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I've been trying for 3 days straight to file a new unemployment claim but the TWC website keeps showing my old claim from 2020 and then crashes when I try to start a new application! Every time I click "Apply for Benefits" it loads for like 30 seconds and then kicks me back to the login screen. I've tried different browsers, clearing cache, even my phone - same problem everywhere. Called the main number probably 20+ times but all I get is the busy signal or it hangs up after the automated message. Really getting desperate as I was just laid off last Thursday (construction company downsizing) and rent is due in 2 weeks. Has anyone else had this issue with old claims blocking new ones? Is there some secret backdoor way to file or an actual working phone number?
I got laid off on July 1st and immediately filed for unemployment that same day. It's been over two weeks now, and when I log into my TWC account, I'm only seeing my previous claim from last year that's already expired. When I called the Tele-Serv system, the automated message said my claim is pending because my employer hasn't responded yet. Should I keep waiting? Is this normal? Do I need to contact TWC directly or follow up with my former employer? This is really stressing me out because I have bills due next week and I haven't received any payments yet. I'm worried my application is stuck somewhere in the system.
I'm in a very similar boat - filed on June 30th after being laid off and it's been over 2 weeks with the same issue. My TWC account only shows my expired claim from early 2023, and when I call the automated line I get the "pending employer response" message. What's really frustrating is that I can't even tell if my new claim was properly submitted since there's no trace of it anywhere in my account. I've been keeping up with work search requirements and plan to do my payment request this Sunday even though I can only see the old claim. This thread has been super helpful - at least now I know this is a widespread system issue and not something I did wrong during the application process. Really hoping both of our claims get sorted out soon because rent is due next week!
I'm dealing with the exact same timeline - filed July 1st and it's been over 2 weeks now! It's so frustrating that we can't even see our new claims in the system. I've been worried I somehow messed up the application, but seeing all these similar experiences makes me feel less crazy. The rent stress is real - I have bills due next week too. Based on what everyone's saying here, I'm going to keep doing my payment requests even though I can only see my expired claim, and I might try that early morning calling strategy or look into the Claimyr option if nothing changes by this weekend. Hang in there!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Filed my claim on June 29th after being laid off and it's been over 2.5 weeks now with no updates. My account only shows my expired claim from late 2022, and I get the same "pending employer response" message when I call. What's really concerning me is that my former employer has a history of being slow to respond to official requests - they took forever to send my final paycheck too. I've been doing my work search activities and payment requests like everyone suggested, but the financial stress is getting intense. Has anyone had success getting their employer to respond faster, or is it really just a waiting game? I'm tempted to reach out to HR myself but don't want to accidentally complicate things with TWC. This thread has been so helpful though - at least I know the system issues are real and it's not just me!
I wouldn't recommend contacting your employer directly about the TWC response - that could potentially create complications or give them ammunition if they're planning to dispute your claim. The 14-day response period is a legal requirement, not just a suggestion, so if they don't respond by then TWC can process your claim anyway. Since you filed June 29th, you're actually past that 14-day mark now. I'd definitely try the early morning calling strategy or look into the Claimyr service that @Keisha Jackson mentioned. Your employer s'slow response to your final paycheck is actually concerning - they might be stalling on purpose. Document everything and keep doing your payment requests!
Hey everyone, I'm completely stuck with my unemployment claim and losing my mind. I verified through ID.me over 2 weeks ago (got the green checkmark and confirmation email), but my TWC claim is still showing 'pending ID verification' when I log in. I've called TWC literally 63 times this week - either busy signal or disconnected after 2+ hours on hold. I even tried contacting ID.me support who said everything looks fine on their end! My rent is due next week and I'm seriously panicking. Has anyone dealt with this weird glitch where TWC doesn't recognize your completed ID.me verification? Any suggestions on how to get through to an actual human at TWC?
Just wanted to follow up on this thread with what worked for me. After trying everything, what finally fixed my issue was: 1. Used Claimyr to get through to TWC (took about 3 hours instead of days of redialing) 2. Explained to the agent that I'd already completed ID.me verification 3. The agent had me verify my identity directly with them 4. They put a manual override in their system 5. My claim was processed within 24 hours The agent explained that they're implementing a fix for this issue in their next system update, but no exact timeline. Until then, getting a manual override from a TWC representative is the only guaranteed solution. Hope this helps everyone still dealing with this frustrating situation!
Thank you so much for coming back to update! I really appreciate all the help from everyone. I'm going to try Claimyr today and if that doesn't work, I'll head to the office in person tomorrow. Will update when I get this resolved for anyone else who finds this thread later.
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Completed ID.me verification 10 days ago, got all the confirmations, but TWC still shows pending. It's so relieving to see I'm not alone and that there's actually a known system glitch causing this. Based on what everyone's shared, I'm going to try the Claimyr service first since I can't afford to spend another week on hold, and if that doesn't work I'll visit my local TWC office with all my documentation. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is incredibly helpful for those of us stuck in this frustrating situation!
Welcome to the club unfortunately! I'm going through the exact same thing - it's such a relief to find this thread and know we're not crazy. The ID.me/TWC sync issue seems to be affecting so many people. Definitely try Claimyr if you can, and the local office visit sounds promising too based on what Grace shared. Fingers crossed we all get this resolved soon! Keep us posted on what works for you.
Just had my TWC appeal hearing this morning and I'm feeling cautiously optimistic! My former employer didn't even show up for the call, which I hope is good for my case. I had three coworkers testify that they all did the exact same thing I supposedly got fired for, but none of them were terminated. The hearing officer seemed pretty interested in that testimony. Now I'm just anxious about how long I'll have to wait for a decision. Has anyone been through this recently? How long did it take to get your determination letter after a hearing where the employer didn't show? I'm going on 10 weeks without benefits and really need this to go in my favor.
Quick update - I just checked my TWC account today and my status changed from "Appeal Pending" to "Eligible" and there's a determination letter dated yesterday in my correspondence! The hearing officer ruled in my favor since the employer failed to appear and present evidence of misconduct, plus my witnesses' testimony proved inconsistent application of company policy. All my backpay is being processed now! Just wanted to share the good news and timeline - it took exactly 8 days from hearing to determination in my case. Thanks everyone for your support and advice during this stressful time!
CONGRATS!!! Told ya it would work out! Employer no-shows are usually good news. Enjoy that backpay!!! ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฐ
Excellent news! This is a good reminder for everyone that in Texas unemployment appeals, the burden of proof is on the employer to demonstrate misconduct. When they fail to appear, they typically cannot meet this burden, especially when countered with witness testimony supporting the claimant's position. Congratulations on your successful appeal.
Congratulations @NeonNebula! That's fantastic news and gives me so much hope for my own case. Eight days is pretty quick too - I'm on day 3 since my hearing so I'll keep checking my account obsessively. Your situation sounds almost identical to mine - employer no-show, witness testimony about inconsistent policy enforcement, and no prior warnings. Really appreciate you coming back to update us with the good news. Can't wait to hopefully post my own success story soon! ๐ค For anyone else going through this process, it seems like having witnesses who can testify about similar situations is really key. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community has been a lifesaver during this stressful time.
I'm totally lost with this TWC process and need advice ASAP. Last Monday I filed for unemployment online after being laid off (construction industry slowed way down). The system showed I was approved for benefits, which was a relief! But when I tried to request my first payment through TeleServ, the automated system suddenly said I need to 'speak with a representative' before payments can begin. No explanation why. I've called the TWC number like 30+ times over 3 days and either get a busy signal or the automated message saying 'call volumes are too high' before it hangs up on me. I've tried calling right at 8am, during lunch, and late afternoon - nothing works. My savings are getting dangerously low, and I have rent due in two weeks. What could possibly be flagged on my account that requires talking to someone? And more importantly, how on earth do I actually reach a human being at TWC? This feels like a cruel joke - approved but can't get paid unless I talk to someone, but can't talk to anyone...
I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved! Your experience really highlights how broken the TWC phone system is - being stuck for days over a simple 4-minute identity verification is absolutely ridiculous. I'm in a similar situation right now (got approved but can't request payments without talking to someone) and have been calling nonstop for 3 days with no luck. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service you mentioned since the traditional calling method clearly isn't working. It's insane that we have to resort to third-party services just to access benefits we're entitled to, but desperate times and all that. Thanks for following up with your resolution - it gives me hope that once I actually get through, it'll be something simple that can be fixed quickly. The anxiety of not knowing what's wrong with your account while your bills pile up is the worst part of this whole process.
@Omar Fawaz I feel your pain - I was in the exact same boat just a few days ago! The anxiety is absolutely the worst part because you don t'know if it s'something serious or just a simple verification. In my case it was literally just identity verification since I d'never filed before. Definitely try the Claimyr service - I was skeptical at first but it really did work. Cost a small fee but was totally worth it to avoid more days of unsuccessful calling. Also, like others mentioned, keep doing your biweekly payment requests even while you re'waiting to talk to someone. Once they clear whatever flag is on your account, you ll'get all the back payments. Hang in there! I know it feels hopeless when you re'stuck in that phone loop, but based on what I ve'learned from this thread, most of these holds are for pretty routine stuff that gets resolved quickly once you actually reach a human. You ve'got this!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I got approved for benefits two weeks ago but the TeleServ system keeps saying I need to speak with a representative before any payments can be released. I've been calling obsessively with zero luck getting through. What's particularly frustrating is that TWC doesn't give you ANY indication of what the issue might be - no error codes, no explanation, just "you must speak with a representative." It's maddening when you're already stressed about finances and then get stuck in this bureaucratic nightmare. I'm going to try both the Claimyr service mentioned here and visiting my local Workforce office. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops for what's likely a simple verification issue, but I'm willing to try anything at this point. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess!
@Noah Irving You re'absolutely right about how frustrating it is to get zero explanation from TWC about what s'holding up your payments! I went through this exact nightmare about 6 months ago and it was the most stressful two weeks of my life. Like everyone else here, it turned out to be something incredibly simple - they just needed to verify my employment history because I had worked for multiple employers in the base period. The Claimyr service really is a game changer if you can afford the small fee. I was skeptical too but it saved my sanity. Also definitely try the Workforce office route - some people have had luck getting a direct callback scheduled that way. One thing I d'add that helped me stay sane during the wait: I made a spreadsheet tracking every time I called, what time, what happened, etc. It made me feel like I was doing something productive instead of just sitting around anxious. Keep requesting your payments every two weeks like clockwork even though you re'not getting them yet - you ll'get all the back pay once this gets sorted out. Hang in there!
Marcelle Drum
update?? were u able to file yet??
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Lukas Fitzgerald
AuthorYES! Finally got through yesterday using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Was connected to a TWC agent in about 30 mins. She said my old claim was still marked as "active" in their system even though benefits were exhausted, and that was preventing me from filing online. She did some kind of reset and then helped me file a new claim right over the phone. Such a relief! Now just waiting for the determination letter. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Morgan Washington
Glad to hear you got it sorted out! For anyone else dealing with this same issue, another tip is to try filing your claim very early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) or late at night when there's less traffic on the TWC servers. Sometimes the system glitch is worse during peak hours when everyone's trying to access it. Also, if you do get through to file online eventually, make sure to print or screenshot EVERYTHING - confirmation numbers, application pages, etc. The TWC system has been known to "lose" applications during these database hiccups.
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Ahooker-Equator
From what I've seen, there's no real way to check beforehand if your old claim will cause issues - you basically have to try filing and see what happens. The TWC system doesn't give you any warning messages about conflicting claims. If you're worried about getting stuck halfway through, I'd suggest having the Claimyr service ready to go before you even attempt filing online. That way if you hit the same glitch, you can immediately start the process of getting through to a rep instead of wasting days trying to call manually like most of us did. Also keep all your employment documents handy since the rep can file your claim over the phone once they fix the database issue.
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Aurora St.Pierre
From what I've seen in this thread and my own experience, you can't really tell beforehand if your old claim will cause problems. The system doesn't give you any warning - it just crashes or loops you back to login like what happened to Lukas. If you had any unemployment claim during 2020-2021 (especially pandemic-related), there's a decent chance you'll run into this database issue. My suggestion would be to try filing online first during off-peak hours like Morgan mentioned, but if you get stuck or see any weird behavior with old claim info showing up, don't waste days trying different browsers. Just go straight to calling or using one of those callback services to get it fixed by a rep. The longer you wait, the more stressful it gets when bills are due!
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