I went through this exact situation last summer as a substitute in Dallas! The process was definitely confusing at first, but I successfully received benefits for the entire summer break. Here's what worked for me: **Documentation I gathered before filing:** - All pay stubs from my substitute work - Email communications with the district (including any vague "we hope to use you again" messages) - Record of my typical work schedule/hours - Screenshot of the district's substitute portal showing no guaranteed future assignments **The filing process:** - I filed online the day after my last substitute assignment - Answered "NO" to reasonable assurance since I had no written contract - Was very specific about my employment status: "substitute teacher with no guarantee of future work" **What happened next:** - The district did contest my claim (seems to be standard practice) - I appealed and provided all my documentation - Won the appeal in about 3 weeks - the hearing officer said verbal hopes don't count as reasonable assurance **Pro tip:** Keep detailed records of every day you worked and didn't work. TWC may ask for specific dates and earnings. Also, start your work search activities immediately - I did mine through WorkInTexas.com and it counted toward the 3 weekly requirements. The whole process took about a month to get fully approved, but I received back pay for the waiting period. Definitely worth pursuing if you don't have any written guarantee for next year!

I just went through this process as a substitute teacher in Houston and wanted to share some recent updates that might help. I successfully received unemployment benefits for the full summer break last year (2024). **Key changes I noticed:** TWC has gotten much stricter about the work search requirements. They now verify your applications more frequently, so make sure you're actually applying to jobs you'd accept. I got called twice during my benefit period to confirm details about positions I'd applied for. **What made my case strong:** - I kept a detailed log of every day I was available for substitute work but wasn't called - Saved all text messages and emails from the district's substitute coordinator - Documented that I was told to "check back in August" with no guarantees **Timing tip:** File your claim on Sunday if possible - TWC processes weekend applications first thing Monday morning, which can speed up your initial determination. **Red flag to avoid:** Don't mention anything about "planning to return to substitute teaching" in your application. Focus on the fact that you're currently unemployed with no written guarantee of future work. You can return to subbing later if called, but during summer you need to be genuinely seeking full-time employment. The appeal process has also gotten faster - mine took only 2 weeks instead of the month+ people used to wait. Stay persistent if you get initially denied, especially if your district contests it. Good luck!

Hey Micah! I actually just went through this exact same situation last month when I moved from Dallas to Arizona and got laid off from my remote job. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - definitely file with TWC since that's where you earned your wages. One thing I wish someone had told me upfront: the TWC website has a specific interstate claims FAQ section that's really helpful once you know where to find it. It's buried in their help section, but it walks you through the exact steps for your situation. Also, when you do your initial phone interview with TWC (which they'll schedule after you file online), make sure to mention your move right away. The interviewer can flag your claim properly and explain the next steps for registering with Oklahoma. I'd also recommend starting your job search in Oklahoma immediately, even before you're officially registered with OESC. The work search requirements kick in from week one of your claim, and Oklahoma tends to be pretty strict about documentation. Better to have too many job search activities recorded than not enough! One last thing - keep your expectations realistic about processing times. My interstate claim took about 5 weeks total to get the first payment, but once it was set up, everything ran smoothly. The waiting is stressful but totally normal for interstate claims. You've got this!

I went through this exact same situation when I moved from Houston to Tennessee in 2023! Here's what I learned that might help you: File with TWC definitely - that's where your wages were earned. But here are some specific tips that made my process smoother: 1. When you call TWC (and you will need to call eventually), ask to speak with someone in their Interstate Benefits unit. Regular customer service reps sometimes give conflicting info about interstate claims. 2. Oklahoma's work search requirements are actually pretty reasonable - 2 work search contacts per week, but they're strict about documentation. Keep detailed records of every application, contact, and networking activity. 3. Set up your Oklahoma Employment Security Commission account as soon as TWC tells you to - don't wait. The systems between states don't always communicate perfectly, and being proactive prevents delays. 4. Here's something nobody told me: some employers in your new state might be hesitant when they see you're on unemployment from a different state. I found it helpful to mention in cover letters that I was "recently relocated to Tennessee and receiving interstate unemployment benefits while actively seeking employment in the local market." 5. Your TWC payment schedule stays the same regardless of your new state. So if Texas assigns you Sunday certifications, you'll still certify on Sundays even though you're in Oklahoma. The whole process took about 4 weeks for me, but once everything was connected between the two states, it worked smoothly. Just be patient with the initial setup - it's more complicated than regular unemployment but totally manageable!

I'm in the exact same boat right now! Filed my claim about 9 days ago after being laid off due to company restructuring, and my WBA ($412) just appeared on my portal this morning. Like you, I was initially relieved thinking it meant I was approved, but then noticed my status still says "under review." This thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea this was normal TWC procedure! It's really reassuring to hear from so many people who went through the same thing with legitimate layoffs and eventually got approved. I also just got hit with the ID.me verification requirement today, so I'll be tackling that this weekend based on all the helpful advice shared here. The stress about upcoming bills is so real! I've been checking my portal obsessively hoping for updates. It's comforting to know that's totally normal and that company restructuring should be a qualifying separation reason once they finish all their verification steps. I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts that Val mentioned and make sure to submit my payment request next week even while still under review. Thanks for posting this question - you've helped so many of us understand this confusing process and feel less alone during the stressful waiting period! Fingers crossed we all get our approval letters soon! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same situation! Filed my claim about a week ago after being laid off due to company downsizing, and my WBA ($445) just showed up yesterday. Like everyone else here, I initially thought seeing the benefit amount meant I was automatically approved, but then realized my status still says "under review." This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that the WBA appearing was just one step in the verification process! Reading everyone's experiences has really eased my anxiety about the waiting period. I also just got the ID.me verification requirement today, so I'll be working through that this weekend based on all the great tips shared here. The financial stress while waiting is so intense, especially with rent due soon! I've definitely been guilty of refreshing my portal every few hours hoping for changes. It's really comforting to know that legitimate layoffs like company downsizing typically get approved once TWC finishes all their verification steps. I'm planning to submit my first payment request next Tuesday even though I'm still under review, and I've been documenting all my work search activities just to be safe. Thanks Amina for asking this question - you've created such a supportive thread that's helping so many of us navigate this confusing and stressful process! Hoping we all get our approval letters soon! 🤞

One thing that really helped me when I first started was to treat my payment request day like any other important appointment - I set a recurring reminder on my phone for the same time each week. Even though you only request every two weeks, having that weekly reminder ensures you never miss your actual request day. I also learned to submit my request early in the day (like 8-9 AM) rather than waiting until evening, because if there are any technical issues with the website, you still have time to try again or call Tele-Serv as a backup. The TWC website can get overloaded, especially on Mondays when a lot of people have their request day. Having that buffer time in your day can save you from a lot of stress if the system is running slow!

I went through this exact same confusion when I first got approved! Here's what I wish someone had explained clearly from the start: Texas TWC uses a biweekly REQUEST system, but you're actually getting paid for each individual week. So every two weeks, you submit one payment request that covers two separate weeks, and TWC calculates your benefits for each week individually, then sends you one combined payment. Your request day is assigned based on your SSN (you can find this in your TWC account), and once you submit, expect the money 2-3 business days later. The key thing is to never miss your request day - mark it on your calendar now! Also, start doing your 3 weekly work search activities immediately since you'll need to report those for each week when you request. The first payment might take a bit longer while they set everything up, but after that it becomes pretty routine. Good luck with your first request on Monday!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable for anyone dealing with TWC delays! I'm at week 2.5 myself and was getting really anxious about my "under review" status, but reading through all these experiences has completely changed my perspective. It's honestly ridiculous that TWC still advertises 21 days when 4-6 weeks seems to be the actual reality for most people right now. The pattern of employer non-response causing so many delays is really eye-opening - it shows how many of these situations are completely out of the claimant's control. Luca, huge congratulations on getting your resolution! Your entire journey from filing to approval has been such a helpful roadmap for those of us still waiting. The fact that it turned out to be just an employer response issue rather than anything you did wrong is really reassuring. I've been taking notes on all the advice shared here - keeping detailed work search logs, requesting payments on schedule, checking correspondence regularly, and knowing about Claimyr for when escalation becomes necessary. The multiple success stories with that service give me real confidence that there are actual solutions when you hit that 4-5 week wall. Thanks to everyone for being so open about their timelines and sharing practical solutions. This community support makes the whole frustrating process feel much less isolating!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently at week 4 of waiting and was really starting to worry that something was seriously wrong with my claim. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and frustrating - reassuring to know I'm not alone, but frustrating to see how common these extended delays have become. The employer non-response pattern that keeps coming up is really concerning. It seems like such a systemic issue where legitimate claimants get stuck in limbo through no fault of their own. I had a straightforward layoff situation too, so hopefully that's all it is in my case. I've been diligently following all the advice shared throughout this thread - keeping detailed work search logs, requesting payments every two weeks, and checking my correspondence inbox regularly. Based on everyone's experiences, I think it's time for me to try that Claimyr service that's been mentioned multiple times. The success stories give me hope that I can actually get through to someone and find out what's causing my delay. Luca, congratulations on getting your resolution! Your journey really shows that persistence pays off. For everyone else still waiting - this community has made the whole process feel so much less isolating. Thanks for all the practical advice and real timeline sharing!