payments every two weeks even though you're not getting them - crucial for backpay if you win! Don't give up - this system is completely broken but persistence really does seem to pay off eventually!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the complete silence from TWC after filing an appeal is absolutely maddening, especially when you're stressed about rent and basic expenses. I went through something very similar about 8 months ago and completely understand the frustration. Here's what I learned that might help: **Call 512-463-2826 (Appeals Department) at exactly 8:00 AM** - This is the direct appeals line, not the main TWC number that everyone gets stuck on. I had much better luck getting through in the first 15-20 minutes after they open. **Try faxing 512-475-2044** - Include your claim ID, January 7th appeal date, and request for status update. I know fax seems ancient, but I actually got a response within 3 days after weeks of failed phone calls. **Double-check your mailing address in BOTH systems** - This is crucial! The regular TWC account and appeals system don't sync addresses automatically. Many people miss their hearings because notices get sent to old addresses. **Keep requesting payments every two weeks** - Even though you're not getting paid during the appeal, continue requesting. This keeps your claim active and is required for backpay if you win. The realistic timeline right now seems to be 8-12 weeks based on everyone's experiences, not the misleading "10 days" they claim on their website. Your January 7th filing means you should hopefully hear something within the next few weeks. Restaurant layoff appeals actually have pretty good success rates when you have documentation of the downsizing. Make sure you organize all those emails from your manager about staff reduction - that evidence will be crucial for your hearing. Don't file another appeal as that will reset your place in line. The system is completely broken but persistence really does pay off. I eventually won my case and got full backpay for all the weeks I waited. Hang in there!

I've been navigating a similar situation for about 8 months now and wanted to share some insights that might help! Working part-time with variable hours while collecting partial unemployment can definitely work, but there are some key things to understand: **You can absolutely search for and accept another part-time job while receiving benefits** - TWC doesn't require you to only pursue full-time employment. The system is designed to help people transition back to stable work, and that often means building up multiple part-time positions. **The magic number to remember is your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)**. TWC calculates: Your WBA minus 30% of your WBA, then subtracts your total gross weekly earnings. As long as the result is positive, you'll receive some benefit payment. **Critical documentation tip**: Start keeping a simple log RIGHT NOW. Track your work hours by the actual dates you worked (not when you got paid), your gross earnings for that TWC week (Sunday-Saturday), and all your work search activities with proof saved. I learned this the hard way when I got selected for an audit. **Work search requirements don't change** - you still need 3 documented activities per week regardless of your current employment. But these can include updating your WorkInTexas profile, registering with temp agencies, following up on applications, and yes, applying for part-time positions absolutely counts! The fluctuating payments can be stressful when you're trying to budget, but once you get into a rhythm with proper reporting, it really does provide that crucial financial bridge. The key is consistency and accuracy with your documentation. You're asking all the right questions to set yourself up for success!

I've been through almost exactly this situation! Working part-time with unpredictable hours (12-25/week at a restaurant) while collecting partial unemployment benefits. Here's what I learned that might help: **Yes, you can definitely get benefits while searching for another part-time job** - TWC doesn't require you to only look for full-time work. As long as your combined earnings from all part-time jobs stay under your weekly benefit amount (after the 30% deduction), you'll still qualify. **The work search requirement stays the same** - you still need to complete and document 3 work search activities every single week, even though you're already employed part-time. This was a surprise to me initially! These activities can include job applications, updating your WorkInTexas profile, contacting staffing agencies, following up on previous applications, etc. **Get your reporting timing right** - This is crucial and where I made my biggest mistakes early on. Report your earnings based on when you actually WORKED the hours, not when you received your paycheck. TWC's benefit week runs Sunday through Saturday. **Start documenting everything immediately** - Keep a simple weekly log of your work dates, hours, earnings, and work search activities with screenshots/confirmations saved. TWC can audit you randomly and ask for proof going back weeks or months. One thing that really helped me was creating a Sunday evening routine where I spend 15 minutes reviewing the previous week's work and planning my upcoming work search activities. It prevents those stressful scrambles when it's time to submit your payment request. The fluctuating payments can be nerve-wracking when budgeting, but this system really can provide that financial bridge while you build more stable income. Hang in there - you're asking the right questions and clearly want to do this correctly!